List of tourist attractions in Amsterdam
Encyclopedia
Amsterdam
, one of Europe
's capitals, has many attractions for visitors. The city's most famous sight are the 17th-century canals of Amsterdam
(in Dutch: 'Grachtengordel'), located in the heart of Amsterdam, they are added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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There are many squares (suffixed with plein) in Amsterdam. Here is a partial list of some of the better-known ones:
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, one of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's capitals, has many attractions for visitors. The city's most famous sight are the 17th-century canals of Amsterdam
Canals of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has been called the "Venice of the North" for its more than one hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form...
(in Dutch: 'Grachtengordel'), located in the heart of Amsterdam, they are added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Museums
- The RijksmuseumRijksmuseumThe Rijksmuseum Amsterdam or simply Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum in Amsterdam, located on the Museumplein. The museum is dedicated to arts, crafts, and history. It has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a substantial collection of Asian art...
is the national museum of the Netherlands. - The Van Gogh MuseumVan Gogh MuseumThe Van Gogh Museum is an art museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, featuring the works of the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. It has the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world.-Background:...
specialises in works by Vincent van Gogh. - The Stedelijk MuseumStedelijk MuseumFounded in 1874, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is a museum for classic modern and contemporary art in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It has been housed on the Paulus Potterstraat, next to Museum Square Museumplein and to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the Concertgebouw, in Amsterdam Zuid...
specialises in modern art. - The Rembrandt House MuseumRembrandt House MuseumThe Rembrandt House Museum is a house in Jodenbreestraat in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where Rembrandt lived and painted for a number of years. It is now a museum...
specialises in works by Rembrandt van Rijn. - The Anne Frank HouseAnne Frank HouseThe Anne Frank House on Prinsengracht canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank, who hid from Nazi persecution with her family and four other people in hidden rooms at the rear of the building...
, Prinsengracht 263. - The Museum Het Grachtenhuis (The Canal House Museum) , gateway to the canals, Herengracht 386
- The Hermitage AmsterdamHermitage AmsterdamHermitage Amsterdam is a dependency of the Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg on the Amstel river in Amsterdam. The dependency is located at the former Amstelhof, a classical style building from 1681. The dependency has been displaying small exhibitions in a side building next to the Amstelhof...
, a dependency of the Hermitage MuseumHermitage MuseumThe State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums of the world, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and has been opened to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display,...
in Saint PetersburgSaint PetersburgSaint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. - The TropenmuseumTropenmuseumThe Tropenmuseum is an anthropological museum located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and established in 1864.One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of temporary exhibitions, including both modern and traditional visual...
, anthropological museum. - The NEMO (museum)NEMO (museum)NEMO is the largest science center in the Netherlands. It is located in Amsterdam. The architecture is by Renzo Piano. NEMO is located right next to the Amsterdam central station and the Maritime museum.-History:...
, the science museum in a building that looks like a sinking ship. - The Burcht, National Trade Unions Museum built by Hendrik Petrus Berlage.
- The VerzetsmuseumVerzetsmuseumThe Dutch Resistance Museum is located in Amsterdam.The Dutch Resistance Museum, chosen as the best historical museum of the Netherlands, tells the story of the Dutch people in World War II...
, the Amsterdam resistance museum. - The Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam's historical museum.
- The Allard Pierson MuseumAllard Pierson MuseumThe Allard Pierson Museum is the archaeological museum of the University of Amsterdam. It is situated at the Oude Turfmarkt 127 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands...
, Archaeological Museum of the University of Amsterdam. - The Bijbels MuseumBijbels MuseumThe Bijbels Museum , originally founded in 1852, is housed since 1975 in two imposing canalside buildings, known as the Cromhout houses, on Amsterdam's stately Herengracht canal. The buildings are famed also for the ceiling paintings by Jacob de Wit, which were restored in 1999-2000...
