Amsterdam Overview

Amsterdam is synonymous with a vibrant nightlife, and art with a capital A. It has all the facilities you would expect in a European metropolis. You can wander the romantic canals, see the Van Gogh Museum and enjoy the nightlife.

Districts

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. 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 with acrobatic acts and music. At night, Amsterdammers go out here to celebrate, and to visit the theatres, cinemas and clubs.

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 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. Medieval Amsterdam was built here. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Theater & Dance
Amsterdam has a lot of theatrical events, and more in English than in Dutch. The Parade 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. Amsterdam's dance scene is also 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 classical to rock.

Gardens & Parks
Amsterdam has some beautiful gardens and parks, the Vondelpark being the most famous park amongst tourists and Amsterdammers. 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.

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.

Dining and Drinking

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 makes 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.

Around the centre you'll find a lot of restaurants targeted mainly to tourists, some of which 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 here 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.

Where To Stay

Every year, Amsterdam is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world, all with varying budgets. Since Amsterdam offers hotels in all price classes, each and every tourist is guaranteed to find a good place to sleep, whether they have a lot to spend or not.

Regardless of where you stay, keep in mind that most of the hotels in Amsterdam charge 5% city tax, which is often not included in prices of rooms given.

Amsterdam by the Numbers

Elevation: 7 feet/ 2 meters
Average Annual Precipitation: 32.1 inches / 81 centimeters
Average January Temperature: 38 degrees F / 3 degrees C
Average July Temperature: 62 degrees F / 17 degrees C

Population: almost 735,500
Major Industries: Service Industries, banking, electronics, digital media, horticulture, agriculture, shipping.
Ethnic Mix: Over 95% are Dutch, and most of the rest are Indonesian, Surinamese, and Moroccan.

Electricity: 220/240 volts, electrical sockets have two round holes.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1
Country Dialing Code: 31
Area Code: 20

Did You Know?

Although the Netherlands is the country's official name, people often call it Holland.

Orientation/Geography

Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, and lies in the province of North Holland and is 518 square miles/1321 square kilometers. It is in Western Europe, bordering Belgium to the south and Germany to the east. The North Sea is to the north and west.

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