Introduction

Tours

Entertainment

Bars and Restaurants

History

Introduction

Dam Square The real core of the city is Dam square with its beautiful Royal Palace. Most visitors arrive by train and the route they follow from Centraal Station takes them along the Damrak and Dam square. This area focuses much on tourism. All kinds of souvenir shops, street performers and restaurants can be found here. The square is used for events and concerts and is famous because of the many pigeons. The two main shopping streets in Amsterdam, Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk, are located in this area.

Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein The Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are very crowded both by day and night. When the sun is shining the terraces are quickly filled. Street performers entertain the public, mainly consisting of tourists, with acrobatic acts and music. At night the crowd changes: Amsterdammers go out here to celebrate, and to visit the theatres, cinemas and clubs. The bars and clubs, such as Escape, close here after 5a.

Jordaan Built in 1612 during the expansion of the city, the Jordaan neighborhood is well known all over the country for its specific street life, corny songs, sarcastic humor and working-class mentality. But this is mere nostalgia. Most of the Jordanezen (the native inhabitants) left some years ago for improved housing in neighboring cities like Almere and Purmerend. Nowadays, it is a district with many students and young urban professionals. The Jordaan accommodates several bars and cozy restaurants; it's like a small village in a big city. The area is located between Brouwersgracht, Prinsengracht, Raamstraat and Marnixstraat.

The Red-Light District (De Wallen) The red-light district is the area left of the Damrak, the streets and canals in between Warmoesstraat and a square called Nieuwmarkt. The end of the two canals, Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal, marks the area's borders. Medieval Amsterdam was built here. De Wallen is best known for its window prostitution, sex shops and live shows, concentrated around the Oude Kerk, in alleys and around the canals. The atmosphere is somewhat chaotic most of the time, but also cozy. You'll find numerous places to eat, drink and have a good time, day and night.

Canals On February 1, 1999, the Dutch government decided to qualify the inner city of Amsterdam as a monument, a protected inner city view. The girdle of canals (ranging from Singel Canal up to Prinsengracht Canal) is a historically important part of this region, and it is one of the city's most attractive sights. The girdle of canals starts at River Amstel and ends at Brouwersgracht. One third of the houses along the canals (grachtenhuizen) were built before 1850. During the 17th century the city extended its boundaries, and canals were formed in a girdle around the oldest part of Amsterdam to accommodate wealthy tradesmen and burghers. First Singel Canal was dug out, then Herengracht, Keizersgracht and, last of all, Prinsengracht. The architecture is mostly in the form of classicism.

Pijp Pijp was the first modern city development in Amsterdam at the end of the 19th century. Many houses were built here very quickly for the growing amount of laborers. Nowadays Pijp is known as the perfect example of multicultural society. People from all over the world live here: young and old, students and artists. The main streets in Pijp are Albert Cuypstraat, famous for its market, and Ferdinand Bolstraat. Around these roads you'll find many exotic restaurants and a typical Amsterdam pub is located at just about every corner.

Museum Quarter The Museum Quarter is the area around Museumplein, just a ten minute-walk from Leidseplein. The main museums are situated here: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and The Stedelijk Museum. The Concert Building can be found in this neighborhood as well. The Museum Quarter is also known for its exclusive shops. Many international clothing brands have their shops in P.C. Hooftstraat and Van Baerlestraat. And of course Museumplein is a great place to sit in the sun, enjoy your lunch or just relax. This cultural area is very crowded during the day, but usually deserted at night.

Banks of the River Ij The most modern city developments have taken place on the southern banks of the River Ij, on both the west and east sides of Central Station. This used to be a desolate area, with dilapidated warehouses. Now this part of town, with its great view of the river, is completely redeveloped. Oostelijke Handelskade is the place to find many theaters and a thriving nightlife. A cruise terminal has also been built here: Passenger Terminal Amsterdam. The buildings have aroused much interest because of their innovative architecture.



Tours

Centraal Station - Anne Frank House

Since most visitors arrive in Amsterdam by train, it's a good idea to start our tour from the Central Station. Amsterdam's Central Station was built at the end of the 19th century in Neo-Gothic style. Exiting the building, you come out onto the always busy Stationsplein, the great open space in front of the Station, from where you can get trams going everywhere. To your left you can see St. Nicholas Church, in the distance. Inside this church is the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Maximilian's crown, the symbol of Amsterdam.