, where the BibleBibleThe Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, art and culture meet in a monument full of history. - The Filmmuseum, Holland's museum for cinematography.
- The Joods Historisch MuseumJoods Historisch MuseumThe Joods Historisch Museum is a museum in Amsterdam dedicated to Jewish history, culture and religion, in the Netherlands and worldwide. It is the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated to Jewish history...
, The Jewish Historical Museum collects objects and works of art associated with the religion, culture and history of the Jews in the Netherlands and its former colonies. - The Museum Van LoonMuseum Van LoonMuseum Van Loon is museum, located in a canalside house alongside the Keizersgracht in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The museum is named after the family Van Loon that lived in the house from the 19th century.-History:...
, a home on the canal. The double-sized canal house dates from 1672. - The Nederlands Scheepvaart Museum, museum about Dutch maritime history. Reopened on the October 1st 2011 after renovations since January 2007.
- Diamond Museum AmsterdamDiamond Museum AmsterdamThe Diamond Museum Amsterdam is a museum located at the Museumplein in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.The permanent collection consists of diamond jewelry and tells background information about diamonds.-External links:*...
, a museum at the Museumplein about the history of diamonds.
Churches
- Oude KerkOude Kerk (Amsterdam)The Oude Kerk is Amsterdam’s oldest parish church, consecrated in 1306 by the bishop of Utrecht with Saint Nicolas as its patron saint. It stands in De Wallen, now Amsterdam's main red-light district. The square surrounding the church is the Oudekerksplein.The bust of famous organist and composer...
, Old Church (ca. 1306). - Nieuwe KerkNieuwe Kerk (Amsterdam)The Nieuwe Kerk is a 15th-century church in Amsterdam, located on Dam Square, next to the Royal Palace.-History:The bishop of Utrecht gave the city of Amsterdam permission to use a second the parish church in 1408 because the Oude Kerk had grown too small for the growing population of the city....
, New Church (1408). - ZuiderkerkZuiderkerk (Amsterdam)The Zuiderkerk is a 17th Century Protestant church in the Nieuwmarkt area of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The church played an important part in the life of Rembrandt and was the subject of a painting by Claude Monet....
, Southern Church, the city's first church built specifically for protestant services (1603–1611). - Noorderkerk, Northern Church (1620–1623).
- WesterkerkWesterkerkThe Westerkerk is a church of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands denomination in Amsterdam, built in 1620-1631 after a design by Hendrick de Keyser. It is next to Amsterdam's Jordaan district, on the bank of the Prinsengracht canal....
, Western Church, finished in 1638 after a design by Hendrick de KeyserHendrick de KeyserHendrick de Keyser was a Dutch sculptor and architect born in Utrecht, Netherlands, who was instrumental in establishing a late Renaissance form of Mannerism in Amsterdam...
. - Oosterkerk, Eastern Church, construction was completed in 1671.
- Ronde Lutherse KerkRonde Lutherse Kerk (Amsterdam)The Ronde Lutherse Kerk or Koepelkerk is a former Lutheran church in Amsterdam, located at the Singel. The church can be easily seen from the Singel by its copper dome.-History:...
, the first round Lutheran church in the Netherlands, with a copper dome. - English Reformed Church, AmsterdamEnglish Reformed Church, AmsterdamThe English Reformed Church is one of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam, situated in the centre of the city. It is home to an English-speaking congregation which is affiliated to the Church of Scotland and to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands...
, in fact part of the Church of ScotlandChurch of ScotlandThe Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. One of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam, situated in the BegijnhofBegijnhof, AmsterdamThe Begijnhof is one of the oldest inner courts in the city of Amsterdam. A group of historic buildings, mostly private dwellings, centre on it. As the name suggests, it was originally a Béguinage...
, right in the centre of the city. - De KrijtbergDe KrijtbergDe Krijtberg is a Roman Catholic church in Amsterdam, located at the Singel. The church was designed by Alfred Tepe and was opened in 1883.The church is dedicated to St Francis Xavier and is one of the rectoraants within the Roman Catholic parish of St Nicholas, and is recognised by its two pointed...
