As you may or may not know, Dutch design has an outstanding reputation throughout the world (though you might need a background in design to appreciate its minimalist appeal). Bringing this design to the Dutch masses for more than 80 years is HEMA (“Hollandsche Eenheidsprijzen Maatschappij Amsterdam”).

At first glance, these stores can just come across as slightly clinical versions of your friendly neighborhood supermarket minus the fresh produce, but their selection (all exclusively developed by and sold at HEMA) includes almost every household item: From bicycle lights to notepads, from painkillers to underwear, and from cosmetics to kitchen utensils, it’s all here at reasonable prices and in a sturdy, no-nonsense style.

The lack of frills and the practical nature of Dutch design shines through in HEMA’s items and their packaging, which should interest anyone with a keen eye for all things designy. But even if you’re a philistine when it comes to design, you can still profit from the quality of their wares and their value for money, or from their succulent smoked Dutch sausage (either with or without a roll and/or mustard) which are guaranteed to send any hot dog lover into a feeding frenzy.