7 unique shops in hip Hilversum

Do you feel like getting a whole new look? Then you should check out MAT.Store in Hilversum Owners Maud and Anne pull out all the stops to supply you with a trendy new outfit. This is the place to go to leave your fashion comfort zone. Whether it's an eye-catching blouse that you wouldn't expect to be so flattering. Or a cool collar that gives the perfect finishing touch. And for a new look from head to toe, why not make an appointment with the hairdresser too? Sit down for just a trim, and leave with a complete metamorphosis. You'll feel like a whole new person by the time you board your train home. 

You can walk to MAT.Store from Hilversum station in just 10 minutes.  

• Open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 - 18:00, Thursday until 21:00, Saturday from 10:00 - 17:00, and Sunday from 13:00 - 17:00. 

Kerkstraat 63/17, matstore.nl

When you step inside La Tarifa, you feel like you've entered a shop on the Spanish coast. Tropical plants, earth tones and rattan accessories immediately give off the Mediterranean vibe. The shop is inspired by the Spanish surfing hotspot Tarifa, hence the name. Inside the boutique, you can score accessories that were once only available in sunny Southern Europe. It's a paradise for fans of bohemian necklaces, rings and arm bands. In addition to the hand-made jewellery, you can also find bins full of beads and materials to make your own. The owners also frequently host jewellery workshops. A great idea for a day out with the girls. 

And it's only a 5-minute walk from Hilversum station 

• Open Monday to Friday from 10:00 - 18:00, Thursday until 21:00, Saturday from 10:00 - 17:00, and Sunday from 09:00 - 17:00.

Wagemakersplein 1-B, latarifa.nl

Good Grounds in Hilversum feels more like a fun party than a retail outlet. This place can't help but make you happy. Is it the hip accessories on display everywhere? Definitely. Is it the scrumptious fig pastry you ordered in the lunch café? Or the grillworst bun from the local butcher? Absolutely. But what will definitely put a smile on your face is the passionate people who work at Good Grounds. Each of them has a unique background and life story. And they make all the beautiful products themselves in the social workshop at the Good Grounds studio. This is the place to score the BLYY line of handmade products. Unique gift ideas you can't find anywhere else, for someone else, or just for you.

Good Grounds is just a 10-minute walk from Hilversum station.

• Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 - 17:30, and Sunday from 13:00 - 17:30.

Kerkstraat 63-21, goodgrounds.store

HeinsHome is a home furnishings shop with items from around the world. This is where you can find dishes with colourful patterns from India, woven baskets from Africa and hip decorations from Vietnam. All handmade, and all one-of-a-kind. These unique home accessories are sure to bring out the interior stylist in you. The colourful South American pillows are perfect to brighten up your bedroom. And the Icelandic fleece will put the finishing touch on your sofa. Virtually all of the products in this home furnishings shop are produced sustainably. So it's the perfect place for items that make the world - and your interior - a better place. If you prefer to shop in peace and quiet, you can make an appointment to come into HeinsHome after hours. 

HeinsHome is located on Hilversum's premiere shopping street, the 'Gijsbrecht'. You can get there on foot in around 20 minutes from Hilversum station. Or rent an OV-fiets and be there in just 5 minutes. 

• Open Wednesday to Friday from 10:00 - 18:00, and Saturday from 10:00 - 17:00.

Gijsbrecht van Amstelstraat 143, heinshome.nl

Once you step inside Salumeria Primo, you can forget that you're shopping in Hilversum. This authentic Italian shop is packed with Mediterranean delicacies. Golden olive oil, sardines in colourful tins, and everything you need to make your own pasta. This is the place to buy unique products that are only available at specialty stores in Italy. Ask the friendly owner Luca for advice, and go home with a bag full of Italy.

You can walk to Salumeria Prima from Hilversum station in just 5 minutes.  

• Open Monday from 11:00 - 15:00, Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 - 18:00, and Saturday from 10:00 - 17:00. 

Bussumerstraat 51, salumeriaprimo.nl

If you're spending the day shopping with children in Hilversum, then you should definitely visit Mevrouw Groen. This is the most fun shop for kids in the whole city. Just the store window is an attraction in itself. But you won't believe your eyes when you step inside. This place has absolutely everything for kids. From the exciting book tip from the neighbour, to the sustainable raincoat you've been looking for everywhere. The selection is large, but owner Claudine Hoogerheijde can find exactly what you're looking for.

Mevrouw Groen is just a 10-minute walk from HIlversum station.

• Open Monday from 11:00 - 17:30, Tuesday to Saturday from 09:30 - 17:30, Thursday evening until 21:00 and Sunday from 12:00 - 17:00. 

’s Gravelandseweg 46, mevrouwgroen.nl

For many music lovers, playing a vinyl record calls up feelings of nostalgia. And Chez Elpee is a record store dripping with that sense of nostalgia. The vinyl shop once served as a traditional Dutch brown café. So a step inside is like stepping back in time. Back to the 1970s, with the orange-and-brown curtains, Fat Lava lamps and retro posters of the superstars of yesterday. Browse through the home-made wooden bins and find that rare album you've been searching for for years. Chez Elpee is one of Hilversum's most authentic shops. And it's a paradise for devoted vinyl collectors.

You can walk from Hilversum station to Chez Elpee in around 10 minutes. 

• Open Thursday from 10:00 - 18:00, Friday from 10:00 - 21:00, and Saturday from 10:00 - 17:00.

Neuweg 221, Chez Elpee

^{Copy: Jeske van Steen - Insiders
Image: Atelier Shai, La Tarifa, Good Grounds, Heins Home, Salumeria Primo, Mevrouw Groen, Chez Elpee, Pexels}