, neo gothic twintowered church at the Singel canal. - St Nicholas's, a neo-Renaissance and Baroque Roman Catholic church.
- De DuifDe DuifDe Duif is a church on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam. At present – after the recent restoration by Stadsherstel Amsterdam – it is rented out for all kinds of events.- History :...
, The Dove. - Ons' Lieve Heer op SolderOns' Lieve Heer op SolderOns' Lieve Heer op Solder is a 17th century canal house, house church, and museum in the city center of Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Catholic Church was built on the top three floors of the canal house during the 1660s...
, Our Lord in the Attic, also known as Museum Amstelkring, a church hidden in an attic. - De papegaai, The Parrot, located in the busy Kalverstraat. A neogothic church built in 1848.
- Mozes en Aaronkerk. Twin tower church on Waterloo square.
- Posthoornkerk.
- Amstelkerk.
Bridges
- The Magere BrugMagere BrugThe Magere Brug is a bridge over the river Amstel in the city centre of Amsterdam. It connects the banks of the river at Kerkstraat , between Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht ....
is probably the most famous draw bridge in Amsterdam. - The Blauwbrug, which connects the Rembrandtplein area with the Waterlooplein area.
- The Python Bridge, bridge connects Sporenburg to Borneo Island and won the International Footbridge Award 2002.
- The Jan Schaeferbrug, built in 2001, straight through warehouse De Zwijger, after a design by architect T. Venhoeven
Buildings
- Royal palaceRoyal Palace (Amsterdam)The Royal Palace in Amsterdam is one of three palaces in the Netherlands which is at the disposal of Queen Beatrix by Act of Parliament. The palace was built as city hall during the Dutch Golden Age in the seventeenth century. The building became the royal palace of king Louis Napoleon and later...
, former town hall, built in 1648. - StoperaStoperaThe Stopera is a building complex in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, housing both the city hall of Amsterdam and the Muziektheater, the principal opera house in Amsterdam and the home of De Nederlandse Opera, Het Nationale Ballet, and the Holland Symfonia....
, combined town hall and opera house. - KalvertorenKalvertorenThe Kalvertoren, a shopping center in Amsterdam, is located on Kalverstraat, Amsterdam's busiest shopping street.The project was developed by Multi Corporation...
, shopping mall located in the busy Kalverstraat. - AEXAEX indexThe AEX index, derived from Amsterdam Exchange index, is a stock market index composed of Dutch companies that trade on Euronext Amsterdam, formerly known as the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Started in 1983, the index is composed of a maximum of 25 of the most actively traded securities on the exchange...
, stock exchange. - Beurs van BerlageBeurs van BerlageThe Beurs van Berlage is a building on the Damrak, in the center of Amsterdam. It was designed as a commodity exchange by architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage and constructed between 1896 and 1903. It influenced many modernist architects, in particular functionalists and the Amsterdam School...
, originally designed as a commodity exchange by architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage, now used for conferences. - Centraal Station, neo-Gothic building.
- De WaagWaagA weigh house or weighing house is a public building at or within which goods, and the like, are weighed. Most of these buildings were built before 1800, prior to the establishment of international standards for weights...
, built as part of the city's fortifications in 1481-1494, later a weighing house, now a cafe and museum. - MontelbaanstorenMontelbaanstorenThe Montelbaanstoren is a tower on bank of the canal Oudeschans in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The original tower was built in 1516 for the purpose of defending the city. The top half, designed by Hendrick de Keyser, was extended to its current, decorative form in 1606.-External links:...
, built in 1512 as a part of the city's fortifications. - MunttorenMunttorenThe Munttoren or Munt is a tower in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It stands on the busy Muntplein square, where the Amstel river and the Singel canal meet, near the flower market and the eastern end of the Kalverstraat shopping street....
