After 27 years, Michiel Wildschut and Baukje Stamm are closing their antique shop in the Jordaan.
While the business remains profitable, the owners say running a physical storefront in Amsterdam is no longer viable.
Wildschut began working as an independent dealer after a period at Christie’s, operating first from antique centre De Looier and later from the shop on Eerste Looiersdwarsstraat.
Stamm later joined the business, using her background in film and advertising to establish an online shop and a prop rental service for productions.
Changing tastes and smaller homes
The owners point to major shifts in their local customer base over the years.
The middle segment of buyers has largely disappeared, as shoppers increasingly choose either budget stores or expensive design brands.
Smaller living spaces and built-in wardrobes have also left residents with less space for traditional antique furniture.
The shift accelerated after the 2008 financial crisis, which ended a period of rapid stock turnover and led several neighbouring shops to close.
A move to international markets
While local walk-in trade declined, international sales through the webshop grew strongly.
The owners note that French, British, and American clients show greater interest in the history and style of the pieces, whereas Dutch customers tend to be more price-sensitive.
The closure fits a wider nationwide pattern, with official statistics showing the number of antique shops in the Netherlands falling from 1,305 in early 2011 to 660 early this year.
Wildschut and Stamm plan to continue trading from France, where they are currently searching for a property to use as a showroom, warehouse, and photography studio.
The couple noted that saying goodbye to the Jordaan is difficult, as the store had long functioned as a meeting place for neighbours.