If you continue walking straight ahead and across the bridge, you get to the Damrak, a wide avenue from where there are plenty of possibilities to make a tour along the canals. This avenue is always full of tourists and takes you alongside Beurs van Berlage, the big building on your left, in the direction of the Dam. This used to be the Stock Exchange, but is now used as a concert hall. Across from Beurs van Berlage is the famous warehouse De Bijenkorf which reaches all the way to the Dam.

On Dam Square, the real historical heart of Amsterdam where in the 13th century the river Amstel was dammed, you find the Royal Palace, the War Memorial and the 15th-century New Church.

To follow our route to Anne Frank's House, take Raadhuisstraat which you'll find behind the Royal Palace and Magna Plaza. You will now cross a number of bridges, pass the post office on your left, and after crossing three major canals, the Singel, the Herengracht and the Keizersgracht you will see the famous Westerkerk, whose bells were so beloved by Anne Frank, on your right hand side. Westerkerk is on Westermarkt, where apart from the Homo Monument, you can also see a little Statue of Anne Frank. If you pass the front of the church to the right, along the Prinsengracht, you will find Anne Frank's House at number 263.

Centraal StationRembrandthuis

This tour, like so many tours, starts at Central Station, where after crossing the bridge you take Zeedijk. You will see St. Nicholas Church, with the crown of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Maximilian, the symbol of Amsterdam (look at the flag of the city), inside. Follow Zeedijk till you get to the Waag, or St. Anthony Gate, which was restored not long ago and where on the first floor you can still find the ancient anatomy hall, which is now used, among other things, for exhibitions and lectures.

The Waag can be found on the Nieuwe Markt, where a vegetable market takes place on Saturdays and antiques are sold on Sundays, and even during the week you can find some stalls. Continue and take Kloveniersburgwal, to the south of Nieuwe Markt. In the 16th century this was the outer canal of the eastern part of the city, and here you can find one of the most beautiful canal houses in Amsterdam, the Trippenhuis at no. 29. A bit further on there the Dutch East India Company building, dating back to the Golden (17th) Century.

Turn into Nieuwe Hoogstraat wander through this nice little street full of cafes, restaurants and little shops. At the end of the street you'll find St. Antoniebreestraat, turn right here and continue till you get to Zuiderkerk, the first church to be built in Amsterdam for Protestant services only. This church is very close to Zwaneburgwal, from where you can see Waterlooplein, with its wonderful flea market. You are now in what was historically Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter and which is still called this, even though there are not many Jews here nowadays. You'll find a number of interesting buildings, such as De Nederlandse Opera, the opera house; Mozes en Aäronkerk; close to the Portugees-Israëlitische Synagoge and across the road, the Jewish Historical Museum. St. Antoniebreestraat runs into Jodenbreestraat, with Rembrandt's House, at number 4-6. Rembrandt lived here for over 20 years, and just the great collection of etchings makes a visit to this museum more than worthwhile.



Entertainment

ART & CULTURE Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer and Frans Hals are the Old and Great Masters of Holland. As a result, Amsterdam has some of the finest art museums in Europe. As Amsterdam is the most liberal of cities, the museums are not purely of the conventional kind, but whatever your interest, you should be able to find it at one of the city's museums. The majority of museums are placed within a short range of one another, so you can easily walk from one to the next.

Museums Many of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals' finest works are part of the national heritage and housed in the
Rijksmuseum. Take your time in this beautiful museum, as it is huge, and the exhibitions and surroundings need your attention for more then just an hour. Rembrandt's paintings are also largely represented in Rembrandthuis. The life and works of Van Gogh are presented in the Van Gogh Museum. For modern art you should definitely visit the exhibitions in the Stedelijk Museum.

Nature & Science If you're interested in science and interactive entertainment, don't miss Science Center NEMO, a place designed for children with a lot of hands-on exhibits and technology. The Scheepvaartmuseum will appeal to anyone who's interested in maritime and nautical experiences. Nature lovers should visit the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, which has over six thousand different kinds of plants.

History In Amsterdam, there are a lot of historical museums. One of the best is Amsterdams Historisch Museum, where you will learn about the city's developments from the thirteenth century to the present day. The popular Anne Frank House has recently been restored and is able to accommodate a lot more people then before. In the former Jewish quarter you will find the Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam (Resistance Museum), which deals with the history of the Resistance during the Second World War.