, the tower was built in 1619-1620 and it is the southern tower among all other ones in AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population... - Pakhuis De Zwijger, built in 1933-1934 after a design by architect J. de Bie Leuveling Tjeenk, this was a warehouse for cooling perishables.
- The house with the waterfall, at the Zuiderkerkhof.
- Nieuwe Wereld, New World, by architects Meyer and Van Schooten. The name goes back to the 1980s when squatters lived here and called their place 'End of the World'.
- Barcelona Building, building from 1993 by architect B. Albert on the Levantkade.
- Emerald Empire, building on the far end of KNSM Lane by architect J. Coenen.
- Magna Plaza, a former post office dating back to 1899 converted into a shopping mall in 1990
- The Whale, mega-apartment building by architect F. van Dongen. It took five years to complete (1995–2000).
- Skydome, 60 metre-tall tower block designed by architect W. Arets, with three vertical grooves.
- Lloyd HotelLloyd HotelLloyd Hotel and Cultural Embassy is a historic building in the Eastern Docklands of Amsterdam, commissioned by the Royal Holland Lloyd . It became a building to temporarily house immigrants, a prison and later was a collective building of artists' studios, but is now serving as a hotel since 2004...
, built between 1917-1920 as an emigrants' hotel. - East India HouseOost-Indisch Huis (Amsterdam)The Oost-Indisch Huis is an early 17th-century building in the centre of Amsterdam. It was a headquarters of the Dutch East India Company ....
, headquarters of Dutch East India CompanyDutch East India CompanyThe Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
, a 17th Century Dutch trading giant, from 1606 to 1798. Now a university building. - Rembrandt TowerRembrandt TowerThe Rembrandt Tower is an office skyscraper in Amsterdam. It has a height of 135 metres, 35 floors and it has a spire which extends its height to 149.85 metres. It was constructed from 1991 to 1994. The building's foundation required piles 56 metres long and two metres in diameter...
, a 135-metre skyscraper. - BijlmerbajesBijlmerbajesThe Bijlmerbajes is a prison complex in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, near the Amsterdam Amstel railway station. The official name is Penitentiaire Inrichting Over-Amstel, although it is also known as Penitentiaire Inrichting De Stadspoort or Penitentiaire Inrichtingen Amsterdam...
, a prison in Amsterdam near Amstel stationAmsterdam Amstel railway stationAmsterdam Amstel is a railway station in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The station was opened on 15 October 1939. It is located south west of the station Amsterdam Centraal...
.
- Amsterdam ArenAAmsterdam ArenAAmsterdam Arena is a stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is the largest stadium in the nation and it was built from 1993 to 1996 at a cost of €140 million, and was officially opened on 14 August 1996. It has been used for association football, American football, concerts, and other events...
, a football stadium, home to Ajax football club. - BegijnhofBegijnhof, AmsterdamThe Begijnhof is one of the oldest inner courts in the city of Amsterdam. A group of historic buildings, mostly private dwellings, centre on it. As the name suggests, it was originally a Béguinage...
, one of the oldest inner courts in Amsterdam. - Portuguese Synagogue, impressive building founded by the Sephardic Jewish community in 1670.
- El Tawheed MosqueEl Tawheed MosqueThe El Tawheed Mosque is a mosque in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.The foundation that manages the mosque was founded in 1986. The mosque is on Jan Hanzenstraat in the Old-West section of Amsterdam. Aside from its normal function, the mosque is used for social work, and for lessons in the Arabic...
, a mosque founded in 1986. - HomomonumentHomomonumentThe Homomonument is a memorial in the centre of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. It commemorates all gay men and lesbians who have been subjected to persecution because of their homosexuality...
, a memorial in the centre of Amsterdam commemorating all gay men and lesbians who have been subjected to persecution because of their sexual orientation. - Millennium TowerMillennium Tower (Amsterdam)Millennium Tower is a , 24 storey office building in Amsterdam constructed from 2002 and completed in 2004.-External links:*...
