City Centre

The City Centre of Amsterdam consists of The Jordaan, The Ring of Canals (Grachtengordel), The Redlight District and the main Squares Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein.

The Jordaan

The Jordaan is a popular former working-class quarter, build during the expansion of Amsterdam in early 17th century as a district for the working class and emigrants. A large renovation was started during the seventieth of the 20th century. By then the district was discovered by a new generation occupants: artists, students, and young entrepreneurs. Partly by these new inhabitants the Jordaan has changed from a slum area to a district for artist, still living on low rent, and the rich who bought the very expensive renovated houses. Nowadays the Jordaan is compared to the rest of the town an oasis of peace with a labyrinth of narrow streets and little canals, nice for strolling around courtyards, art studios, and monumental buildings with stone tablets, old-fashioned ‘brown’ pubs, boutiques or galleries.

There are also some markets in this area. Saturdays you will find the Lindenmarkt (Lime market), a general market, on the Lindengracht (Lime canal) and a biological food market on the Noordermarkt (North market). Mondays you have a flea market at the Noordermarkt and a market on the Westerstraat (West street) with nice fabrics. On the Noordermarkt you can visit the Noorderkerk (North church), designed by Hendrick de Keyser in the 17th century.

Many people think that the Westerkerk (West church) on the Westermarkt is the main church of the Jordaan. It’s true that you can hear its carillon and see the beautiful Westertoren (West tower) everywhere in the neighborhood but the church is actually located just outside the Jordaan. So the main church of the Jordaan is the Noorderkerk. The Noorderkerk and the Westerkerk are open to everyone, especially during concerts.

The Jordaan has a high concentration of hofjes (inner courtyards), beautiful yards with little houses, many of them with restored houses and peaceful gardens. These courtyards were build by rich people for older women; a kind of charity and protection. Beginning of the 70th most of these courtyards was in a very bad shape, like the rest of the neighborhood. After there restoration they were discovered by artist, students and still some older people with special privileges because of a church membership. Some of the courtyards are closed to the public, and only opened on special days called 'open monuments days'. During the summer some of these yards are opened on Sundays during free concerts called ‘hofjesconcerten’.

For more cultural information about The Jordaan and other parts of Amsterdam, I advise you to have a look at the virtual website Jordaanweb.