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KOH Experience Shop: The Nail Polish Heaven


For all my KOH nail polish swatches: Brand: KOH

Nail polish aficionados, if you ever find yourself in Amsterdam, do yourself a favour and pay a visit to this nail polish heaven.

Welcome to the KOH Experience Shop! Actually, I lied. It’s not nail polish heaven. It’s really a nail polish and manicure heaven. It’s a treasure trove filled with bottles of nail polish in a multitude of colours, a myriad of nail care products for women and men, classy colourful cases for the nail polish bottles and, as an extension of the nail care line, a line of body care products.

In my previous post, I had shared with you my visit to the KOH Experience Shop during which I received a free nail care consultation (it wasn't a manicure per se) and a free bottle of nail polish (retails for €14.95 per bottle) as part of a month-long promotion KOH was having in November. I wanted so much to show you this heaven and so, I had asked for permission to take photos of the shop. The friendly staff happily obliged. It was fortunate I went there early when it was still quiet. The shop did get much busier afterward due to the overwhelming response to the promotion. Note: This visit was made on my own initiative and at my own cost.

The KOH Experience Shop is situated on the second floor of the Dutch upmarket department store, de Bijenkorf (pronounced by-en-ko-rof). The shop itself doesn’t cover much floor area but the space is enough to display all the products under the KOH brand name. The interior is simple and Zen with lots of dark wooden furnishings.

The big eyecatcher is of course the Wall of Joyful Colours (say I). The wall itself isn't super huge but it is the biggest wall of nail polishes that I've ever set my eyes on! Multiply that by two because there are actually two such walls that greet you on either side as you enter the shop. Walls of joyful colours filled with nail polishes! Do you hear the angels singing?


In the middle between these two walls, there is seating (above) for waiting customers and possibly bored husbands or boyfriends. Further in on the left, there is the consultation and manicure table with velvet cushy high chairs (below).


I will now let the photos do most of the talking.

KOH nail polish galore:


KOH nail polish cases for single bottles or multiples:


KOH nail care products:


KOH for Men (the grey packaging):


KOH Body Sensations (just a selection):


I’ve been informed that this is the only KOH Experience Shop in existence. Here are the details:

KOH Experience Shop
2nd Floor, Bijenkorf Amsterdam
Dam 1
1012 Amsterdam

Opening hours:
Mon 11.00am – 7.00pm
Tues, Wed 10.00am – 7.00pm
Thurs, Fri 10.00am – 9.00pm
Sat 10.00am – 7.00pm
Sun 12.00pm – 7.00pm

I'd certainly recommend a visit to the KOH Experience Shop if you ever swing by Amsterdam. It isn't Rembrandt, it isn't van Gogh, but it is nail polish heaven!


Have you never heard of KOH before this? Do take a look at my post on KOH's background and my review of my very first KOH polish, KOH Rain Forest.

Further reading:
All my features on KOH nail polishes.

Updates
More pictures of the KOH Experience Shop from my subsequent visits:
January 2010
November 2010
October 2011

All images belong to Witoxicity.
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38 comments:

  1. Anonymous5 January 2010 at 01:44

    "I'll let the pictures speak for themselves".

    They certainly do.

    When does the next flight to Amsterdam leave from Australia?

    So refreshing to read and see something unique (and new to me). I can understand why people would be obsessed with this. What a perfect idea!! <3 Thank you for another fantastic post. I just love your blog xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. immarafrancesca5 January 2010 at 01:55

    I wish I was in Holland. Sigh.

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  3. + S T A R +5 January 2010 at 02:07

    heaven for all nail polish lovers =)

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  4. Shop N' Chomp5 January 2010 at 03:33

    What a beautiful store! Thank you for taking and sharing these pics with us. :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Himi5 January 2010 at 06:46

    oooh, i am so jealous right now > <

    ReplyDelete
  6. DinaXYYan5 January 2010 at 12:15

    it really is a nail polishes heaven! i wouldn't take my eyes off them if i were there :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sheefa F5 January 2010 at 15:17

    omg! it is nail paint paradise :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. The Beautifier5 January 2010 at 15:18

    A fantastic post, girlie!
    I'm in love with the interior deco of this place, not to forget the wall of joyful colours!
    If ever I gotta chance to visit Amsterdam, this KOH polish heaven would be my top place to hang around! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. twinsouls8885 January 2010 at 22:49

    WOW !!. Everything looks sooo pretty and elegant. I think they have all the colors imaginable :)

    By the way girl, I tagged you, it's a photo tag. Hope you'll do it, I'm crossin' my fingers, it's an FOTD pic ahaha :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. freshelle5 January 2010 at 23:41

    oh my...nail polish heaven!!!! i wish i was in amsterdam right now!!

    great blog! i'm a follower now =)

    ReplyDelete
  11. mskyou6 January 2010 at 02:59

    I missed out on this on my visit to Amsterdam a few years ago.. I would have gone crazy if I saw that wall of polishes! I would love to sit in one of those chairs and get a mani.. dream*

