Sustainable Shopping
You’re in the mood for shopping, and let’s get one thing straight: you’re already doing great. You’re outside, staying active, and ready to give the regional economy a boost – but when you do it, do it right. You’ll enjoy your purchase more when you know it was made completely guilt-free, with care for people and the environment. Here, you’ll discover the most beautiful handmade items, the most conscious entrepreneurs, and markets filled with local products and seasonal food. Ready to shop sustainably? Let’s go!
Dille & Kamille
In 1974, the first Dille & Kamille opened its doors, and since then, it has become an integral part of our streetscape. In our fast-paced world, Dille & Kamille wants to show that there is another way and inspire people to live consciously, in harmony with each other and nature. They do this, of course, with their product range: when you walk in, you see that their goods are made from natural materials. Many wooden and glass items that feel sturdy and last long. The cleaning products they sell also contain no microplastics and are probably still found in your grandmother's cleaning cabinet. Not only is their product range sustainable, but their initiatives also aim to bring about change. For example, they don’t participate in 'Black Friday,' but instead celebrate 'Green Friday' and share many tips for living more sustainably.
Visit Dille & Kamille
Conceptstore Nørd
Suus and Gerard, the owners of Conceptstore Nørd, prefer to collaborate with small, independent designers and sell products with a story. For example, the beautiful bags and laptop sleeves from Hindbag are made from 100% organic cotton. The design of these bags is 100% ethically certified and is done within an NGO. The female employees earn three times the local standard wage. The seamstresses receive quality training, and their children have access to education. This creates a positive social impact. Hindbag is not the only beautiful brand available in the store. Curious? Then step inside at Sint Jacobsstraat 10.
Visit Nørd
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Nestled among the most beautiful buildings in Leeuwarden
biological
Between the beautiful Central Pharmacy in Art Nouveau style and the old Bonifatius Church, there is a small hidden alley. Here you will find the organic supermarket Ekoplaza. Ekoplaza focuses on themes such as organic dynamic farming, fair trade production, conscious packaging choices, and vital living. “In daily life, you constantly have to make choices. By choosing well together, we change the world every day. Plate by plate, cart by cart, basket by basket. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. We provide food from growers and farmers we know personally; you pay a fair price for food that has been treated well. Not too much, but also not too little. Together, we work towards a food chain that makes sense. Organic? Yes, of course. But especially local, personally selected by us, sustainably transported, and packaged with as little plastic as possible. You can hold us to that. Because that better world will only come if we do it together.”
While in the supermarket you can sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed—because let’s face it, it can be quite a lot: the people, the radio, the busyness at the self-checkout, loud advertisements, and shelves full of chips and cola—the aisles in Ekoplaza are spacious, there’s no music playing, and you don’t have to scan anything yourself. This makes it not only a conscious choice but also a pleasant shopping experience.
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Friday market
Friday market
Every week at Zaailand, Wilhelminaplein in Leeuwarden. You’ll find vegetables, fruit, snacks, fish, meat, eggs, dairy, bread, and nuts at the Friday market!
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Farmer's market
Farmer's market
Hidden in Vijzelstraat, one of the cutest streets in Leeuwarden, you’ll find the Farmer’s Market every first Saturday of the month. Here you can buy local, organic, handmade products and gifts.
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De Streekboer
De Streekboer
The name says it all! Your local, fair, and organic regional products can be ordered at the Streekboer, the 'local farmer'. You can pick them up every week at a pick-up point in Leeuwarden.
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De Wereld van Thee
De Wereld van Thee
Monique from De Wereld van Thee, the World of Tea, offers the most special, delicious, and surprising teas you can imagine. You can choose from over 180 different types of tea.
Sustainable enjoyment - Lovely
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come and drink coffee
At Fer, you can enjoy the tastiest cups of coffee. And the coffee tastes even better knowing that the beans are produced fair trade! Enjoy organic juices and lemonades, a delicious (oat) cappuccino, the best Japanese matcha (cold or hot!), and a vegan piece of orange cake. Are you a big fan? Then you can also buy coffee beans at Fer to brew your (honest) cup of joe at home.
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come eat cake
Pip's Delicious is the place for every sweet tooth. From delicious cakes to freshly baked cookies, there's something for everyone. And you can get it all completely plant-based! Allergies or dietary preferences? No problem: at Pip's Delicious, you can find treats that are sugar-free, lactose-free, soy-free, or gluten-free. The motto is no coincidence: "delicious cakes for everyone!"
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come dine
At Unia 12, you can enjoy delicious, fresh, and local food. They cook with ingredients from the area—preferably sourced directly from the farmer—and focus on seasonal produce. That's why the menu is small and changes frequently. You can also purchase the paintings and artworks on the walls, created by a local artist.
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Check out Proefverlof
At Proefverlof, the chefs work with local and seasonal vegetables. They also have a wide range of vegetarian and vegan dishes! This means a smaller environmental impact without compromising on quality. Mmmm!
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Taste Dutch Cuisine
Post-Plaza follows the 5 principles of Dutch Cuisine: The dish tells us where and in which season we are, it’s good for us and the planet, the food is honest and versatile, we buy, cook, and eat consciously, and we work towards results for tomorrow. Sounds good, right?
Conscious shopping - sustainable
Our belongings, clothing, and food come from somewhere. The industries that produce these items have an impact on the climate. Everyone leaves behind an ecological footprint. To help ease the burden on the world, you can choose more sustainable options. For example, think of second-hand clothes and items: thrift shopping and scoring vintage gems is not only good for the world and your wallet, but it's also fun!
When grocery shopping, pay attention to where the product comes from. Try to buy as many seasonal products as possible: these products haven’t traveled a long way to reach the Netherlands, so the environmental impact is smaller. And if your budget allows, go organic. At the Friday market, there’s an organic stall where food is cheaper than in the supermarket.
Finally, you can look for certain (certification) labels. Think FairTrade, organic, microplastic-free, MSC certification (sustainable fishing), and PETA (not tested on animals). These labels are not given lightly, and they are strictly regulated. This way, you know what you’re getting!
Vintage shopping - pre-loved items
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Madelief
Madelief
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De Plek
De Plek
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Vintage Market
Vintage Market
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Regverdig
Regverdig
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Kledingkast
Kledingkast
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Vintage2YouStore
Vintage2YouStore
More vintage - tour!
Are you always on the hunt for the most beautiful second-hand treasures? Or have you caught the Y2K bug? Then check out our blog about vintage shopping or take our free vintage tour! The tour is easy to follow on your mobile, no app needed, and it’s free. The tour takes you to all the vintage and second-hand shops in the city center, and beyond. This way, you won’t miss a single store.
Try the vintage tour!
