The always good gift list, full of the best tips
What gifts do we give to our husband, wife, father, mother, etc.? Even outside the holiday season, a list of consistently good gift ideas is always welcome for a birthday, holiday, or thank-you. When everyone around us has a birthday, what do we do? Voilà , here, the big gift list with pampering gifts, luxury gifts, sustainable gifts and I-prefer-to-keep-it-myself gifts (and also a handful last minute gifts that you don't even have to leave the house for, always good to have on hand).
We will continue to add to this list forever...
When you think of atmosphere, you think of scented candles and you quickly think of Diptyque. Last festive season, the French brand released the Sapin Scented Candle (€44). With scents of Siberian pine, resin, cedar, and moss. This limited edition is covered with real gold leaf. More inspiration for scented candles.
Always a good idea? The bedding from YumekoAn Amsterdam brand that has been making bed linen and bath textiles the ethical way since 2010. All B Corp, Fairtrade, and GOTS certified. This includes 100% organic cotton from a cooperative of small farmers in India, down from the Netherlands, and wool from France and Germany. No toxins, no hassle, no opaque supply chain. Founder Rob van den Dool (the same man who co-founded War Child Netherlands) started fifteen years ago with a clear goal: that sustainable bedding no longer has to feel like making compromises. Mission accomplished. The name? Yumeko is Japanese for 'dream child'. Appropriate, because as soon as that set is on your bed, you won't want anything else. Good to know: the Consumers' Association named their 4-season duvet made of recycled down Best in Test, and that says something. Definitely go for a good mix and match: duvet cover in percale (that lovely crunchy hotel feel), a contrasting fitted sheet and an extra pillowcase in a different shade for editorial effect. The towels en bath matsYou'll make friends with that as a housewarming gift too.
Look, it's not that we don't enjoy spending every week on the beautician's couch... we'd love to. It's just that both budget and time (in equal measure) are a bit of an obstacle. Unfortunately. And so we're quite in the hosanna through the discovery of Skèncare, A new and innovative skincare brand from—yep—the Netherlands. Their first product line, "The Routine," is an all-in-one package containing various skincare products, esthetician-style. Salon-quality skincare for daily home use. The Routine combines products with collagen, hyaluronic acid, and smart tools for a professional yet user-friendly beauty fix, right in your own bathroom. We think it's fantastic. The package costs €169, making it a truly fantastic gift to ask for (or give yourself). Thank us later. myskencare.com.
A gift that is appreciated by many people one-day-wishlist Durable, homely, and Oatmeal Elite. A pan from this French-Belgian brand from 1925 will last a lifetime. You probably immediately think of the orange-red cast iron pan, but Le Creuset has a wide collection of pans, tableware, and other kitchenware. And that orange-red color has now been expanded to 23 colors. A gift that will delight anyone who comes to your house for dinner.
We are in love with the beautiful dark red color Le Creuset 24cm Dutch Oven. €239
First things first. And that means never being without drinks. With this sparkling wine carrier Make a great entrance. And everyone knows that glasses are allowed on the table. €31,95
With or without. As long as the glass is full. This non-alcoholic wines are highly recommended.
You can eat very well from a beautiful plate. This hand-painted plates (22 cm) from Sézane make every table a party. €70 for 4 pieces
This can also be placed on the dining table ceramic water jug by Sézane. If you don't have any guests, this jug also makes a great vase. A beautiful classic. €55
Most of us know we should spend less time on our phones, but breaking the pattern proves difficult. The Offline Challenge Card Deck helps you to spend less time on your phone in a fun way based on various offline challenges. The goal? Less phone time and more connection with yourself and the people around you. Scratch off a card every day and receive fun challenges to reduce your phone use. The most fun, of course, is when you take on the challenges together with your family or friends.
If you are using loved one If you love traveling, consider a new suitcase. The Dutch suitcase brand SUITSUIT not only makes sustainable suitcases but also has the SuitSuit Foundation, through which they donate 10% of their profits to initiatives that promote female empowerment and gender equality in the travel and tourism industry. This way, the gift you give here impacts women worldwide.