    ReplyDelete
  12. bowsnhearts6 January 2010 at 05:01

    Wow...that's what a nail bar should be like!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Witoxicity6 January 2010 at 10:37

    @The Diva's Polish
    Aww, thank you so much for your kind words! The pleasure's really all mine, especially when I know that there are readers out there who enjoy my posts. :)

    KOH has certainly come up with a brilliant idea in setting up this shop, hasn't it? It's a lovely little place but it's a pity there is only one such shop! :)

    @Mara
    Hey, just book yourself some gigs here in Holland! :D

    @GirL With GLasSes
    Yes indeed!! :D

    @Shop N' Chomp
    You're welcome, my dear! I hope the pictures give a good enough impression of what the shop is like. :)

    @hitomi
    Please don't be. I'm sure there are cool shops that you have there that we don't have here! Just add the KOH Experience Shop to your to-do list for when you come to Amsterdam. :)

    @Dina
    I hear you! It was really hard to tear myself away from the shop that day! Ha ha!

    @Shifa
    Yeah, it's incredibly so! :D

    @The Beautifier
    I'm glad you enjoyed this post, Sonali! I love how they've designed the place too. Oh yes, do keep this shop on your list when you visit Amsterdam! :)

    @twinsouls888
    Ha ha! It's a cool shop, huh? I believe KOH has around 120 nail polish colours to choose from at the moment.

    Thanks so much for the tag!! I haven't looked at my photo folders yet....can't guarantee it will be an FOTD. Ha ha!!

    @freshelle
    What are you waiting for you? Go book your flight now! ;D Seriously, do keep this shop in mind when you ever drop by Amsterdam.

    Thanks for dropping by my blog. I really appreciate it! :)

    @mskyou
    Look at you! Already seeing yourself sitting on the high chair having a manicure! You're so cute. :D Well, now you know where to go the next time you swing by Amsterdam (besides the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum).

    By the way, I think the shop is only about one or two years old, so it may not have been in existence when you were here. :)

    @bowsnhearts
    Yeah, it's a nail bar and more! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lavender6 January 2010 at 15:34

    Hi Witoxicity

    Thanks for showing us this part of nail art heaven. Hope that they have an outlet here in Malaysia one day.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Trendy with Style "P"6 January 2010 at 22:29

    hi hun! thanks for ur award!!

    this place it's a nail's paradise!! so gorgeous colours!! just incredible!! so nice decoration!! My bf wants to go to Amsterdan..so...I think I'm gonna send him there!! haha
    I really need something to take care of my nails, after I apply those falsies they look so bad...and unhealthy...:(
    well...never again!!

    :) xx

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  16. Content Director - Strong Female Leaders7 January 2010 at 05:49

    Whoa! Never been a nail person, but this place looks nice! Definitely some kind of "haven".

    Thanks for nominating me for an award, btw! I'm still new to blogging but learning a lot from everyone's great blogs.

    Sincerely,
    Tris1978ton from http://thegirlieblog.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Witoxicity7 January 2010 at 15:34

    @Lavender
    You're welcome! I do hope they will set up more KOH Experience Shops in other places too. One day perhaps...

    @patukiii
    You're welcome! Keep up the great work with your blog.

    I'm sorry to hear about the after-effects of wearing those false nails. It doesn't sound pleasant! Ha ha, yes, you should send a proxy to the KOH Experience Shop to get you some nailcare items. :D

    @tris1978ton
    I think seeing this shop would convert any non-nail person into one overnight! Regarding the award, you're welcome! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dreams That Glitter xoxo7 January 2010 at 23:32

    OMG! I'm speechless. I NEED to go there. Just amazing :)

    I tagged you for an award by the way :)

    http://georgiexox.blogspot.com/2010/01/tag-youre-doll-award.html

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  19. Caramel Diva7 January 2010 at 23:50

    Happy New Year to you and your family as well!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Witoxicity8 January 2010 at 23:27

    @Georgie
    Awww, thank you so much, my dear! You know you are the real Doll! :D

    @Caramel Diva
    Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the New Year celebrations! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jauntygirl9 January 2010 at 06:19

    Omg, that place looks amazing. I wish they had one in the US. Beautiful photographs by the way...thanks for the great post i really enjoyed it.=0)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lydia9 January 2010 at 09:20

    Wow. Just wow. Nail polish heaven!

    I tagged you for a tag on my blog by the way - I completely understand if you don't do tags etc, but just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading your blog since I found it. x

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous9 January 2010 at 11:15

    That place looks amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Beauty Scribbler9 January 2010 at 16:52

    Wow that shop looks nice! Very opulent.

    I've tagged you on my blog by the way!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Witoxicity10 January 2010 at 00:50

    @Shopaholicanonymous1
    My pleasure! I'm glad you enjoyed this post! :)

    @Grace London
    Do put this heaven on your itinerary for your next visit to Amsterdam! :)

    Thanks ever so much for the tag! I will do it soon. I'm pleased you find the ramblings of this late bloomer interesting! :D

    @Asami
    Yeah, it's really like being in a candy shop! Ha ha!

