Image courtesy of Flickr user davidwilson1949
If you're anything like me, the moment you hear the word "neighborhood" you immediately think of good ole Mr. Rogers or start humming the tune made popular by Sesame Street...
Okay, enough of that.
Amsterdam has a great collection of neighborhoods. Some are better known that others. Some are more infamous than others. But they all deserve mention.
Here's an overview of the many 'hoods of Amsterdam:
The city center and its canals
Amsterdam's city center can be divided into two sections. Everything to the east of Damrak and Rokin is considered the new part, and everything to the west is the old part. The Old Side lays claim to Central Station, Nieuwmarkt, and the Dam, right smack in the middle of which lies the infamous Red Light District.Â
The Old and New Sides effectively split the Old City Centre, which is bordered by the Prins Henrikkade, the Oudeschans, the Zwanenburgwal, the Amstel, and the Singel.
The City Centre is ringed in by a stack of U-shaped canals, referred to as the grachtengordel, or canal belt. They are the Singel, the Herengracht, the Keisersgracht, and the Prinsengracht. Rightly so, the idyllic canals were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010. The canals earned the city the nickname Venice of the North.
Besides the typical Amsterdam canal houses and houseboats, these canals are also lined with cafes, restaurants, and plenty of shopping. This is also the home of the famous shopping district the Nine Streets, a Dutch Fifth Avenue of sorts.
Image courtesy of Flickr user jasminejennyjen
Jodenbuurt
Yes, that would be "Jew Neighborhood," so named because the area was originally settled by Jews. (That's the Dutch for ya - they call it like it is!) This is the area surrounding Waterlooplein. It is a hop, skip, and a jump from Plantage, where you'll find such treasures as Artis Zoo and Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. The Tropenmuseum is located a bit further east.
The Jordaan
Just outside the canal corral lies the Jordaan. Originally a working-class neighborhood, the Jordaan has become an area of affluence and one of the most popular places in the city in which to live. The Jordaan has its own network of much smaller canals adorned with quaint restaurants and cafes, and is home to several well-known markets.
Old South
Home to the Museum Quarter. Here, you'll find the Stedelijk, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Rijksmuseum among others. The area is also well-known for its hotels, restaurants, boutiques, and shops. Not far away is Vondel Park, which may account for this area being far greener than others in Amsterdam. Also close by is Leidseplein, a square known for its busy nightlife scene.
De Pijp
To the east of the Museum Quarter is De Pijp, an up-and-coming area thanks to all the recent renovations. Most tourists don't make it out this far, but it's worth a visit for the ethnic and cultural diversity. It's also home to the Albert Cuijp Market, one of Amsterdam's largest outdoor markets.
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