Amsterdam then and now: the site of the shop that inspired the expression ‘Winkel van Sinkel’
The Winkel van Sinkel, established in Amsterdam in 1822 by Anton Sinkel, was the city's first department store and introduced modern concepts like fixed prices and large display windows. Although the business closed in 1911, the store's name became a lasting Dutch idiom for a shop where anything can be purchased.
The Winkel van Sinkel, founded by German entrepreneur Anton Sinkel, was Amsterdam's first true department store, located on the Nieuwendijk. Established in 1822, it revolutionized local retail by introducing fixed prices instead of traditional haggling and utilizing large display windows to showcase goods. The business experienced massive growth, eventually expanding its inventory from textiles to include furniture, housewares, and medicine, while opening multiple branches across the city.
Following Sinkel's death in 1848, the business continued under new management until it faced increasing pressure from modern competitors toward the end of the 19th century. A final, massive clearance sale began in 1910 and lasted until 1911. Although the original store is long gone, the phrase 'Winkel van Sinkel' persists in the Dutch language as an idiomatic expression for a shop where one can buy anything. Today, a Hema store occupies the historic Nieuwendijk address where Sinkel’s pioneering retail empire once operated.
Based on reporting by ad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
