Essentials
This is the Albert Heijn, the closest, biggest supermarket in the neighbourhood.
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 226 A
This is the Albert Heijn, the closest, biggest supermarket in the neighbourhood.
This is a food and clothes market in the middle of the Pijp district - up and coming with lots of restaurants and cafes. Not open on Sunday.
455 locals recommend
Albert Cuypstraat
Albert CuypstraatThis is a food and clothes market in the middle of the Pijp district - up and coming with lots of restaurants and cafes. Not open on Sunday.
Niemeijer Bakery - the closest, best French bakery in town, and just around the corner. There is a cafe at the back too.
Nieuwendijk 35
Niemeijer Bakery - the closest, best French bakery in town, and just around the corner. There is a cafe at the back too.
HEMA - an excellent quality but cheap department store, with everything, from wine and cheese to sunglasses and bikinis.
Nieuwendijk 174
174 NieuwendijkHEMA - an excellent quality but cheap department store, with everything, from wine and cheese to sunglasses and bikinis.
Shopping
Shopping, shopping,. shopping - main stream shops- for phone cards, H&M, drugstores, clothes etc. Cross the Dam Square and it becomes the Kalverstraat, and gets a little more chic.
53 locals recommend
Nieuwendijk
NieuwendijkShopping, shopping,. shopping - main stream shops- for phone cards, H&M, drugstores, clothes etc. Cross the Dam Square and it becomes the Kalverstraat, and gets a little more chic.
Dam 1
The Bijenkorf is the largest department store in town. Open 10 - 9 pm everyday.
Magna Plaza - a shopping mall opposite the Palace. This used to be the main Post Office.
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182
Magna Plaza - a shopping mall opposite the Palace. This used to be the main Post Office.
Prinsengracht 645
Frozen Fountain - great if you love contemportary design and furniture.
Start of the Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes) - a neighborhood of nine side streets of the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Singel- great shopping and on the Unesco Heritiage List.
Keizersgracht 241
Start of the Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes) - a neighborhood of nine side streets of the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Singel- great shopping and on the Unesco Heritiage List.
Sightseeing
Damrak 247
Holland Rent a Bike - not too expensive and really good service.
This is the biggest flea market in town, open every day except for Sundays and public holidays. (
182 locals recommend
Waterlooplein Market
2 WaterloopleinThis is the biggest flea market in town, open every day except for Sundays and public holidays. (
Westerpark - a big park with duckpond, cafes, outdoor concerts, bars, dancing, restaurants. To get there you walk along the Harleemerstraat - full of great bars, restaurants, boutiques, movies ...
1599 locals recommend
Westerpark
4 HaarlemmerwegWesterpark - a big park with duckpond, cafes, outdoor concerts, bars, dancing, restaurants. To get there you walk along the Harleemerstraat - full of great bars, restaurants, boutiques, movies ...
Maritime Musuem - Scheepvaartmuseum - fantastic for therir huge 17th century paintings of sea battles by old masters, with detailed descriptions.
Kattenburgerplein 1
Maritime Musuem - Scheepvaartmuseum - fantastic for therir huge 17th century paintings of sea battles by old masters, with detailed descriptions.
The Amsterdam Museum, until 2011 called the Amsterdams Historisch Museum, is a museum about the history of Amsterdam.
Kalverstraat 92
92 KalverstraatThe Amsterdam Museum, until 2011 called the Amsterdams Historisch Museum, is a museum about the history of Amsterdam.
The Begijnhof is one of the oldest inner courts in the city of Amsterdam. A magic village in the middle of the city, only for widowed women. Don't miss it.
277 locals recommend
Begijnhof
1 BegijnhofThe Begijnhof is one of the oldest inner courts in the city of Amsterdam. A magic village in the middle of the city, only for widowed women. Don't miss it.
The Royal Palace is one of the three Palaces used by the Willem-Alexander and Maxima - check for opening times as it is closed during royal events. Worth seeing !
1419 locals recommend
Dam Square
The Royal Palace is one of the three Palaces used by the Willem-Alexander and Maxima - check for opening times as it is closed during royal events. Worth seeing !
Waterlooplein
WaterloopleinThe biggest flea market - 9 to 5.30 everyday but not Sunday)
Food Scene
Hotel Droog - this is the famous Dutch Design group, who have here a shop/gallery with an annex cafe upstairs. Well worth checking out, and totally Dutch Modern.
Staalstraat 7B
7B StaalstraatHotel Droog - this is the famous Dutch Design group, who have here a shop/gallery with an annex cafe upstairs. Well worth checking out, and totally Dutch Modern.
Cafe Winkel on the corner has queues outside on a Saturday mornings. They line up for their famous apple cake. And from here you can tackle the Saturday Farmer's Market.
7 locals recommend
Noordermarkt 43
43 NoordermarktCafe Winkel on the corner has queues outside on a Saturday mornings. They line up for their famous apple cake. And from here you can tackle the Saturday Farmer's Market.
Café Luxembourg – coffee, wine, food, people - get your favourite newspaper from over the road in the Atheneum on the corner.
Spui 24
24 SpuiCafé Luxembourg – coffee, wine, food, people - get your favourite newspaper from over the road in the Atheneum on the corner.
Café de Jaren - big and noisy, but loads of newspapers and magazines - and the terrace on the water is well worth it.
Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20, De Wallen
Café de Jaren - big and noisy, but loads of newspapers and magazines - and the terrace on the water is well worth it.