CINEMA Amsterdam has only a few cinemas, but they show a great combination of big Hollywood blockbusters and European movies. The cinemas can be divided into two main categories: popular cinemas (with big movie successes) and filmhuizen (art houses), where art films, documentaries and retrospectives are shown. Tuschinski is a beautiful cinema with original art deco architecture and a beautiful theatre where you feel you should be watching an opera instead of a movie. The Movies, with its extravagant interior, is a great place to visit and view art films.

THEATRE & DANCE Amsterdam has a lot of theatrical events, and more in English than in Dutch. The Parade (De) is the prelude of the theatre season, and is a great event at the end of summer with lots of different little shows, food and drink. The most important theatre venues are Carr, once home to a circus, now a beautiful theatre by the Amstel Canal and Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theatre), with a wide variety of contemporary national and international productions. Amsterdam's dance scene is quite lively. There are two main companies, Nederlands Dans Theater and Het Nationale Ballet. Besides these companies there are a lot of established dancers and companies worth watching.

MUSIC This city has a lively music scene, with lots of festivals and events and numerous concerts in different venues. There is everything from classic to rock. Tickets for concerts can be bought in advance at the AUB Ticketshop, located centrally on the Leidseplein.

Classical The acoustics in the Concertgebouw offer a great sound, and it is therefore the favoured venue of many soloists and orchestras. It has its own Concertgebouw Orchestra, which has a regular programme. At Beurs van Berlage there are a lot of classical concerts on a regular basis. If you're more into opera, you should go to the Opera Muziektheater (Stopera) on Waterlooplein, where the Netherlands Opera is often to be seen, or go and see an opera at the Carr.

Jazz and Blues Local groups and jam sessions can often be heard in the lively city during the night. International stars visit the city to play at different venues. The best places to catch jazz legends in intimate confines are Casablanca and Bimhuis.

Rock Big international stars such as the Rolling Stones enjoy playing in venues like Paradiso and Melkweg. Besides this there are a lot of rock festivals, eg. Drum Rhythm Festival, which takes place at Westergasfabriek or the Amsterdam Pop Prijs Wanted R & B & Hip Hop Prijs Finals, held at Melkweg.

House, Disco & World Music The VIP Club on Fridays and Paradisco on Saturday evenings in Paradiso are hip dance evenings where a lot of cool people are to be seen. Techno, house and hip hop music can be heard. Melkweg has dance evenings with hard house and drum and bass. The crowd is diverse but mainly young, and the atmosphere is relaxed.

DISTRICTS Amsterdam can be divided into different areas, each with its own history and attractions. Try to go beyond the Grachtengordel, where every tourist tends to get stuck. There are lots of other things to see than just the tourist area.

The Old Centre Amsterdam's old centre can be described as being surrounded by the Central Station, the Singel, and the Kloveniersburgwal canals. The central points are Dam Square, with the Royal Palace, Madame Tussaud's, the New Church and department stores such as Bijenkorf and Magna Plaza.

The Red-Light District Not far from Dam Square you will find the Red Light District. Many people visit Amsterdam mainly to go and see this area for the 'window shopping', but this beautiful, old and historical area contains a lot of other attractions, such as Nieuwmarkt with its characteristic building De Waag, which dates from 1488, formerly built as a gatehouse for the city's defences. Near Nieuwmarkt you will find Amsterdam's small Chinatown.

The New Side This area starts at the west end of Central Station and ends at Spui. In between you will find Amsterdam's Museum of History and the Begijnhof. This area is worth a relaxed stroll; at Spui you can have a cup of coffee at one of the cafes on the square.

Jordaan This is a beautiful artistic area, where you will find lots of galleries and cosy little restaurants. Typical Amsterdammers live here; the area still doesn't see as many tourists as the other areas, although it has a very typical Amsterdam atmosphere. With a lot of greenery outside, it feels like a little village within a big city.

Waterlooplein, Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are Amsterdam's tourist centres, packed with outgoing people and cafes and bars. During the summer months they are packed with people sitting on the terraces watching others go by. Waterlooplein is famous for its second-hand market, where you will find plenty of bargains.