, a 97.5-metre, 24-floor office building. - Olympic Stadium, built as the main stadium for the 1928 Summer Olympics1928 Summer OlympicsThe 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
. It was designed by the architect Jan WilsJan WilsJan Wils was a Dutch architect.He was born in Alkmaar and died in Voorburg.Wils was one of the founding members of the De Stijl movement, which also included artists as Piet Mondrian, Theo van Doesburg and Gerrit Rietveld.Among others, Wils designed the Olympic stadium for the 1928 Summer Olympics...
. - The Amsterdam MetroAmsterdam MetroThe Amsterdam Metro is a mixed rapid transit and light rail system in Amsterdam, and its surrounding municipalities Amstelveen, Diemen, and Ouder-Amstel in the Netherlands. The network is owned by the city of Amsterdam and operated by the Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf, the company that also operates...
, a metro system with three main lines. - Public LibraryOpenbare Bibliotheek AmsterdamThe Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam is a collective name for all public libraries in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The first library opened in 1919 at the Keizersgracht. As of 2007, there are 28 public libraries and 43 lending points, such as in hospitals...
by architect J. Coenen on Oosterdokseiland, near Central Station. Has a wonderful view over the city. - Shan He Hua Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Europe built in the traditional Chinese style.
Concert halls
- The ConcertgebouwConcertgebouwThe Concertgebouw is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch term "concertgebouw" literally translates into English as "concert building"...
, home to the world-class symphony orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw OrchestraRoyal Concertgebouw OrchestraThe Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is a symphony orchestra of the Netherlands, based at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 1988, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred the "Royal" title upon the orchestra...
. - The StoperaStoperaThe Stopera is a building complex in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, housing both the city hall of Amsterdam and the Muziektheater, the principal opera house in Amsterdam and the home of De Nederlandse Opera, Het Nationale Ballet, and the Holland Symfonia....
, combined town hall and opera house. - Heineken Music HallHeineken Music HallHeineken Music Hall is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands, near the Amsterdam ArenA .The big hall is used for concerts, has a capacity of 5500 and is 3000 m²...
. - ParadisoParadiso (Amsterdam)Paradiso is an iconic rock music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.-History:It is housed in a converted former church building that dates from the nineteenth century and that was used until 1965 as the meeting hall for a liberal Dutch religious group known as the "Vrije...
, a rock-music venue and cultural centre. - MelkwegMelkwegThe Melkweg is a popular music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is located on the Lijnbaansgracht, near the Leidseplein, a prime nightlife center of Amsterdam. It is housed in a former warehouse and is divided into a number of spaces of varying sizes...
, a pop-music venue and cultural centre. - The Muziekgebouw aan 't IJMuziekgebouw aan 't IJMuziekgebouw aan 't IJ is a concert hall for contemporary classical music on the IJ in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The building opened in 2005 and is located above the IJtunnel, a ten-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal station.The building was designed by Danish architects 3XN...
, specializing in contemporary classical music. - The BimhuisBimhuisThe Bimhuis is a concert hall for jazz and improvised music in Amsterdam.With an average of 150 performances a year the Bimhuis is the main stage for these musical genres in the Netherlands....
, for jazz and improvised music, located within the Muziekgebouw.
Diamond factories
- Amsterdam Diamond Centre.
- Coster DiamondsCoster DiamondsCoster Diamonds is one of the oldest still operating diamond polishing factories in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. They were responsible for the creation of a few historical masterpieces, like the re-polishing of the Koh i Noor, mounted in the Crown of Queen Mary, to be admired in the Tower of London,...
, one of the oldest diamond polishing factories in the Netherlands - Gassan Diamonds.
- Zazare Diamonds.
