Oude Kerk Amsterdam

- -A big and monumental church – De Oude Kerk (The Old Church) dominates over theRed Light District. Although originally built as a Catholic place of worship, today the Oude Kerk is one of the unique buildings expressing the national character of Dutch Protestantism. Through its exceptional architecture, high windows full of light, beautifully sculpted misericords in the choir, impressive old granite gravestones on its floor, as well as through its unique history omnipresent in the building,...

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Amsterdam canals

- -Amsterdam is the most watery city in the world. Its canals and harbours fill a full quarter of her surface Its waterways have always been its essence and its source of wealthA bit of historyThe city was founded around 1250 with the building of the Dam that gave it its name. ‘Aeme Stelle Redamme’ is Medieval Dutch for: ‘Dam in a Watery Area’.The Dam is still there as the heart of the city. But today this former barrier between the River Amstel and the “Southern Sea” is one of the few...

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Magere Brug, Amsterdam

- -The famous skinny bridge across the river Amstel and opposite of the Carré theatre, is an Old Dutch design wooden bridge known as a double-swipe (balanced) bridge. Tradition relates that the bridge was named after the sisters Mager, who were supposed to live on opposite sides of the river. They are said to have had the wooden bridge built to make it easier to visit one another. However it appears more likely, that the original bridge acquired the name from being so narrow (mager means skinny...

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Jordaan, Amsterdam

- - Art and Culture of the JordaanThe Jordaan was build at the large expansion of Amsterdam in early 17th century, as a district for the working class and emigrants. The population increase during the next centuries was enormously, caused by the stream political refugees like protestant Fleming, Spanish and Portuguese Jews and French Huguenots who mainly settled in the Jordaan. It was a poor district with small houses and slums, every little room stuffed with families and lots of children. The...

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Red Light District Amsterdam

- -For Red Light District videos visit youtube.com. Please also read further information on how to behave in the red light district. From brothels to sex shops to museums, the Red Light District leaves nothing to the imagination. It is very likely that you will have heard about this neighbourhood and to be frank, everything you will have heard is probably true , but to really put rumours to rest, you have got to check it out for yourself. TheRossebuurt, as the...

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Albert Cuyp market

- -The market began trading in 1904, now over 300 stalls are lining both sides of the Albert Cuyp street in the neighbourhood of De Pijp. Stalls sell everything from fruit, vegetables, cheese, fish and spices to clothes, cosmetics and bedding. The prices are among the cheapest in Amsterdam. The market gets very crowded especially on a sunny day and Saturdays. Located on Albert Cuypstraat, see on the map of Amsterdam. Open from 9:30 am to about 5 pm, Monday to Saturday, can close earlier...

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Hortus Botanicus, botanical garden Amsterdam

- -Hortus Botanicus - A tradition Amsterdam has one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world called Hortus Botanicus. It was established in 1638 by the city municipality as Hortus Medicus, an herb garden with medical plants for Amsterdam doctors and pharmacists. The reasons for establishing a specialized medical garden were very serious: at that time the cities of Leiden and Utrecht experienced the plague epidemic (1634-1637) with thousands of victims. Additionally, several monasteries...

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