The Public Library (Openbare Bibliotheek) - it's brand new and gorgeous, and on the top floor is a cafe with a terrace and view of the city.
7 locals recommend
Oosterdokskade 143
143 OosterdokskadeThe Public Library (Openbare Bibliotheek) - it's brand new and gorgeous, and on the top floor is a cafe with a terrace and view of the city.
't Smalle – a classic cafe for all ages- the terrace on the small canal is lovely in the summer
Egelantiersgracht 12
't Smalle – a classic cafe for all ages- the terrace on the small canal is lovely in the summer
Cafe Resaurant de Waag - it looks like a castle in the middle of the market but its the original entrance to Amsterdam, the Weigh House.
Nieuwmarkt 4-A
Cafe Resaurant de Waag - it looks like a castle in the middle of the market but its the original entrance to Amsterdam, the Weigh House.
Mata Hari - in the middle of the red light district - for food and entertainment - funky and young
Oudezijds Achterburgwal 229
Mata Hari - in the middle of the red light district - for food and entertainment - funky and young
Snackbar Bird – good fast Thai food - great for a takeaway picnic when you want to eat in the park/square/anywhere. Or you can sit down with a beer and your meal opposite, in the Restaurant Bird.
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 242
Snackbar Bird – good fast Thai food - great for a takeaway picnic when you want to eat in the park/square/anywhere. Or you can sit down with a beer and your meal opposite, in the Restaurant Bird.
Lindengracht 75
Toscanini – good traditional Italian cooking - you may need to reserve.
Nam Kee – voted best Chinese in Amsterdam - in the middle of Chinatown ( and also on the Gelderskader 117)
Zeedijk 113
Nam Kee – voted best Chinese in Amsterdam - in the middle of Chinatown ( and also on the Gelderskader 117)
Nam Kee – voted best Chinese in Amsterdam - in the middle of Chinatown (and also on Zeedijk113)
Geldersekade 117
Nam Kee – voted best Chinese in Amsterdam - in the middle of Chinatown (and also on Zeedijk113)
Bar Louis - open for light lunch or supper, not to mention coffee, beer or wine, and just around the corner, on the canal.
19 locals recommend
Singel 404
404 SingelBar Louis - open for light lunch or supper, not to mention coffee, beer or wine, and just around the corner, on the canal.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Wildman is an original old 'brown cafe'and a delight for beer fans, with over 20 specialities on tap and hundreds of bottled beer. BUT shut on Sundays.
Kolksteeg 3
3 KolksteegThe Wildman is an original old 'brown cafe'and a delight for beer fans, with over 20 specialities on tap and hundreds of bottled beer. BUT shut on Sundays.
Wynand Fockink an old style Dutch Gin/ Jenever bar. It's standing room only, but you can sit outside with the locals. I recommend the Sloe Gin. Shuts early, around 9pm
Pijlsteeg 31
31 PijlsteegWynand Fockink an old style Dutch Gin/ Jenever bar. It's standing room only, but you can sit outside with the locals. I recommend the Sloe Gin. Shuts early, around 9pm
Zeedijk 136C
't Aepjen - another old style Dutch bar, great atmosphere and close by.
Double Tree Hilton - there's a bar on the top floor with a great view of the city, and often live entertainment.
Oosterdoksstraat
OosterdoksstraatDouble Tree Hilton - there's a bar on the top floor with a great view of the city, and often live entertainment.
De Balie - just off the Leidseplein - this used to be the prison, now it's a major cultural centre, with bar, restaurant, movies, lectures, debate ...
Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10
De Balie - just off the Leidseplein - this used to be the prison, now it's a major cultural centre, with bar, restaurant, movies, lectures, debate ...
Arts & Culture
EYE Film Museum. Not just an architecturally exciting film spot, the EYE’s café and restaurant is a beautiful waterside location for relaxing.
36 locals recommend
IJpromenade
IJpromenadeEYE Film Museum. Not just an architecturally exciting film spot, the EYE’s café and restaurant is a beautiful waterside location for relaxing.
Housed in a former church, Paradiso is a temple of contemporary music. The atmosphere and acoustics are internationally renowned. A popular venue for live music as well as special club nights.
Weteringschans 6
6 WeteringschansHoused in a former church, Paradiso is a temple of contemporary music. The atmosphere and acoustics are internationally renowned. A popular venue for live music as well as special club nights.
Museum van Loon - grand old canal house, still owned by the Family Loon. You can see how they used to live, plus they have great exhibitions. 11-5 pm, closed Tuesdays.
Keizersgracht 672
Museum van Loon - grand old canal house, still owned by the Family Loon. You can see how they used to live, plus they have great exhibitions. 11-5 pm, closed Tuesdays.
FOAM - Foto Museum Amsterdam. Great photography shows, bookstore and cafe.
11 locals recommend
Keizersgracht 609
609 KeizersgrachtFOAM - Foto Museum Amsterdam. Great photography shows, bookstore and cafe.
Huis Marseille: photography collection from the Family Du Pont - two fabulous canal housed recently co-joined to show their fixed collection and great contemporary exhibitions. Shut Monday, 11 - 6pm
Keizersgracht 401
Huis Marseille: photography collection from the Family Du Pont - two fabulous canal housed recently co-joined to show their fixed collection and great contemporary exhibitions. Shut Monday, 11 - 6pm