“The friendly, floating rubber duck has healing properties: it can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them” – this quote by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman is printed on a card handed out in the Amsterdam Duck Store. Florentijn’s work includes a huge rubber duck that has graced waterways around the world, including Australia.

With hundreds of cute and creative ducks begging to be taken home, this unique experience in Amsterdam has become incredibly popular. With two locations in Amsterdam (Oude Leliestraat 16 and Staalstraat 10), you can browse for your perfect duck friend – or order online at www.amsterdamduckstore.com – with shipping worldwide.

I had the pleasure of chatting to owner, Barbara de Vlam and her husband about the origins of their store and the joy that rubber ducks can bring. You can read their duck story here.

Our own visit to the store was inspired by my Dutch Australian daughters, aged 12 and 14. We live in The Hague and I’d long planned to take them on a visit to Amsterdam – but was it the museums, canals and reputation of this amazing city that called to them? No, it was after seeing a TikTok video about the Amsterdam Duck Store that they begged me to take them!

We purchased two gorgeous gay wedding ducks for a beautiful couple who were married recently, which was one of their favourite gifts.

Well worth a visit, there is something for everyone. Even found a “Kangaroo Duck” with a joey!

They also ship to Australia.