Best Organic Stores in Amsterdam
Organic* is no longer for people with ‘goat woolen socks’, a Dutch expression describing unfashionable people with alternative lifestyles. Organic is now hot and happening, with new shops popping up in Amsterdam like mushrooms in a forrest!
Best Organic supermarket: Biomarkt
This biological supermarket has got the best variety of vegetables and natural food supplements. The staff, who has worked here for years, consists of true ‘natural health’ experts, who are happy to advice you which supplements may put a smile on your face! The bread section offers a large variety of organic breads and pastries. Don’t forget to treat yourself to the organic chocolate truffles from Booja-Booja (see photo, diary free, cholesterol free, soya free and raw). The wines are bio-dynamic, which is the latest trend in viticulture. Raw foods are available. Biomarkt, Weteringschans 133, Amsterdam. Open daily.
This organic shop is more than a food shop - it’s a true deli. The owners, a married couple, have worked years in biological stores, before starting their own shop, which focuses on delicious foods that are also organic. The look and feel of the shop is refreshingly modern and stylish. The fridge in the back has got the most devine tofu, tempeh and other dishes. Besides regular foods, you can find beautiful olive oils, breads and wine. Raw foods are available. Delicious Food, Westerstraat 24 - 1015 MJ Amsterdam - T. 020 320 30 70 Open: Monday-Saturday.
In case you did not know it - the farmer’s market at the Noordermarkt is fabulous. You can get a-ny-thing you want: freshly made dairy products, freshly baked breads, still warm eggs and a whole lot of mushrooms - Dutch ones but also from French and Lithuanian soil. For raw foods, check out Diana Store. Don’t forget your own shopping bag - it fits the healthy lifestyle! Noordermarkt, Jordaan, Amsterdam, Saturdays from 9h-15h. 
The highest quality: Organic
Organic food for You have two locations in Amsterdam and both are open daily. Organic focuses on the busy urban people who strive for a high quality of life, including high quality foods. The products are fresh, organic and sourced from all over the Europe; think organic English’ Stilton cheese and beef from Limousine cows who walked around on the nearby protected nature area Spaarnwoude. TgeBreads are freshly baked Organic food for You, C. Schuytstraat 26, Amsterdam. Vijzelstraat 129, 1017 HJ Amsterdam. Both stores open daily.
EkoPlaza, formerly known as ‘the nature shop’, is rebranding itself into a modern healthy supermarket. The look and feel of the shops are not very stylish and not all branches are large (and some still named Natuurwinkel). Still, check out which shop is nearest to your house to get honest foods. All offering is biological and the once with the ‘Demeter’-mark are biodynamic. EkoPlaza shops - all open Mondays-Saturdays
Centre: Waterlooplein 131 (open on Sundays), Van Swindenstraat 30-36 (open on Sundays)
Jordaan: Haarlemmerdijk 160-164 (open on Sundays), , Elandsgracht 118 (open on Sundays),
West: 1e Constantijn Huygensstraat 49-55, J.P. Heijestraat 105-109, Osdorpplein 620
South: Marathonweg 21-23, Van Woustraat 80-82, Scheldestraat 53, Hueseplein 1 (Amstelveen).
The most trendy: Marqt
Marqt was the first to bring organic food to ‘young urban people’. The supermarket is light and well-styled. 90% of the offering is organic. Marqt focuses on selling “real” products, meaning original and fresh products made with respect for the natural environment and the human spirit. Lastly, the products should be ‘lekker’ and the non-foods are beautiful. Marqt, Overtoom 21, Utrechtsestraat 17 and Gedempte Oude Gracht 66, Amsterdam. Open daily.
Secret Gems - independent small organic shops who put their energy in sourcing good products and serving people (instead of marketing and making big bucks):
- Natuurvoedingwinkel Zonnermeer, Kerkstraat 6-8 Amsterdam. zonnemeer website
- Van der Veldt's Reformwinkel, Westerstraat 107, Amsterdam
- Estafette winkel Ceintuurbaan 218-220, Tweede Hugo de Grootstraat 9-11 and in the Shopping Mall “Brazilië” on Oostelijke Handelskade Amsterdam. Estafette website
- And the super-cute shop 'de Aanzet', Frans Halsstraat 27, Amsterdam. De Aanzet website
*What does ‘organic’ mean?
Organic is called ‘organisch’ or ‘biologisch’ in Dutch and refers to foods/products that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives. (Allen, Gary J. & Albala, Ken, ed (2007). The business of food: encyclopedia of the food and drink industries.) Products with the EKO quality mark are organic (see right logo), but more quality marks exist.
In order to write this blog post, I turned to a close friend of mine. When her father was told he only had a few more months to live, her whole family decided to adopt an organic lifestyle and become vegan. Now, ten years later, her 80+ year old father and the rest of the family are all happy and healthy.
Kira
Raw and superfood: Mastercare 
If you are going for a raw-living and superfood lifestyle, than Mastercare is the place to go. Whatever you need (extra energy, weight loss, better skin, detox), you can find it at Mastercare. Everything is natural/raw food, which the also serve in their Superfood Cafe. Mastercar offers coaching and meetups, under the name of chocolate club. This includes: natural/raw foods, supplements, water purification and vitalizing, cleansing of body and mind, protection from harmful radiation. Mastercare and Superfood Cafe, 1e Rozendwarsstraat 10, Amsterdam. Open daily.
Depicted in the photo: Golden Inca Berries, which are like chewy, citrusy raisins - great for snacking right out of the bag. They’re bursting with nutrients – especially phosphorous and Vitamins A, C, B1, B6, and B12. They also deliver a healthy dose of bioflavonoids which are known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties. - visit Mastercare webshop.