A must-have this winter and year-round travel essential: the triangle scarf. Small in size, big on warmth.
Now cashmere is the softest and warmest. But often also the most expensive. This variant of Selected is affordable. €39
The soft merino scarf from Hvid is actually for children but is also great for adults. €41,95
Arriving somewhere with a bottle of wine is too easy these days way to goYou'd much rather come up with a more exciting alternative. Aha, cocktails! And then we hear you thinking: man, what a hassle, gathering all those ingredients. Enter: Dutch Cocktail Club.
Wouter worked for years in the hospitality industry, including as a bar manager at The Rum Club in Utrecht. In Australia, he pioneered the concept of ready-made cocktails. A clever concept, but the quality of such cocktails often lagged behind. In 2021, the Dutch Cocktail Club became a reality: pre-batched cocktails made with real ingredients, without artificial additives or pasteurization. Cocktails just like you'd expect from a good bar, but ready in ten seconds. Tried & tested. No lies, top stuff.
They now have a wide range of cocktails and mocktails on the shelves and recently launched a number of gift boxes (including mocktails). Hooked We're on to the espresso martini, spicy margarita, and coco matcha, you get the idea: we could go on and on about our favorites.
Capture the moment! And hang them up. With the Canon SELPHY QX20 Print your photos super quickly and easily. You can print directly from your phone with the SELPHY app – super convenient. €109,95
Or do you prefer analog work? FujiFilm Instax Square SQ1 (€98) takes the nicest instant photos in good quality. The Instax Mini Liplay+ (€220) combines all of the above: an instant camera that lets you take and print 5 megapixel photos, but also print directly from your phone.
For those who always want to keep an iconic bag with them, giving or asking for one is a great idea. Sézane makes such bags. They're high-quality and in styles that never go out of style.
Farrow pouch bag is a beautiful everyday bag. €230
Totebag Gabin is the perfect work bag or handy bag for a night out. €340
Some have continued to spray greedily, but others have dropped out a bit when using (synthetic) perfumes. For the latter, with the rise of natural perfumes, smelling good has made a comeback. There are many niche brands that focus on creating scents that connect you with nature or that have an impact on your feelings. For example, the Dutch Marie Stella Maris a wonderful line natural eau de parfum. Are the perfume bottles of By now just works of art. And boost the colorful Vyrao je mood of its own.. More about natural and vegan perfumes
Jewelry is another classic gift. It's not easy to choose for someone else because it's so personal. So adding a ring, necklace, or earrings from your favorite jewelry maker to your wish list—highlighted in yellow—is nice for the buyer. One of our favorite brands is Elle Aime Jewelry; beautiful, stylish and very easy to combine with different jewelry. Bracelets, necklaces, anklets, earrings, a collection for men and starting at €39. Another favorite is the bold necklaces and bracelets from Stellar Whispers made with big gemstones such as black onyx, clear quartz and wine-red carnelian.
Here is our (laundry) list with the most beautiful jewelry brands.
Looking for a gift for a beautiful sleeper who could use some extra comfort? Coco Cici bedding is highly recommended! It is super soft, made from sustainable fabrics such as TENCEL and Eco Bamboo, and feels like sleeping on a cloud. It is breathable, anti-allergic, and ensures a wonderful night's sleep. Available in lovely colours such as beige, peach, light blue and more. Sweet dreams!
While we're on the subject of gold, you're sure to find what you're looking for at Blush. From simple gold studs to chain necklaces and diamond rings, Blush jewelry is made of 14-karat gold, is relatively affordable, and will last a lifetime. The common thread at Blush is classic jewelry, such as rings with a diamond (or a row of diamonds), hoop earrings in all sizes, and delicate necklaces with or without a pendant. But with a modern twist.
We find the indispensable 14k gold earrings (€229) or the perfect thin gold chain (€ 189).
