A Maze of Canals

The world-famous Canal Ring is a stunning sight, but behind the gabled mansions, there is so much more to Centrum than first meets the eye.

The cosmopolitan-yet-quaint village feel of Amsterdam’s Canal Ring is defined by its contrasts. De Wallen (The Red Light District) is a fantastic juxtaposition of historic churches, romantic bridges, age-old architecture and late-night pursuits. Amongst the beautiful façades of leaning gabled houses, museums such as Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder, Museum Van Loon and Huis Marseille are true hidden gems. The historic Spiegelkwartier is an absolute must for lovers of art, antiques and curiosities, and as soon as you cross into the elegant De Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets), fashion designers and the city’s artisans (chocolatiers, perfumeries and cheesemongers) flaunt quality wares.

At home in the Jordaan

A few steps further, the flowery Jordaan welcomes you to Amsterdam’s real life. This once working-class bastion was renowned for tight community bonds, radical politics, a love for drink, and over-the-top Dutch sing-a-longs. Gentrification of decades past has attracted more galleries, restaurants and shops to its scenic streets, but there’s undeniably still a distinct atmosphere to be enjoyed here. The bustling markets and lively cafés merge into the Haarlemmerstraat, lined with vintage boutiques, concept stores, delis and countless options for lunch and co ee.

Packed with culture

Just east of the centre, De Plantage is a lush cultural garden with elegant tree-lined boulevards teeming with attractions and institutions dedicated to fine art, culture and natural history, including the Jewish Cultural Quarter, ARTIS zoo and Hortus Botanicus. Along the River IJ, historic warehouses are repurposed into cultural hotspots, including Pakhuis de Zwijger and Mezrab for lectures, comedy and spoken word. Here you’ll also find the iconic Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ for mind-blowing classical concerts and BIMHUIS – the city’s temple to modern jazz. Meanwhile, the former warehouses along the Entrepotdok or around the Marineterrein have since been converted into exhibition spaces, waterside bars and fine-dining restaurants.

‘Go get a coffee or have dinner at Mr Porter on top of the W Hotel. They have a rooftop bar with a beautiful view over the city.’

Edwin Wildeman (54) and H. Goes (60), teachers