Jordaan district

Prinsengracht canal is the closest canal to the Singel, the canal that is adjacent to the Museum Quarter (Museumplein). Close to its northwestern edge we can find another amazing neighborhood of the Dutch capital. According to many the Jordaan district is currently the most exciting area of all in today’s Amsterdam.

A former working class quarter, the area of Jordaan was built during the largest expansion of the city at the start of 17th century. It was initially packed with political & religious refugees coming from Catholic countries who lived in cheap slums & small houses in between open sewers & makeshift workshops. The area attracted writers & artists like Rembrandt who chose to live here due to its low rents.

In the 1970’s the area was spared by the city council that modified its plans for extensive demolitions of an otherwise degraded district. The city council changed its plans after a wave of protests by many of the city’s residents. The small scale improvements left the district’s character unharmed. Since then a new generation of students, artists & entrepreneurs occupied has stepped up, making Jordaan a favorite for both locals and tourists alike.

About 40 modern art galleries, retro & antique shops, historic houses, pubs & cafes, picturesque canals & 17th century churches, along with many small, flea markets, trading all sorts of commodities, from organic food to fabrics & finally many museums such as the Pianola Museum, the Houseboat Museum, the Jordaan museum & Anne Frank House guarantee you an extremely interesting time through the district’s narrow streets.