Visiting Lush in Den Bosch has got to be one of my most memorable store experiences. As we walked…read morepast the store we caught a brief whiff of perfume, which made use turn our heads only to see a small store filled with cupcakes. Well, this is pure mind trickery! Trying to eat any of these beauty and cleaning products might not be a good idea even though they are made of natural products and the store has a very clear ecological and sustainable products focus. The whole interior is very inspiring with all these soaps, shampoos and massage oils that look like colourful cupcakes. Plus they also have a large shelf with pre-packaged gift bundles in different shapes and colours. Upon entering I immediately got approached by a girl (look for the girl with the shaved head! :)) who probably noticed my confused facial expression. She grabbed my hands and made me try some of their products by demonstrating how to apply some strange alien looking yelly cone that was in fact soap. After that we moved on to the next table to try some lotion all while cracking jokes and trying to analyse what I was looking for. I guess it comes as no surprise that I left the store with a colourful gift bag to bring back home plus I also got a sample piece of skin-lotion-cake-looking-thingy...

Doesn't give out the samples like in the United States, but the store is clean and the workers are…read morenice. I am a repeated customer, so I guess I am still satisfied with this store.. as long as they have karma bubble bar in stock! :)

Great hairdresser…read more They cut hair and don't try to sell me a lot of creams, shampoos etc.. This is a legitimate proper great hairdresser.

I really like this salon! Carla has multiple types of wax and caters to what's best for each skin…read moretype/area. Overall she has a nice selection of natural-as-possible products. She has a lot of experience, so you're in good hands! I would love to try another service like a manicure or facial.

This is a handy chemist right in the heart of Tilburg. They have everything you would need or…read moreexpect and it's just the right size. One thing I always enjoy about this location though is they always have 3-5 tills going so you never queue long.

This is a new handbag and accessory store in Dordrecht, not far from the train station. They have…read moremostly handbags and wallets, and a wide range from a bit dowdy to extremely trendy. The prices are all very reasonable - think 20-45 euros. There were both older and younger women in there buying things. They also have a number of scarves for 10 euros each. The staff are really friendly and helpful. We bought quite a bit and they let us leave our bags in the store while we went shopping elsewhere, and then we picked them up later.

Came here a couple of times to buy shoes, clothings, and gifts. I love that the sales associates…read moreare very helpful and not pushy at all. They have a great variety of chocolate and wine over at the cafe area. The packaging is perfect for gifting as is, but they also wrap the gifts for you in nice black, sleek wrapping paper. Of course, can't forget the signature Bijenkorf orange bow. We tried a vegan square frambozen (raspberry cake) and weespermoppen (almond cookies). The cake was melt in your mouth amazing. The almond cookies were a little too sweet for my taste, but I can tell it's well made. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because the one in Amsterdam has a much wider selection in terms of handbag and shoes. My biggest tip for those shopping here if you're planning to leave the EU within 3 months: - Ask for a Global Blue VAT refund form and make sure the retailer stamps and signs it. Your order must be at least €50. - Why? Because the prices you see and pay include VAT (similar to sales tax). If the refund process is done correctly, within a few weeks you'll receive roughly 10% back. - I had it refunded directly against my credit card balance. You can get it back in a variety of methods (cash, bank deposit, etc). - Fill out the form you get and get a customs stamp. The most convenient method in my opinion is to simply get the stamp at a participating airport (Schiphol, for example), you can also drop it off at the airport. Otherwise you'll have to personally mail it. - You *must* show the customs agent an outbound plane ticket for proof of exporting the product. - Of course, make sure to read the instructions you get in its entirety. Money is money!

This store is kind of like the Macy's of Europe, maybe even better than Macy's. A high-end…read moredepartment store selling perfumes, name brand clothing, purses etc. de Bijenkorf has it all. I love stopping in and checking out their cosmetics and bath and body products. Last year I stopped in to buy gift sets from their Rituals counter for my family during Christmas time. Everyone was very helpful and they individually wrapped each gift I bought. Also during holiday season they have their own display of holiday lights which is fun to look at. Conveniently located within a few meters walking distance from the Eindhoven train station, this store is quite easy to get to.

Scandinavian calm, charm and style: how amazing?…read more Immediately when I saw Søstrene Grene yesterday in Den Bosch I just knew that this was a shop I needed to visit and it certainly paid off. Though everything here may be inexpensive it might still be best to plan a big spending budget because believe me, you'll want to buy EVERYTHING. From arts and crafts to snacks, kitchenware, home décor (for kids too!) and even some small pieces of furniture, Søstrene Grene is practically a one-stop-shop for about 75% of life's necessities and I love it! Definitely a fan, definitely coming back and I think the photos speak for themselves.