Districts

Old Center
This most visited area can be divided in the New Side, with it's traditional architecture, canal tours, Dam Square and shopping, as well as the Old Side with Nieuwmarkt, Chinatown and Red Light District. Also includes the Old Jewish Quarter with Waterloo Square.

Canal Belt (Grachtengordel)
Probably the wealthiest neighborhood with plenty of Dutch celebrities living here. Also includes Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein, the city's main nightlife areas.

Jordaan
Traditionally a working class area, now it's an expensive and hip district with plenty of art galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Also includes the Haarlemmer Neighborhood at the north side.

Plantage
Supposed to be an extension of the Grachtengordel, lack of demand made this into a leafy area with lots of greenery, botanical gardens and Artis Zoo.

Outer Amsterdam Districts

Amsterdam South
A trip to Amsterdam is not complete without a visit to the Museum Quarter. This district also covers the Vondelpark, De Pijp (with it's street market) and the South Axis, a rapidly developing business district similar to La Defense in Paris.

Amsterdam West
A vast suburban area which can be divided in Old West, built in the 19th century, and New West, a multicultural off-the-beaten track area built after World War II. Also includes the Western Islands.

Amsterdam North
Directly north of the center lies North, a newly-built suburb. Also includes the area east of that, the Rural North, a protected polder area similar to the Waterland and Zaan Region.

Amsterdam East
Starting from the Oosterpark, this area includes all of the Eastern Islands, Eastern Docklands, Zeeburg and the rest of the Eastern suburbs.

Bijlmer
An exclave of Amsterdam, separated from the rest of the city by Diemen and Duivendrecht, the Bijlmer was forseen as a town of the future for upper-middle class families. It turned into a lower-class residential district home to people of over 150 nationalities, often associated with crime and robberies. It has improved remarkably the last years, but it still is an area only for adventurous travelers (and football fans).