GARDENS & PARKS Amsterdam has some beautiful gardens and parks, the Vondelpark being the most famous park amongst tourists and Amsterdammers. You will also find the Film Museum here, which has a beautiful terrace where you can spend a whole afternoon sitting, relaxing and watching the strangest people going by. The Amstel Park is located a bit away from the centre, but is a good retreat with rose gardens and a glasshouse. The Amsterdamse Bos is a busy park where you can be as sporty as you like. Fancy a swim? Go to the Bosbaan, used for boating and swimming.

If you want a tour around Amsterdam's private gardens, go and inform yourself at the VVV, where they can tell you what's going on in Amsterdam at the particular time you're there.

SPORTS Holland is well known for its passion for football, but besides football, the Dutch play a lot of other sports such as hockey, skating and cycling. Amsterdam has many cycling lanes, although you have to watch the traffic, especially the trams that won't stop for you; in comparison to other cities though, the traffic is a lot more used to cyclists. The parks are excellent for outdoor sports: running, skating and cycling. A lot of sports centres are to be found as well, for fitness and sauna, swimming and bowling.



Restaurants and Bars

Going out in Amsterdam is something that's imbedded in the culture; restaurants and bars are brimming with customers the whole week through. If you're planning to eat out in Amsterdam, the one problem you'll be faced with is making a decision. The cultural diversity which typifies the city is best reflected in all its dining options.

Top quality restaurants such as Blakes and
Dynasty make for a great if slightly expensive evening, but what makes eating out in Amsterdam all the more enjoyable is the large range of inexpensive restaurants serving great food. Walking along the Zeedijk you'll find thrifty local favorites. These restaurants aren't famed for their looks or even their service, but if you want a good meal you really can't go wrong.

Around the centre you'll find a lot of restaurants targeted mainly to tourists, some of which, like Iguazu, are very good. However, for a true culinary experience you mustn't be afraid to branch out. Neighbourhoods like Pijp and Jordaan are stuffed to the brim with restaurants and cafes. Pijp is a favorite among Amsterdam's large student population, so expect to find a young, trendy crowd in the bars and restaurants.

Jordaan was originally a real working-class neighborhood, but has evolved into an absolute centre of trendy activity. Restaurants like Bordewijk show the city at it's most natural; laid-back, with not a care in the world, and shying away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city centre.

If you do find yourself in the centre and are looking for a good meal, try D'antica, one of the best Italian restaurants in Amsterdam, or the centrally located D'Vijff Vlieghen.

After you have lined your stomach with a good meal, be ready to discover the extensive bar and pub culture that is such an integral part of Amsterdam. Some of the most popular places to spend an evening are the Leidse and Rembrandt Square. Bars like Bourbonstreet and Heeren van Aemstel are highlights in these bustling areas filled with a mostly young crowd. Another trendy place with a "look-at-me" atmosphere is The Palladium.

While the red light district is famed for its more obvious and eye-catching qualities than it's bars, The Last Waterhole and Durty Nelly's are vivacious and lively places, perfectly suited for a relaxing evening. Expect to find a lot of tourists, all looking for, and hopefully finding, the same good time as you are.

As with restaurants, branching out in Amsterdam to different bars and cafes is a definite must. Walking through Jordaan and Pijp you'll find a large selection of quality bars. Check out places like Cafe Nol or De Twee Zwaantjes. These places show off the qualities that typify Jordaan; they are brash, noisy and crowded. Expect to hear Dutch music blared out at a disturbingly high volume and be aware of the inevitable sing-along.

Amsterdam is blessed with a great selection of Irish pubs from the pure brilliance of The Tara and the musical accompaniment that can be found at Mulligans to traditional British breakfasts served at Molly Malones. the Irish pubs are a favorite among locals and tourists alike. A day spent pub hopping is therefore a more than worthy exercise.

If you like to think of yourself as a lover and connoisseur of beer in all its guises, check out In de Wildeman or Gollem for very large selections of beer.

Don't be afraid to stray from the Leidse and Rembrandt Square as there is a whole city out there to explore. Stop by West Pacific for a different atmosphere outside the city centre.



History

Amsterdam has always been a well-known name in world history. During the 17th century Amsterdam was the center of world economics, but nowadays the city is known for its tolerant character.

Early Amsterdam Holland in the 12th century was barely habitable. The land was very humid and consisted mainly of peat. Various rivers intersected the landscape including the
River Amstel, which flows into the River Ij. By the end of the 12th century a small settlement arose near a dam in the Amstel, and the city became known as Amsterdam. This dam is still a significant point in the city, and is now used as a square. Amsterdam became a town at the beginning of the 13th century.

