Amsterdam centrum is the busy, crowded central district of Amsterdam. Most visitors arrive in Amsterdam at the Central Station, and then walk south over the streets Damrak and Rokin. In medieval times, both these streets actually were the final end of the Amstel river. They used to cut Amsterdam in half: east of the Damrak-Rokin-axis was the Old Side (Oudezijde) of Amsterdam, the oldest part of the city dating from the 13th century. West of the Damrak-Rokin-axis was the New Side (Nieuwezijde), which was constructed later, but still dates from the late Middle Ages. Now Damrak and Rokin are the glue that hold both sides of the city together, and while walking there, you probably won’t even feel that this once was a river. The division between the Old Side and the New Side never faded away however, and both have a lot to offer for visitors.
The Old Side is home to the Nieuwmarkt, a large square that recently turned into a Chinatown district (though it doesn’t match up with Chinatowns in other cities). The Zeedijk particularly offers some great Eastern cuisine. Nearby is the Red Light District located at the Oudezijds Burgwal, the oldest profession of the world at the oldest part of the city.
The New Side’s most iconic square is Dam Square, considered the ultimate center of the city. It’s a spacious area dominated by the Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) and the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk). It’s the prime shopping area with the Kalverstraat and the Flower Market. An outlying area is the Old Jewish Quarter. As the Netherlands had a relatively high level of religious freedom from the 16th century onwards, many Jewish communities had migrated to this area. In the 1920s this was one of the busiest areas of town with large open-air markets and smoky factories. This changed in World War II, when Nazi Germany occupied Amsterdam and most Jewish citizens were deported to concentration camps. The area went into decay and even today isn’t quite as interesting as one might hope. It nowadays has turned into a big traffic junction, but the Jewish Historical Museum (Joods Historisch Museum) keeps the history of the neighborhood alive.
Public Transportation
Central Station, at the north of the Old Center, is the hub of Amsterdam’s public transport network. Most tram lines start, finish or pass through here. Most visits to Amsterdam begin and end at Central Station. If you are staying in one of the outlying neighborhoods, a tram is a quick way out of and into town.
Attractions
Museums
Allard Pierson Museum, Oude Turfmarkt 127 (Old Side, tram: Mint Square), +31 20 525 25 56. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa-Su 1PM-5PM. The Allard Pierson Museum is the archaeological museum of the University of Amsterdam . The ancient civilizations of Egypt, Cyprus, the Greek World, Etruria and the Roman Empire are revived in this museum. Art-objects and utensils, dating from 4000 B.C. till 500 A.D. give a good impression of everyday-life, mythology and religion in Antiquity. €6.50.
Amsterdams Historisch Museum (New Side), Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 357 or Kalverstraat 92, +31 20 523 18 22. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa-Su 11AM-5PM. The city’s historical museum.. €6.
Hash, Marihuana and Hemp Museum, Oudezijds Achterburgwal 148 (Old Side), +31 20 624 89 26. 10AM-11PM daily. Opened for over twenty years, the Hash Museum is dedicated to debunking the lies and demonization about one of our most useful plants, the hemp plant. Although small, busy and seriously overpriced, it is a well-done museum where people go to get informed. €9.
Hermitage Amsterdam, Amstel 51 (Old Jewish Quarter), +31 20 530 87 55. Recently opened and an annex to the famous Hermitage museum in st Petersburg (Russia). This museum hosts exhibitions with paintings and other cultural artifacts from the vaults of its Russian parent.
Museum Amstelkring, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40 (Old Side, inside the Red Light District). M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Most locals don’t recognize the official name, but will know what you mean if you say “Our Lord in the Attic.” This is a Catholic church stuffed into the upper stories of a house built in 1663, when Catholics were persecuted and had to disguise their churches. It’s a beautiful place to visit, and amazing to see how they fit worshippers, an organ, and an altar into such a narrow place. €7.
NEMO, Oosterdok 2 (Old Jewish Quarter), +31 20 531 32 33. NEMO is the biggest science centre in the Netherlands; an educational attraction where you can discover a world of science and technology in an entertaining way. NEMO takes you on a voyage of discovery between fantasy and reality. You will discover how scientific phenomena influence your daily life. You will learn about technology and engineering, ICT and bio- and behavioral sciences. This is a great place to take kids and is best for those ages 11 and below – teenagers will probably get bored. €11.50.
Rembrandt House, Jodenbreestraat 4 (Old Jewish Quarter), +31 20 520 04 00. 10AM-5PM daily. This is where the artist Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn and his wife, Saskia, lived between 1639 and 1658. The house is a reconstruction of the painter’s life at that time and provides interesting insight. You will be able to see 260 of his 290 etchings, find out about how they were created, see where he worked and explore the nooks and crannies of this fascinating building. €8.
Royal Palace, Dam Square, +31 20 620 40 60. Tu-Su noon-5PM, M closed. This former City Hall (built in 1651) has recently been completely renovated and is now open again. It is mainly used for diplomatic receptions and to welcome visiting heads of state, not as a royal residence. €7.50.
Sexmuseum, Damrak 18, +31 20 622 83 76. 9AM-10PM daily. The largest and most prestigious museum for sex art and sex history in the Netherlands. It shows a lot of sex oddities. Only ages 16 and up are allowed entry. €3.
Torture Museum, Singel 449, +31 20 320 66 42. This museum depicts the history of different torturous techniques used over the centuries.
Art Galleries
Schutters Gallery, Between Kalverstraat and Begijnhof. Plenty of 17th-century portraits. Free.
Old Jewish Quarter
The most prominent synagogue is The Esnoga (or The Portuguese Synagogue) (1675) located at Mr. Visserplein 3, in an austere Classicist style.