Red-light districts
There are several red-light districts in Amsterdam:- De WallenDe WallenDe Wallen is the largest and best-known red-light district in Amsterdam and a major tourist attraction. It is located in the heart of the oldest part of Amsterdam, covering several blocks south of the church Oude Kerk and crossed by several canals....
, which is located about the Oude Kerk - The Singelgebied, located around the SingelSingel (Amsterdam)The Singel is a canal in Amsterdam which encircled the city in the Middle Ages. It served as a moat around the city until 1585, when Amsterdam expanded beyond the Singel. The canal runs from the IJ bay, near Central Station, to the Muntplein square, where it meets the Amstel river...
and north of the Nieuwe Kerk, - The Oude Nieuwstraat, near Dam Square.
- Some isolated windows along the Ruysdaelkade in the de PijpDe PijpDe Pijp is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands.The Pijp is located directly south of Amsterdam's city centre and it is part of the borough 'Amsterdam-Zuid'. Most street names in the Pijp are named after Dutch painters, like Jan Steen, Frans Hals, Ruysdael and Vincent van Gogh.The most famous...
district, west-southwest from Albert Cuypmarkt.
Squares
- The DamDam SquareDam Square, or simply the Dam is a town square in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the most well-known and important locations in the city.- Location and description :...
, the central square of Amsterdam, where stands the Royal Palace on the Dam and the Netherlands National Monument. - KoningspleinKoningspleinKoningsplein is a square in Amsterdam. It is located between the Singel and Herengracht canals. It has become a meeting place for the local community-External links:*, via TERENA...
. - LeidsepleinLeidsepleinThe Leidseplein is a square in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Lying in the southwest of the Grachtengordel district of Amsterdam, the Leidseplein is immediately northeast of the Singelgracht canal. It is situated on the crossroads of the Weteringschans, the Marnixstraat, and the Leidsestraat...
, a plaza on the southwest end of the Leidsestraat. - MuntpleinMuntplein (Amsterdam)The Muntplein is a square in the centre of Amsterdam. The square is in fact a bridge — the widest bridge in Amsterdam — which crosses the Singel canal at the point where it flows into the Amstel river...
, at the intersection of Kalverstraat and Rokin, a town squareTown squareA town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
centered on the old Tower of the Mint (MunttorenMunttorenThe Munttoren or Munt is a tower in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It stands on the busy Muntplein square, where the Amstel river and the Singel canal meet, near the flower market and the eastern end of the Kalverstraat shopping street....
). - MuseumpleinMuseumpleinThe Museumplein is a square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The square is called "Museum Square" because four museums are located around the square: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Diamond Museum...
, southwest of the RijksmuseumRijksmuseumThe Rijksmuseum Amsterdam or simply Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum in Amsterdam, located on the Museumplein. The museum is dedicated to arts, crafts, and history. It has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a substantial collection of Asian art...
, holds the Stedelijk MuseumStedelijk MuseumFounded in 1874, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is a museum for classic modern and contemporary art in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It has been housed on the Paulus Potterstraat, next to Museum Square Museumplein and to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the Concertgebouw, in Amsterdam Zuid...
and the Van Gogh MuseumVan Gogh MuseumThe Van Gogh Museum is an art museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, featuring the works of the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. It has the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world.-Background:...
. - RembrandtpleinRembrandtpleinRembrandtplein is a major square in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is named after the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn....
. - WaterloopleinWaterloopleinWaterlooplein is a square in the centre of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, near the Amstel river. The daily flea market on the square is popular with tourists. The Stopera city hall and opera building and the Mozes en Aäronkerk church are at Waterlooplein....
, south of the Rembrandt House MuseumRembrandt House MuseumThe Rembrandt House Museum is a house in Jodenbreestraat in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where Rembrandt lived and painted for a number of years. It is now a museum...
, the site of an open-air market. - MarkenpleinMarkenpleinMarkenplein is the name of a square in the centre of Amsterdam.Until 1970, it was called het oude Markenpleintje and before World War II it used to be a part of the Jewish district of Amsterdam...