Meanwhile, the town extended slowly from the centre around the Dam. Various ramparts were thrown up and canals were dug. Around 1420 the town was bursting at the seams once again. On the eastern part a new wall was built along the present Geldersekade and Kloveniersburgwal. On the west side a moat canal was dug. The economy at this time was not very developed, being based largely on beer and herrings. It was only after Amsterdam became a part of the Burgundian Empire during the 15th century that the economy began to pick up. Amsterdam's harbor had a stable function: fish from the south and grain from the Baltic countries were traded in the city's markets. Because of its economic prosperity, Amsterdam developed into Holland's largest city, with a population of about 30,000.

During the second half of the 16th century, Europe had to deal with reformation. The Low Countries seceded from Spain after the Eighty Years' War, renouncing Catholicism. For a long period Amsterdam was allied with the Spaniards, but in 1578 the city was finally united with the rest of the Netherlands. Holland was one of the most tolerant regions in Europe during this period. For that reason, many Protestants and Portuguese Jews, who were persecuted elsewhere in Europe, moved to cities throughout Holland. A large number of merchants from Antwerp moved their businesses to Amsterdam, which meant a big boost for the local economy.

Golden Age The Dutch were forced to find their own route to the Indies because of the annexation of Portugal by Spain in 1580. The first voyages to the Indies started in Amsterdam and were a major success. Stimulated by these results, plans were made everywhere in the country to send more ships to the Indies. Out of all these initiatives the United East Indian Company came into existence, the VOC. Over 50 percent of the capital from the new company was in the hands of Amsterdam. When the VOC was founded, not only merchants were involved, but citizens invested in the project as well.

The 17th century was a period of glory for Amsterdam. Wealth, power, culture and forbearance flourished in the city. The population increased rapidly during this period and because of this, the city extended greatly. Amsterdam built its famous ring of canals, and tall houses were built on the canals, taller than in other city centres in Holland. The government strongly encouraged this development, because it added to Amsterdam's prestige. During the first half of this century two churches were built: Zuiderkerk and Westerkerk. The old gothic town hall was burnt down in 1652 and a new town hall, the present-day Palace on Dam Square was built. The Plaetse or Dam Square was enlarged by a great degree, just like the rest of the city. After the Jordaan was completed, around 1700, approximately 200,000 people were living in Amsterdam.

Culturally these days were roaring as well. Due to Amsterdam's economic prosperity, its citizens could afford to surround themselves with objets d'art. Bredero, Vondel and P.C. Hooft wrote their famous poetry, while painter Rembrandt and his students had their atelier in Amsterdam. Philosophers like Spinoza and Descartes formulated their ideas on paper here.

Often however, in locations where things are going well, mischief lies in wait. In 1672 the powerful Netherlands got involved in a war with France and England. Amsterdam's harbor was inaccessible to the fleets sailing in from the Dutch Indies, and because of this the boisterous prosperity came to a halt by the end of the 17th century. The structure of Amsterdam's economy changed: the city lost its position as a stable market for world trade. However, money transfers became more and more important and Amsterdam soon became the financial heart of the world, the banker for European Monarchs who financed their expensive wars with borrowed money.

After 1850 Amsterdam moved on quietly until industrialization also took its hold on the Netherlands. After 1850, the population in Amsterdam suddenly increased greatly; people moved to the city from all over the Netherlands in quest for employment. New residential quarters were needed, resulting in town developments like the Pijp and the Vondelpark. After 1920, the large developments with new districts in the west, south and east followed. Plan Zuid, by architect Berlage, is still very popular. North of the River Ij, new quarters also arose.

In 1939 however, one of the darkest pages in world history became a terrible reality: World War II. Amsterdam's population was hit hard. Amsterdam had numerous Jewish inhabitants, who were deported and did not survive. Places like Anne Frank's House and the National Monument on Dam Square, are a reminder of this horrible period. After the war, Amsterdam continued growing. During the 1960s the Bijlmer was built, with its high blocks of flats.

Amsterdam is still the Netherlands' undisputed cultural centre with orchestras, ballet, theaters, museums and galleries and two universities. Soccer plays an important role in the life of many Amsterdammers. In the 1970s Amsterdam was famous once again because of Johan Cruyff and Ajax. Ajax and the Dutch national squad's victories are celebrated like real national feasts in Amsterdam.