Shopping for furniture

IN THIS SECTION
Introduction
Where can I buy furniture?
Hiring furniture
Taking delivery, how long?

Introduction

As with food shopping, the experience as such doesn't differ that much. Use the following as your guide:

• If a product is sold out, it is sold out.
• If an item is not at one store, don't expect it at another one (or for the same price; price guarantees from store to store aren't generally possible).
• Mega-store does not indicate Mega-range.
• Just because it is in the catalogue, doesn't mean a store stocks the particular item.
• Parking is not free on weekends, it doubles in price at some places (Alexandrium).
• Shopping takes time (lots) so just run with it.

Where can I buy furniture?

There are a myriad of stores around Rotterdam of all descriptions; from the top range of modern designer items to more traditional designs to the mid-price bracket and the 'cost effective'. It all depends on what you are looking for. As with the rest of your shopping experience, it will take time to shop around and find what works for you and if it fits with your budget. Follow this Woonwebsite link to view all things House & Home related, you can search for a variety of stores around the Netherlands by topic, eg. badkamer/bathroom (site is in Dutch).

Alexandrium III Woonmall
The newest wing to this sprawling shopping centre that houses a large and diverse range of stores to furnish your entire house. Parking available on the rooftop. The mall contains shops for beds, curtains, lighting, designer items, storage, lundia and more. There is a very good childcare facility there also on the top level, €3.50/child per hour for max of 2 hours. It is only open on Wednesdays, Fridays (11 - 5pm) and weekends. The complex opens on the first Sunday of each month, so the creche does too.

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If you follow on past the Woonmall to the second part of Watermanweg you will find a smaller selection of stores, "Woonboulevard Capelle". All the websites listed are in Dutch.
Karwei - DIY
Praxis - DIY
Kwantum - budget furniture selection, baskets, lighting, bedding, flooring
Woon Store, Factory Outlet - a treasure trove of designer and ethnic textiles and furniture
Trendhopper - mid priced furniture, baskets, textiles and kitchen and bathroom ware
Leen Bakker - budget-mid priced furniture, flooring, textiles, mirrors, outdoor
Beter Bed - as the name suggests, is a bed shop that also sells some furniture
Hartog Wonen - living and bedroom furniture
Oase - bedroom furniture specialist. Nicely laid out in 'room settings'
Divino & Divani - more upmarket store selling furniture and furnishings
Eikenland - upmarket store selling variety of styles of furniture and furnishings
Seats & Sofas - an American branded/styled store, selling only chairs and sofas
Karpetten - Carpets and flooring
Carpet Right - the website lists all store addresses only. Discount flooring store
Artana Vloeren - More upmarket store selling diverse selection of flooring

Suburban shopping

Each of the suburbs have their own shopping centres containing much of what you will require on a daily basis.

If you get tired of traipsing around, there is always IKEA. IKEA stores are really the same the world over, the opening hours are more agreeable and there are lots of areas for your kids to play in. The main advantage however, is that you generally get to take your items home with you when you buy them. After sales service is also very good.

IKEA Delft (north)
Olof Palmestraat 1, 2616 LN
This store is the easiest to find for novice Rotterdam driver. Just follow the A13 expressway to Delft and take the exit (afrit 9) and drive toward the very large IKEA sign. The drawback to this store is that you cannot take your trolley past the exit. You need to collect your car and bring it up into this loading area. Great childrens' play area - for children over 3. Undergoing huge redevelopment to be the largest store in Holland, expect delays and chaos if you go at the weekend or evenings. Labels and catalogues are in Dutch/English. A word of warning, unless you visit late at night or in the mornings, expect huge crowds and queues at the checkout.

Opening hours: 10am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm Saturdays. Open on last Sunday of each month.

IKEA Barendrecht (south)
Hamburg 1, 2993 LG
Definitely a tricky store to find but only 10 minutes from downtown Rotterdam if you take all the correct turns, about an hour and a lovely drive through villages and the countryside if you don't. Is an easy exit off A29 (afrit 20) if you make it to the right road. Much better store for ease of parking and getting your goods to the car. Labels and catalogues are in Dutch. Good children's area with a recently upgraded cafe, now more spacious layout with many child friendly entertainment (plasma with movies, playstation 2 console, circular play area). Slightly less crowded than Delft, but if you go outside of the popular times, it will be less crowded.

Opening hours: 10am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm Saturdays.

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Hiring furniture

If you have your house but your container hasn't yet arrived, then you are able to hire furniture for the period of time it takes until you have possession of your goods or your stay in the country. It might be somewhat expensive, but it may mean the difference of getting reasonably settled in your permanent accommodation or stay a few weeks longer in the hotel or apartment.

Ask your company if they have a preferred organisation, or alternatively try In-Lease Nederland B.V. for short to long term rental contracts. Packages provided are comprehensive.

Taking Delivery - How Long?

Depending on the store it can take six to 20 weeks to get delivery of small items through to furniture and appliances. Your choices are to either accept the delivery time or go to IKEA. If you buy last item appliances off the shop floor and ask if you can take it with you, don't be surprised if the answer is "No". Some stores have a policy that they will not let you take large appliances directly without it having to be cleared through their warehouse - this may be in Amsterdam or Utrecht. It may take up to a week. Delivery charges are generally not negotiable and they will try to get you to pay for many other ad-ons such as protection insurance.

If you have made a phone or internet order, don't be surprised if you are unable to pay by credit card, you may however be able to pay by bank transfer or bank giro. Despite this, many companies expect cash on delivery for the item no matter what the cost (even into the hundreds of euros). Strangely, this is quite normal practice, be sure that the delivery person issues you with a receipt. Be sure to check the item is what you ordered and in good working order and condition before you handover your money. The delivery service may also unpack and take away packaging. Any problems that you can see, it would be prudent to call the shop or manufacturer while the delivery guys are still there.

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