Het Vachtje is a specialist pet shop and dog boutique on the Haarlemmerdijk in Amsterdam, a short walk from the Houthavens and the Pontsteiger, offering carefully selected food, accessories and personal feeding advice in English.
If you have recently moved to the Houthavens or one of the apartments around the Pontsteiger, you are in a part of Amsterdam that has grown quickly over the past few years. Many residents here are internationals with a dog or cat, often a first pet in a new city. What can be hard to find nearby is a shop that gives real advice in English: somewhere the person behind the counter actually knows the products and will tell you honestly what suits your animal. That shop is closer than you might expect.
How to reach Het Vachtje from the Houthavens
From the Pontsteiger and the Houthavens it is roughly a fifteen minute walk to the Haarlemmerdijk. You cross through the Spaarndammerbuurt, past the Zoutkeetsgracht and the Western Islands, and arrive on the Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk. By bike it takes five to ten minutes. You will find us at Haarlemmerdijk 97-105, in one of the most pleasant shopping streets in Amsterdam. Bringing your dog along? Dogs are very welcome inside the shop, and many customers combine a walk along the IJ with a visit to us.
Food and feeding advice you can trust
We stock a curated selection of dog and cat food, chosen for its composition rather than its margin. For a dog with a sensitive stomach or skin issues, we look together with you at age, weight and current diet before recommending anything. Alongside well known brands we carry our own label ARNI, which we developed ourselves, and snacks from brands such as Landman that our regular customers stay loyal to. Many Dutch pet food brands will be unfamiliar to you at first, which is exactly why we explain why we carry them. If you are unsure what suits your pet, we think along with you rather than selling you the most expensive bag on the shelf.
Prefer not to come in every time? You can order your regular food and snacks through our webshop. We ship free within the Netherlands on orders above 59 euro, so your usual bag of food simply arrives at home. One Netherlands specific note: free shipping and delivery options are set up for Dutch addresses, so ordering to your Amsterdam home is straightforward.
A dog boutique with brands you will not find everywhere
Our dog boutique carries harnesses, collars, leashes and beds from brands we have selected ourselves for fit and durability, several of which are rarely found elsewhere in the Netherlands. For a dog that walks along the water in the Houthavens every day, a harness that fits properly matters just as much as the right food. When you visit the shop, we fit every harness together with your dog so the size is right before you take anything home.
Why local residents choose Het Vachtje
Het Vachtje is not a budget store and not an anonymous chain. We know many of the dogs in the neighbourhood by name and remember which customer has a new kitten or has just lost an old companion. That personal attention is why people come back. Whether your question is about food, a harness or coat care, you are helped with knowledge and genuine attention, and you never have to worry that your English is a barrier.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Het Vachtje from the Pontsteiger?
From the Pontsteiger and the Houthavens it is about a fifteen minute walk to our shop at Haarlemmerdijk 97-105. By bike it takes five to ten minutes.
Do you speak English in the shop?
Yes. Our team helps customers in English, and you are always welcome to ask your questions in English in the shop, by phone or by email.
Can my dog come inside the shop?
Dogs are very welcome inside. Many customers combine a walk along the IJ with a visit to the shop.
Can I order online instead of visiting?
You can. Through our webshop you can order your regular food and snacks online, with free shipping within the Netherlands on orders above 59 euro.
I am new to Dutch pet food brands. Can you help?
Of course. We explain why we carry each brand and look together with you at your pet's age, weight and current diet before recommending a food, so the choice makes sense to you.
Visit us or give us a call
Living in the Houthavens or near the Pontsteiger and looking for good food, a well fitting harness or advice for your dog or cat? Come by at Haarlemmerdijk 97-105 or call us on 020 341 33 63. We are happy to help, in English.