Profile of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a wonderful city for visitors. It’s small enough to stroll around, and, with the canalside streets too narrow for tour buses, there is no risk of sightseers driving past all the best attractions at high speed. You have to feel the summer sun or see your breath on a crisp winter morning to see what Amsterdam is all about.

On a canal tour, the quiet boats allow you to admire the ­architecture from water level, floating slowly along away from the noise of the modern world.

The museums could keep you busy for weeks. Art collections, historic houses and memorials to heroes and heroines can all be found here.

For entertainment after the sun sets, there are more than 40 different performances in the city every evening. The Netherlands Opera and the National Ballet are based here, and there are numerous orchestral, musical and comedy venues, along with revues and dance shows. Amsterdam also plays host to one of the most dynamic club scenes in Europe.

City Centre

Amsterdam’s city centre, known locally as Centrum, may be only 1km (0.6 mile) long and 500m (0.3 mile) wide, but its skinny cobblestone streets are crammed with fabulous shops, engaging museums and surprising sights such as the tranquil Begijnhof, an oasis of calm in the busy city.

At its heart is lively Dam Square, presided over by the elegant Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) and the towering Gothic Nieuwe Kerk.

The backbone of Centrum is busy Damrak – which begins at Centraal Station, where most visitors to the city arrive – before becoming Rokin at Dam Square. Running parallel are the pedestrian shopping streets of Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk. 

The tourist and entertainment area of Nieuwmarkt, with its beer-soaked pubs and fast-food eateries, is immediately east of the city centre. Whether you’re after cutting-edge theatre, Irish bars or girlie shows, you’ll find it here. Warmoesstraat and Damstraat are the ground zero of bars and coffeeshops, with the area becoming increasingly hipper around Oude Hoogstraat and Nieuwe Hoogstraat, an area popular with arts students. North is Nieuwmarkt Square, Chinatown and the Red Light District.

Western Canal Belt and the Jordaan

West of the city centre, the stylish Western Canal Belt and atmospheric Jordaan are some of the loveliest parts of Amsterdam, with their canalside houses, leafy lanes and romantic bridges decorated with flowerpots. The area boasts some of Amsterdam’s engaging museums, including the Anne Frank Huis. It’s also home to the chic ‘Nine Streets’ area, the city’s best shopping quarter, with lovely cobblestone lanes. There are also pedal boats for hire opposite Westerkerk, so you can see the area from the water.

Southern Canal Belt and Leidseplein

The 17th- and 18th-century gabled houses lining the the Southern Canal Belt are among Amsterdam’s grandest and prettiest, offset by attractive arched bridges, locals going about their daily business by bicycle, and flower-filled houseboats.

The floating Bloemenmarkt, feline-themed Kattenkabinet and impressive Stadsarchief building all add to the noble air. In contrast, the busy Leidseplein is Amsterdam’s entertainment hub and nightlife centre, with more cinemas, clubs and restaurants than anywhere else in the city.

Eastern Canal Belt and Rembrandtplein

Sandwiched between the Vijzelstraat to the west and the mighty River Amstel to the north and east, the Eastern Canal Belt marks the last stage of the city’s 17th-century canal construction programme. An area of contradictions, with immaculately preserved historic houses on peaceful streets and an abundance of lesser-known top-class museums sitting alongside the hedonism of lively squares such as Rembrandtplein and Thorbeckeplein, no area better demonstrates the broad-mindedness of Amsterdam.

The Museum Quarter, Vondelpark and the South

The Museum Quarter, Amsterdam’s cultural hub, plays host to three of the finest museums in the world, crammed full of priceless exhibits from Dutch Masters such as Rembrandt and Van Gogh, with the odd Picasso and Warhol thrown in for good measure.

To the east of the district lies the Vondelpark, a haven of open space, in the residential Old South.  

Further south, parks and business centres can be found in the New South and Amstelveen, two suburban neighbourhoods.

The East and Waterfront

To the southeast of the City Centre is the charming, if curious, mix of old and new that makes up the Jewish Quarter of Jodenbuurt. After the Jewish population was dramatically reduced during World War II, the area descended into neglect, prompting a period of demolition and property development. Despite this, the area is still a fascinating memorial to the past, offering plenty to see and do. Life revolves around the Waterlooplein, whilst further afield the extensive Plantage park and the Oost merit exploration.

Amsterdam owes much of its history and wealth to its Waterfront district. It was here that Dutch maritime expertise blossomed, firstly through fishing and then through trade with the Far East and Americas, which made Amsterdam’s port so busy in the ‘Golden Age’ of the 17th century.

Today, the Waterfront offers a reminder of that past success, with the warehouses, quays and museum ships of yesteryear standing tall alongside modern-day attractions such as NEMO and the Muziekgebouw. For visitors looking to grasp an understanding of where the city’s history began as well as today’s architectural developments in Amsterdam, this area warrants exploration.

 De Pijp

Away from the hustle and bustle of central Amsterdam is De Pijp, a city suburb that has become very trendy. Just a short tram ride south from Centraal Station, this bohemian district is increasingly finding favour with new residents and visitors, thanks to a spicy melting pot of cultures and nationalities drawn from the old trading routes of the Dutch merchants.

As with so much of Amsterdam, the charm of De Pijp is best enjoyed through simply wandering the streets, soaking up the sights, sounds and smells of this multicultural and arty district; a visit to the Albert Cuypmarkt is a great insight into the area’s distinctive character. 

See our top 5 highlights of Amsterdam...