P.G.C. Hajenius

Oh my god. Worst service ever. Don’t go!
If you’re lucky they let you into the humidor. If you’re unlucky like me, they leave you locked in there for more than 15 min and don’t care to come back. Had to make a phonecall to make them aware. Then no apology whatsoever and arrogant as hell. Will never ever go back.

I had a review up giving them high praise for their amazing selection, atmosphere, and great customer service but all that remains is their selection. That’s too bad for such a historical shop.
The young lady in black was arrogant and patronizing, and that’s by cigar shop standards. She also didn’t understand that a brand can have different blends and offered many other forms of misleading advice. Worst of all, she offered no help in traveller assistance that I’ve experienced so often in European cigar shops in the past. She even charged me for coffee that she never brought, which I noticed days later on the receipt.
I dont know whats going on but customer service is offensive and repulsive. We talked about it when i was smoking and another customer jumped in and agreed that the lady was rude and incorrect in some of her assertions and the changes. So it wasnt just me. Onward to find a replacement go to shop for my trips to Amsterdam, because I’ll never step foot in here again. Caveat emptor, times have changed. They’ve replaced service with eye candy.

What can I say other than this is the greatest cigar and pipe shop I have been to in Europe. The spacious 100 year plus old store is stocked with amazing cigars from all over the world, with one room just dedicated to Cuba. Buy a cigar or ten to smoke there and the shopkeeper will convince you to buy a nice tawny port for 5 Euros and will send you to the smoking room, where you can also get an espresso. He will prepare your cigar if you wish and bring it with the port. Relax with the locals and many foreigners in nice leather chairs, and remind yourself why you like Amsterdam so much.

In Amsterdam a few days before a river cruise and of course I need some quality cigars. Great place! Even better being helped by a beautiful assistant. :)

solid. quality cigars inside an amazing humidor. its like 007 girls who know their cubans. this is THE PLACE.

Great shop to find Dutch cigar, also cigar from the others places. Lovely lounge but one weak point: no whisky.

Super cool place. Pipe selection is immense, cigar selection a little less so. One of the only places for serious smokers to lounge in in this city — you can’t smoke in Casa del Habano at the Conservatorium unless you pay for a locker. Staff is accommodating and friendly.
When you enter, ask a staff member to let you into the humidor.

I really wanted to attend the Smoking and Tasting event they had on November 16^th, 2012 weeks before my flight but it was booked solid, no matter. On the first day I landed, Hajenius was the first stop on my list. On this strip of the Rokin where there aren’t too many interesting retailers in comparison to the other streets, besides a luxury jewelry and men’s shop, stands this cigar store with a walk in humidor and lounge. If you’re looking for it, it’s hard to miss with it’s red awnings, but if cigars aren’t your interest you can easily pass and miss it.
When you walk in, it kind of feels like a hotel until you look to the right and left. The walls are lined with tobacco products. On the very top shelf are vases of what looks like either tobacco or cigars were stored back in the old days. It has an old world charm: Hajenius… but also a clean modern day smoothness to it’s décor. Hajenius is classy without any pretentiousness; each encounter with the different staff members were greeted with friendliest, accommodation and helpfulness.
The second section as you advance further in is a walk in humidor. There is usually someone stationed inside the walk in humidor, if not ask or be patient. The only way the doors slide open for you to get in is by the staffed member inside to let you in. One reason is due to controlling the traffic so it doesn’t get packed full because the room can fit like 6 people max.
When I entered the third section, I saw glossy humidors and high end or classic cigar accessories in glass shelves for display purposes and the two rooms. One I will call the President room because of the large wooden meeting table and the painting of what looks like an old president in American terms, in Dutch terms it could have been an old politician or important history figure. The second room is the lounge. On my first visit, I bought from Hajenius a Montecristo No. 2 and smoked it in their lounge with 4 other guys. The lounge is nice, quiet when empty but better with conversation. Beverages like the simple water cooler provides hydration, alcohol is allowed, we brought our own bottle of Ferreara wine or ask the staff for coffee. If you’re like me who left your cutter and lighter at home, just ask the Hajenius staff, like I said they are very accommodating and friendly. The décor of the lounge is of a book shelf, leather couches/​seats, tables and a coffee bar. Restroom available by asking.
The front section: Dutch cigars on display, mostly — with cutters & lighters
The walk in Humidor: Mostly Cubans, I believe
The lounge: Comfortable with ash trays, matches, a water cooler and coffee
I had bought a few to go and they are packaged in a cardboard like case to protect the cigars, each time the host thanked me pleasantly. The only hope is that they would have a broader variety.

Hajenius is «cigar smoker’s heaven» and worth a visit too if you’re not into cigars at all. The art deco interior is stunning, the service out of this world and it all just makes you feel like being in a classy 1940’s movie. Be sure to check their (very informative) website for more information.

This is probably one of the nicest tobacco stoires in the world. A friend took me there last year and I have been meaning to write a review ever since. We had a great time shopping for gifts for our freinds back home. Worth a visit in in Netherlands.