You'll instantly feel happy when you see HAPPY's ceramist Edith Beurskens hanging on the wall. From chocolate brown to butter yellow, they come in many colors. Also be sure to check out her ceramic boules and other sculptures. Smiley €99
Whimsy Dawn Romy Boomsma creates the pieces. The Arcane Flames, Stellar Hooks, cups, and beautiful lamps are made by Romy and produced by Royal Goedewaagen. The colors change every season. Arcane Flame €29,95
The best gift to receive (and therefore also to give)? A day, weekend or week away. And that also benefits you. Nah, there's nothing greedy about that, because nothing's more fun then treat your favorite people to fun memories that still need to be made (anticipation is the best fun). And it's a gift that makes everyone (even the toughest guy who invariably only manages to scribble 'a new pair of socks' and/or 'books' on his wish list) happy.
Give little (to big) Escapes as a gift! Don't know where to start? No worries, we wrote a whole one zipper e-books en website Full of it. What trip are you dreaming of?
Since we are all already reasonably equipped with things, the bar is raised every year when buying presents. We – of course – only want gifts with a nice story. Because let's face it: that makes giving away even more fun, doesn't it? See one here a growing list throughout the year with sustainable, healthy and conscious gift tips. So be sure to include this list when you are diligently searching. With the most beautiful, nicest (known and unknown) sustainable and honest brands. So that not only the recipient, but also the maker will be happy.
The perfect gift for someone who has everything and wants to go one step further in luxury: the good cleaning products from Kinfill. No longer clean with an ordinary all-purpose cleaner, but with a good-looking refillable bottle that you can put on the crime scene You can leave it alone. This way, you can clean a little more often and with more pleasure.
The all-purpose cleaner, bathroom, kitchen, glass, and—yes, yoga mat—comes in a refillable aluminum Ever Bottle, which you can refill with small glass bottles. €15 for one bottle and two refills.
Nowadays there is a variety of fine food and drinks in beautiful packaging. Small cult brands with a beautiful story and therefore wonderful to give as a gift. It's worth thinking about Good Jamu for the health freak, floral chocolate from Anne Fleur Sanders, non-alcoholic bubbles for your pregnant girlfriend, a real craft kombucha from Butcha x Drinks and fermented goodies from Thulls.
And then everything from shops like Edible Treasures in Amsterdam and The Butcher's Daughter in Haarlem. Go small business and then you always come up with something original.
Is it December yet? Time for Christmas baubles. Nowadays they literally come in all colors, shapes and sizes. A satisfyer in the tree? Yes dude. An artichoke as a pendant, okay is good. Who a little into the world of Christmas is, know: those ornaments can still be sold for a damn high price. So it is turned into a sport: every year a magically beautiful ball is selected and given as a gift (with a special meaning) to add to the collection. Also a nice alternative to making a surprise with Sinterklaas for families who do something with lottery tickets: pick out a ball for your drawn ticket. Preferably something with a symbolic meaning, write a coherent poem with it and the ball can go in the tree (because from December 6 we can bring that tree into our home, right?!). Where do we hit the most beautiful balls? At the Beehive shopping in the Christmas department is a party in itself, with brands such as Goodwill, HD Collection, Vondels, Sass & Belle, Kurt Adler and Liberty London also has nothing but beautiful. We also like to shop there John Derian, Anna + Nina and we have the best time exploring in November and December garden centers off.
We used to get new slippers every year (and socks, a book, and—in Maartje's case—a wrapped banana from her little brother). If we keep that tradition going, but turn them into nice, chic slippers, you won't hear us complain. The luxurious slippers from toasties we won't be doing it again for the next ten years. And the pompoms Give a Pom make you happy every morning.
How do we start the day well? With music. Not just from a half-working, stuttering and cracking speaker. No, no. Only the good stuff will do. That of Sonos You must have it. Because Sonos is life. Brilliant sound throughout the house. And what a delight that good looking speakers. That's the Sonos Roam 2 (€159). It makes everyone happy, doesn't it? The perfect gift. This ultra-portable, perfect-soundingspeaker from Sonos fits perfectly in Sinterklaas' bag or under the tree.
Newborns and photos, it's a one-two punch, but while all the clichés about children are simply true, the same applies to capturing – and preserving! – of all those precious moments that fly by far too quickly. There are a lot of apps in that area, but our favorite is the Once Upon App which results in a wildly attractive book. A personal gift that always scores points.