    @Beauty Scribbler
    Yeah, it certainly is!

    Thanks so much for the awards/tag! That's very thoughtful of you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous10 January 2010 at 05:50

    The shop looks gorgeous!! Wish I could visit! Their packaging and place is to die for. It really looks elegant and sophisticated!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Unknown13 January 2010 at 19:22

    Oh, ik kom niet meer in Amsterdam! =O
    Waarom moest ik dit lezen!?

    Nee, nee, nee, ik wil niet!

    (Maar Thess al die mooie kleuren dan..? )

    Boehoe... =D

    Vind alleen Koh erg pittig geprijsd...
    Bijna zelfde prijs als OPI, maar 5 ml minder....
    Wat vind jij daarvan?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Witoxicity13 January 2010 at 21:06

    @Natalie
    I know! It's quite difficult to resist falling for this place. :D

    @Thess
    Er zit inderdaad meer in een OPI flesje en het prijsverschil is één euro, maar je krijgt er bij KOH wel een mooi doosje bij en die kun je later weer gebruiken om andere dingen in te doen, zoals sieraden. :)

    Het concept spreekt mij ook heel erg aan en bovendien heeft KOH veel mooie kleuren in het assortiment. Het is daarom soms moeilijk om te kiezen! :D

    Ja, het is jammer dat er slechts één KOH Experience Shop is.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Unknown13 January 2010 at 23:08

    Ja, dat is het gekke, ik heb dus een Koh lak maar mooi geen doosje.. =P
    Wel de volle prijs betaald. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Witoxicity14 January 2010 at 22:21

    @Thess
    Oh, nu begrijp ik je vergelijking met OPI. Het is heel jammer, dat je er geen doosje bij hebt gekregen! Ik weet ook niet of het doosje er altijd bijgeleverd werd, sinds ik het koop in ieder geval wel.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Latindolll429 May 2010 at 18:43

    Is the Consultation still available now? I just tried the Koh nail polish in mooi and I'm hooked !!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Witoxicity29 May 2010 at 22:47

    @Latindolll4
    Hi! Well, the free consultation that I had back then was because of a promotion that KOH was having. Outside of that, they do offer manicure services (from a basic one without nail polish to a full manicure session) for a fee. I believe they still charge anything between €20.00 and €45.00 for it.

    Go check out the shop if you have the chance. It'll be a fun experience oggling at the nail colours there. :D

    ReplyDelete
  33. Fleur d'Oranger20 July 2010 at 11:29

    Hello
    I am in love with these nails polish
    I just have two questions:
    You are in partnership with this mark(brand) Koh?
    It is your own photos during your visit in this shop?
    Is very very beautiful
    I am a fan for months / year
    Kiss oranges
    Bisous orangés

    ReplyDelete
  34. Witoxicity21 July 2010 at 12:14

    @Fleur d'Oranger
    Hi! Thanks for dropping a line. I can't blame you for falling in love with these KOH polishes. :D Its colour range is awesome! In answer to your questions:
    - I was recently sent a few products by KOH to try out and review but other than that, no, I'm not in partnership with KOH. I'm just a big fan of KOH polishes and I like to share with others my enthusiasm for the brand through my articles.
    - The photos of the KOH Experience Shop that you see here in this article are my own. They were taken during my visit to the KOH Shop. The visit was made on my own initiative and at my own cost.

    Thank you for your very kind words. It's great to get feedback from my readers! I must give credit to my lovely husband who assisted me with taking these photos! :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Fleur d'Oranger22 July 2010 at 04:26

    Hi
    Thank you very much for your answers, you are very charming...
    It is very pleasant to you to share it... your photos, your visit ^^
    I have already commanded(ordered) their varnish (nail polish) and indeed they are sublime!!!<3<3<3
    Just damage that they are a bit expensive
    You are lucky to live in the Nederland, isn't it? Yes ? No? Smile ;-)
    very nice day!
    Kiss oranges
    Bisous orangés

    ReplyDelete
  36. Witoxicity22 July 2010 at 10:53

    @Fleur d'Oranger
    The pleasure's all mine! :)

    Oh, you've ordered the polishes from KOH? That's fantastic! Great colours but yes, they do burn a hole in your pocket. :P I try to buy mine when there are discounts and special offers at the stores.

    As with anywhere where one lives, there are always the good things and the not-so-good things. As far as KOH polishes are concerned, well, it is nice to have relatively easy access to these polishes in the Netherlands. :D

    Hey, I hope you'll have a lovely day too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Sieraden27 May 2011 at 09:36

    I've never seen KOH in the Bijenkorf, but I'll take a closer look next time I'm there.

    Do you know if they have the KOH shop in other filialen of the Bijenkorf, other than Amsterdam?

    ReplyDelete
  38. Witoxicity27 May 2011 at 10:32

    @Sieraden
    Hi! At the moment, there's only one KOH Experience Shop and that's in de Bijenkorf in Amsterdam (2nd floor). They've been talking for a long time about opening more shops in other Bijenkorf stores but nothing's come up so far, unfortunately. :)

    ReplyDelete

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