The Rijksmuseum at Amsterdam's Museumplein. Photo by Maxey.

By Amy Goemans in Amsterdam—

Those of us who drop by a city like Amsterdam for a short visit never really get to see each and every attraction. Nor do we want to in most occasions. Quite often, however, we try to stay in neighborhoods that offer our various interests and seem “right” for our trip.

Choosing the right ‘hood, therefore, is a good first step in ensuring that you’ll be well-positioned to get the most out of your trip. Keeping that in mind, here is my quick guide to Amsterdam’s neighborhoods, according to travelers’ varied tastes:

Museumplein
For art lovers

The Museumplein (Museum Quarter) is a charming neighborhood filled with museums and beautiful buildings dating back to the 19th Century. There are plenty of art-related activities here, from museums like Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum to everyday buildings boasting interesting architecture.

Classical music fans will benefit from the neighborhood’s famous Concertgebouw concert hall. Not only will its classical concerts dazzle visitors, but the building’s design will fascinate them. Keep an eye out for free lunch-hour performances.

For glimpses of local art and architecture, stroll down P.C. Hooftstraat and the neighboring lanes.

An outdoor market in De Pijp. Photo by amsfrank.

De Pijp
For students, eating out

Unlike the overtly European touch of the Museumplein, De Pijp offers flavors from all over the world. This is evident in the various architectural touches, the types of shops and activities, and of course, the fantastic eateries.

This neighborhood has a definite multicultural feel that will appeal to travelers looking for something off the beaten path. Given its bustling atmosphere and student community, this neighborhood will appeal to younger travelers and students. From exotic Moroccan food to dainty French cuisine, this is the perfect spot to eat out. Check out Bazar and Burgermeester for some yummy dishes at affordable prices.

A street in the Jordaan hood. Photo by Terretta.

Jordaan
For seniors

The Jordaan has an interesting history that includes an influx of immigrants, working class developments, and later, a redevelopment of the neighborhood. As a result, the area today boasts a unique and exotic vibe.

Because of its rich history and relaxed atmosphere, older travelers tend to fall in love with the neighborhood. For example, you can walk down meandering lanes lined with boutiques, studios, and galleries. You can visit historic spots like Rembrandt’s house on Rozengracht and his studio on Bloemgracht.

And there are quirkier spots, too. If you are curious about the way of life in a house boat, the Houseboat Museum is the place to go. The Pianola Museum, meanwhile, features a number of different pianos and other instruments.

Grachtengordel (Canal Belt)
For bar hopping

Canalside in Grachtengordel. Photo by stevecadman.

This area is easily recognizable because of its semicircular set of canal rings. (In our Amsterdam guide, the neighborhood is divided into Grachtengordel South and Grachtengordel West.) Formed mainly from three bigger canals called Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, this canal belt has a variety of attractions for everyone. However, since the canal belt surrounds the center, and hence the most popular tourist spots, this area offers a number of lively nightlife activities.

Catering to different types of travelers, this hood offers a variety of different bars and cafes. There’s the rustic De Pieper (Western Canal Belt Prinsengracht 424), the laidback Café `t Arendsnest (Herengracht 90), Bar Struik (Rozengracht 160) for the hip young ones, and for those who love sampling different liquors, try the De Admiral (Herengracht 319).

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Photo of Cafe In de Waag by Peterhoneyman

Editor’s Note: Pete and Meredith just spent a long weekend in Amsterdam. This is a post from their recent journey.

A little bit of history

In 1488, St. Anthony’s Port - today a weigh house that stands in the center of Nieuwmarkt Square in Amsterdam - opened its doors and became one of the Dutch capital’s original city gates. Later, the building was reconstructed to function as a guild house for surgeons and doctors studying medicine and conducting experiments.

An elaborate octagonal ceiling loomed over the resident medical ampitheater where Amsterdam’s finest practioners could dissect and then study the corpses of recently executed criminals. The general public was welcomed into the demonstrations, and they became as popular as a trip to the movies might be for us today.

Making history

In 1632, Rembrandt painted “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp” in the guild house ampitheater. Today, you can visit this historic stomping ground simply by stopping into the Cafe In de Waag, a restaurant and bar now housed inside the original weigh station, in the center of Amsterdam’s Nieuwmarkt Square.

Today’s special

While dinner is a tad expensive here, a Cheapo can purchase a Heineken for €2.50 or a soda for €2.20.  The evening that we visited ‘In de Waag,’ we opted for nightcaps (two glasses of wine set us back €8). Since the wait staff wasn’t busy with a crazy dinner rush, we were able to linger long over our drinks and ask lots of questions about Rembrandt’s heyday, and how the building fit in to it all.

While we couldn’t exactly peek into the original room where Rembrandt painted the masterpiece, we felt close enough to the real deal. Considering that the Rijksmuseum’s admission price is €10 per person, we felt like it was all a pretty good deal and a great Cheapo night out!

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