, a place which holds Netherlands Film and Television AcademyNetherlands Film and Television AcademyThe Netherlands Film and Television Academy was founded in 1958.The academy is the only recognised institute in the Netherlands that offers training to prepare for the work in the various crew disciplines...
(NFTA), close by the WaterloopleinWaterloopleinWaterlooplein is a square in the centre of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, near the Amstel river. The daily flea market on the square is popular with tourists. The Stopera city hall and opera building and the Mozes en Aäronkerk church are at Waterlooplein....
. - Azartplein, is the end of the Java Island walk, crossing this square will lead to KNSM Island.
Open-air markets
- Albert Cuyp MarketAlbert Cuyp MarketThe Albert Cuyp Market is a street market in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on the Albert Cuypstraat between Ferdinand Bolstraat and Van Woustraat, in the De Pijp area of the Oud-Zuid district of the city. The street and market are named for Albert Cuyp, a 17th century painter.The market began as an...
, great open-air food market in the De Pijp district. - WaterloopleinWaterloopleinWaterlooplein is a square in the centre of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, near the Amstel river. The daily flea market on the square is popular with tourists. The Stopera city hall and opera building and the Mozes en Aäronkerk church are at Waterlooplein....
, south of the Rembrandt House MuseumRembrandt House MuseumThe Rembrandt House Museum is a house in Jodenbreestraat in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where Rembrandt lived and painted for a number of years. It is now a museum...
, the site of an open-air market. - DappermarktDappermarktThe Dappermarkt is a market in the Dapperstraat in Amsterdam-east and is one of the busiest markets of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.In 1910, the Dapperstraat was officially designated by the municipality of Amsterdam as a market street. The Dappermarkt draws visitors from the all over the Netherlands...
, open-air food and clothing market in the DapperbuurtDapperbuurtDapperbuurt is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
district. - NoordermarktNoordermarktThe Noordermarkt is a square in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.The square is lined by cafés and restaurants. Markets are held on the square every Monday. On Saturdays, a popular organic farmer's market is held on the square...
, Saturday market for organic foodOrganic foodOrganic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
. - Czaar Petermarkt, small daily marked in the Czaar Peterstraat.
- BloemenmarktBloemenmarktThe Bloemenmarkt is the world's only floating flower market. Founded in 1862, it is sited in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Singel between Muntplein and Koningsplein in the city's southern canal belt. It includes 15 florists and garden shops as well as a range of souvenir gifts. The market is one...
, the only floating flower market in the world.
Breweries
- Heineken BreweryHeineken BreweryHeineken International /ˈɦɛinəkən/ is a Dutch brewing company, founded in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken in Amsterdam. As of 2007, Heineken owns over 125 breweries in more than 70 countries and employs approximately 54,000 people...
, located in the borough De Pijp. Now a museum. - Brouwerij 't IJBrouwerij 't IJBrouwerij 't IJ is a small brewery in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is located in a former bath house named Funen, next to the De Gooyer windmill...
, located at the foot of the beautiful De Gooyer windmillWindmillA windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
. - Brouwerij De Prael, located at the Oudezijds Voorburgwal in the heart of the red-light district
Periodic events
- April - 420420 (cannabis culture)420, 4:20 or 4/20 refers to consumption of cannabis and, by extension, a way to identify oneself with cannabis subculture. The notable day for these is April 20.- Origins of terms :...
. - April - KoninginnedagKoninginnedagKoninginnedag or Queen's Day is a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Celebrated on 30 April , Koninginnedag is Queen Beatrix's official birthday. Though Queen Beatrix was born on 31 January, the holiday is observed on 30 April as it was the birthday of her mother and...
, Queen's day, 30 April, former Queen JulianaJuliana of the NetherlandsJuliana was the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands between 1948 and 1980. She was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry...
