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.
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
Station – Rembrandthuis
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.
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.
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.
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.