Neighbourhoods in Amsterdam

Canal Belt
The four main canals in the city centre are: Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. They form concentric belts around the city, known as the grachtengordel (canal belt). Most of the current canals were built during the 17th century, Amsterdam's golden age. As time passed, hundreds of narrow streets and smaller canals fanned out from the center. The canals of Amsterdam’s city centre are included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

 

De Jordaan
Built in the first half of the 17th century to house the working class, the Jordaan is now one of the most popular locations in Amsterdam. In the many tiny streets in the heart of the charming Jordaan neighbourhood, you'll find second-hand stores, artist's studios, small boutiques, galleries and restaurants. The Jordaan is bounded by the Brouwersgracht, Raamstraat, Lijnbaansgracht and Prinsengracht.

 

Negen straatjes
The ‘Negen Straatjes’ (the Nine Streets) are the nine picturesque streets filled with unique shops, galleries and restaurants. Located between the four main canals: Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, in the area between the Rozengracht and Leidsegracht. The nine streets are formed by: Gasthuismolensteeg, Oude Spiegelstraat, Wijde Heisteeg, Hartenstraat, Wolvenstraat, Huidenstraat, Reestraat, Berenstraat, Runstraat.

 

Here you will find many cafes, bars, clubs like the Escape, restaurants and the beautiful cinema Tuschinsky. Around the corner of Rembrandt Square is the Utrechtsestraat with many cafes, bars, restaurants and shops.

Dam Square lies in the center of Amsterdam, approximately 750 meters south of the Central Station. The Dam Square links the shopping streets Nieuwendijk and Kalverstraat. On the west end of the square is the neoclassical Royal Palace. The National Monument, a white stone pillar to memorialize the victims of World War II, dominates the opposite side of the square.

 

De Wallen is the red-light district, located in the heart of the oldest part of Amsterdam, covering several blocks south of the church Oude Kerk and crossed by several canals. De Wallen is a network of alleys containing many tiny one-room cabins rented by prostitutes who offer their sexual services from behind a window, typically illuminated with red lights. The area also has a number of sex shops, sex theatres, peep shows, a sex museum, a cannabis museum, and a number of coffee shops. The Red Light District is located just south (10 minutes walking) of Centraal Station, the main train station.

 

This area is one of the oldest in Amsterdam, located between Central Station and the red-light district. Now the Zeedijk is the mainstreet of Amsterdam Chinatown with many Asian restaurants. The Nieuwmarkt (New market) is a square at the end of the Zeedijk. The square is dominated by De Waag, a historical weigh house. There are many cafés and a daily market on the New Market square.

This area is a cultural hub, featuring the main concert hall, The Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. The Museum Quarter and the Old South are one of the city's most prestigious neighbourhoods, home to high-end shopping, the largest city park Vondelpark and some of its best restaurants. The area is bordered by Stadhouderskade to the north, Hobbemakade to the east and Overtoom to the west.

De Pijp begins south of the central part of Amsterdam, just outside the main canal belt. It's bordered by Stadhouderskade to the north, Ruysdaelkade to the west, Jozef Israelskade to the south and Amsteldijk (along the Amstel River) to the east. De Pijp is a colorful mix of multiculturalism, many cafés, bars and restaurants. Mostly in the areas around Ferdinand Bolstraat, Albert Cuypstraat, Ceintuurbaan and the Marie Heinekenplein. The city's largest open-air market Albert Cuyp Market is located in De Pijp.

 

To the far east of the city center/east of Central station, you'll find the Oostelijk Havengebied (Eastern Harbour area, also known as Eastern Docklands). Here the old docks and industrial areas have been reimagined as rows of sleek, design-drive, contemporary houses, along with a smattering of shops, restaurants, the Lloyd Hotel and restaurant/nightclub Panama. The neighbourhood is a must for fans of design and modern architecture.

Plantage district is located on the edge of the city center of Amsterdam. In this green area you can find the Jewish Historical Museum at Nieuwe Amstelstraat, the beautiful botanical garden Hortus Botanicus and the Netherlands’ oldest zoo Artis, both at the Plantage Middenlaan (entrance of Artis is at Plantage Kerklaan).