Amsterdam Guide

A complete guide to the city of Amsterdam including maps, links and general information

Amsterdam is such a small city, that getting about on foot is easy. Almost all of the major attractions are within walking distance of one another.

If you don't fancy walking, hop on a bike. To experience Amsterdam properly , biking is the way to go. There are cycle paths everywhere and on the odd occasion you have to mingle with other traffic, you'll find motorists polite and respectful.

If bikes just aren't your thing, public transport is superb being frequent and not expensive , especially if you use one of the many discount cards on offer.

Driving in Amsterdam is not to be recommended. Parking is difficult to find and very expensive and the one way traffic system ,means it takes ages to get anywhere. Even for longer distances, it's better to take a train.

The map below shows some of the main locations and as you can see , the distances are quite short You can cycle from one side of Amsterdam to the other in about half an hour.

Dam square is considered  the centre of the city and one of the main tourist areas . Originally a marketplace,  today it's a lively square housing some of the city's largest department stores, Madam Toussads and the Royal Palace. The Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis )  is open to tourists but you are unlikely to  spot the Queen inside as the royal family  live in the Hague. The Palace is still used on ceremonial occasions such as Rememberence day (Dodenherdenking) when the queen lays a wreath on the National Monument

A short walk from Dam Square is Nieuwmarkt. (New market)

During the golden age of the 17th Century, this was a main trading area. The ships  sailed up the Geldersekade canal and docked and unloaded their wares to be sold on the New Market.  Originally there were city gates across the Nieuwmarkt square (now gone) but the weigh house De Waag, still stands today,  and is now a top restaurant ,lit not by electric light but by several hundred candles. 

Nieuwmarkt Square is one of the most attractive squares in Amsterdam. The square itself is home to a farmers market on Saturday, a flea market on Sunday and during the week other stalls such as a hamburger and hot dog stand run by an American guy,  flower stalls, fruit and veg stalls , Tony's healthy nuts and a chap selling freshly squeezed orange juice in the summer and hot chocolate in the winter.   

Nieuwmarkt is surrounded by cafes, bars, restaurants, coffeeshops as well as a supermarket , bank , tattoo parlour and bakery.

This area is full of things to see , including 2 of the 3 tiniest houses in the city  and the Oude kerk which is the oldest church in Amsterdam. If you like flea markets , head to the Waterlooplein flea market where you can find all sorts of second-hand and new items ........and I mean all sorts !

Also located in this area is the world famous Red light district or  De Wallen or Walletjes as the Amsterdammers call it. It  is well worth a walk through,  both by day and by night , as you get two totally different  experiences and China Town , where you get some great food with over seventy five Chinese and Thai restaurants and snack bars as well as several Chinese supermarkets and shops , selling all sorts of Chineses items..

Our apartments located in the Nieuwmarkt area of the city.

Nieuwmarkt Court Apartments
Rembrandt
Hideaway
Red

De Jordaan

The Amsterdam Jordaan is undoubtedly a special area and one of the most famous of all Amsterdam.

Originally a working class area , it is now one of the most fashionable and most popular areas to live and to stay. 

It is home to numerous art galleries, principally  for modern art, and has loads of quirky little speciality shops which you won't find on the high street

The Jordaan has a personality all of its own. lovely little narrow streets, beautiful picturesque canals,  plenty of Amsterdam's brown cafes, an art gallery on every corner and unique shops selling items you will not find anywhere else like the Tooth brush shop, the candle shop, the button shop and loads of others  A great area for window shopping by day and night.

Our apartments located in the Jordaan area of the city.
Anne Frank Apartment
Amsterdam Choice
Amsterdam Choice Luxury

Museum Area

The Museum quarter is the cultural area of the city and as the names suggests is home to most of the cities major museums. Most of the biggies are here the Rijksmuseum , Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art and of course the Van Gogh Museum makes this area an art lovers dream. Aside from the museums, the area offers a range of activities and attractions, from the largest park in the city to the coster diamonds tour, to some of the cities best restaurants . Museum quarter also caters for the kids. During summer there is a  skateboard park and paddling pool which turns into an ice rink during winter

If you like shopping or even window shopping , head for the poshiest shopping street in  Amsterdam .the exclusive P.C. Hooftstraat where you will find a who's who of the fashion world, Hugo Boss , Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana and Louis Vuitton and such like, from diamonds to leather shoes to designer handbags and watches and everything in between.

Our apartments located in the Museum Quarter area of the city

P.C Hooftstraat Apartment
Leidseplein Apartments

Plantage Area

The Plantage area of the city is located in the east.  It is the location of the cities Zoo, Artis Zoo and the Botanic gardens, Hortus Botanicus .

After many years of neglect,  this area  was cleaned up by the city council in the last few years and now is one of the nicest parts of the city.

Docklands/Central Station 

This area has been totally transformed in recent years with a number of major developments and improvements. Literally thousands of new properties have been built with an emphasis on new architecture, making the current day docklands a fine mix of contemporary architecture and old buildings with a new function.

The KNSM Island retained most if not all it's original buildings which have been turned into apartments and offices.  This is a lovely area to cycle around with it's many houseboats and other boats all moored along the quayside. This is a great example how the old and new can be live together and still look great.

Our apartments located in this area.
Love Boat
Sunrise Houseboat
Music Houseboat

Grachten (canals)

The main canals in Amsterdam The Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht as well as the Amstel are a great way to pass a way several hours per canal, just walking along or cycling or by boat you can actually do this twice by day and again at night and see two totally different views.  BY day you can admire the facades and doors of the buildings while at night you can walk along and look in the windows of most of the great houses (No curtains) and admire the decor.  Some are breathtaking.

The canals serve as the main ways to get around the city by car, up one side and down the other and are really the main  arteries in and out of the city centre. 

Each is lined with trees, large gabled houses and all over look the water.

Amstel Area

The Amstel area is in and around the river Amstel, from which Amsterdam took its name. This nice upper class neighbourhood is an oasis of peace and quite, you can nearly hear a pin drop day or night. A lovely area to stay during your vacation, away for the madness yet just 5 minutes walk to Waterlooplein market.

This area is famous for several bridges and when you stroll about you are sure to bang into them The  ‘Blue bridge’, the ‘Magere Brug' ( wooden drawbridge, the oldest in Amsterdam),also around the is area is the Carré Theatre as well the Amstel Hotel where the rich and famous come to stay

Amsterdam Oost

Amsterdam Oost (east)  is very mixed area and a melting pot of nationalities but still quite a cosy neighbourhood with a range of architectural styles.

This area also has The Oosterpark quite a large city park  where a lot of multicultural events are held all year round.

The street market the "Dappermarkt" is more of a locals market selling clothes and other household items, not much here for tourists. is recently renewed and goods from all over the world can be bought here.

Oud West

Old west started  as farmland and forest back in late 16th century but with Amsterdam growing  fast more land was needed for the increasing population, the first building to pop was the Wilhelmina Gasthuis which was built in 1631-32 as guest house / hospital catering for infectious deseases , this was originally outside the city wallls

During the 19th century this area was brought within the main city walls and became part of Amsterdam and was largely a working class area,  but over the centuries has become a real mixed area full of all sorts of people from students to married couples and plenty of dogs.

For guest looking for a stay in Amsterdam in a more peaceful area this is perfect as it's away from the craziness of the centre yet not far from Vondelpark and the Leidseplein.

Below are a selection of Amsterdam links which we hope you find useful.

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Under Water Amsteram