's birthday, also the day Juliana transferred her title to her daughter BeatrixBeatrix of the NetherlandsBeatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
. - June - The Amsterdam Roots Festival, last week of June, international music festival.
- June - Holland FestivalHolland FestivalThe Holland Festival is The Netherlands' oldest and largest performing arts festival, and takes place every June in Amsterdam. It comprises theater, music, opera and modern dance. In recent years, multimedia, visual arts, film and architecture were added to the festival roster...
is an international festival for theater, music, dance, opera, film and art, throughout the month of June. - August - Amsterdam PrideAmsterdam PrideThe Amsterdam Pride is an annual gay festival in the centre of Amsterdam, organized in the first weekend of August. With several hundreds of thousands visitors this event is one of the largest public events of the Netherlands...
, first weekend of August, gay prideGay prideLGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
weekend. - August - HartjesdagHartjesdagOriginally Hartjesdag was a festival celebrated on the third Monday in August in the Dutch areas of Haarlem and Bloemendaal and in various parts of Amsterdam, particularly around the Haarlemmerplein, in the Jordaan, and in the Dapperbuurt. On Hartjesdag fires were kindled and children collected...
, 3rd weekend in August. - August - UitmarktUitmarktThe Uitmarkt is the opening of the cultural season in Amsterdam, held every year over a weekend at the end of August, usually on and around the Leidseplein, Museumplein and Nieuwmarkt. Many theatres open their doors for free to shows that range from classical music and ballet to hiphop, cabaret,...
, last weekend in August, the start of the cultural season. - August - Amsterdam TournamentAmsterdam TournamentThe Amsterdam Tournament is a pre-season association football competition, held in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The competition is hosted by Eredivisie club Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena. It was inaugurated in 1975 as the Amsterdam 700 Tournament to celebrate 700 years of history in the city...
, late August, International Football tournament hosted by AFC Ajax. - August - Sail AmsterdamSAIL AmsterdamSAIL Amsterdam is a large maritime event held every five years in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Tall ships from all over the world visit the city to moor in its Eastern harbour, and people can then visit the ships for four days ....
, a five-yearly event, when tall shipTall shipA tall ship is a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel. Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail schooners, brigantines, brigs and barques. "Tall Ship" can also be defined more specifically by an organization, such as for a race or festival....
s from all over the world can be visited; next event 2015. - October - Amsterdam MarathonAmsterdam MarathonThe Amsterdam Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of 42.195km held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands since 1975. It is one of the top ten marathons in the world.-History:...
, mid-October. - October – The BockBockBock is a strong lager of German origin. Several substyles exist, including maibock or helles bock, a paler, more hopped version generally made for consumption at spring festivals; doppelbock, a stronger and maltier version; and eisbock, a much stronger version made by partially freezing the beer...
Beer Festival in the Beurs van BerlageBeurs van BerlageThe Beurs van Berlage is a building on the Damrak, in the center of Amsterdam. It was designed as a commodity exchange by architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage and constructed between 1896 and 1903. It influenced many modernist architects, in particular functionalists and the Amsterdam School...
(Old stock Exchange). - October – Grachtenrace (Canal Race), 25 km rowing race, 2nd Saturday in October.
- October - Amsterdam Dance Event. An international conference for the electronic and dance music industry. Also a clubfestival with 600+ acts/DJ's performing at 40 locations!
- November - Shadow Festival of Documentary Film.
- November – December The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)International Documentary Filmfestival AmsterdamThe International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam is the world's largest documentary film festival held annually since 1988 in Amsterdam....
. - November - Cannabis CupCannabis CupThe High Times Cannabis Cup is the world’s preeminent Cannabis festival. Founded in 1987 by Steven Hager, the High Times Cannabis Cup takes place each November in Amsterdam. The event allows judges from around the world to sample and vote for their favorite marijuana strains...
, mid-November annual cannabis competition, hosted by High Times.