The brain child of father and son Marc and Mike Spits, the Elephant Parade project has already tasted huge success in Rotterdam and Antwerp having raised a total of €700.000 in response. The amount will be donated to ‘The Elephant Family’, the world’s largest organization supporting elephants.

The artificial elephants will be distributed among various hotspots of Amsterdam from 5 September to 31 October including places like Museumplein, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal,
Koningsplein, Westermarkt, Jodenbreestraat. Kalvertoren (shopping), Amstelveld, Frederiksplein and Nieuwmarkt.

Christie’s auction house will auction the elephants at the culture park Westergasterrein. A major sponsor, the design furniture brand Topform, has already acquired 30 out of the hundred artificial elephants which are life-sized models of baby elephants on three-dimensional artistic canvases. They will be painted by internationally renowned designers and artists like Cornelie, Rob Scholte and Menno Bars.

If, as a visiting tourist, you are not able to fit one in your suitcase, you can still take home a painted pachyderm. Miniature replicas (10 to 75 cm high) will be available at several selling points, including the Kalvertoren shopping centre off Kalverstraat.

Kalverstraat
Being the busiest of all shopping streets of Amsterdam, Kalverstraat is usually crowded and the prices here are often on the higher side. There are two big shopping malls here, Kalvertoren and Magna Plaza and several big department stores including Bonneterie and the Bijenkorf.

Haarlemmerstraat
Newly developed, full of trendy yet inexpensive stuff, offering variety, this shopping street belongs to the younger generation who are trying new products and new shopping formulae. There are also many informal cafés and bars where you may take a break and renew your energy.

P.C.Hooftstraat
Quite expensive and posh, with modest architecture and the best shops in town, this area has world’s biggest brands, luxury clothes, shoes and cosmetics to offer.

Cornelis Schuytstraat
Nearby P.C.Hooftstraat, this expensive shopping street has a wide range of items to offer, right from best quality food, cosmetics, wine, but also best in Amsterdam flower shop, several design and gadgets shops and also good café.

Utrechtsestraat
It is a narrow and busy street, with little walking space, trams passing in the middle and noisy traffic, shops close to one another and is known for its design items, gadgets, shoes and clothes.