The hoods of Amsterdam
When you just arrived in Amsterdam you might get lost but here we come in to help you out! A short list with the places to be:
Waterlooplein
Waterlooplein
square in the center of the former Jewish neighborhood hosts Amsterdam's
largest flea-market. In the old days the merchants on this square used to sell
everything from bric-a-brac to genuine antiques, genuine junk, goods of dubious
origin and second-hand clothes.
Nowadays the merchandise has become more geared towards visiting tourists with
lots of second-hand apparel and smoking paraphernalia, but for cheap clothes
it's still hard to beat.
Vondelpark
The largest park of the city, close to the Leidseplein and the big museums and by far the most popular with visitors and locals alike, especially during summer and on sunny winterdays. The park is always alive with skaters, joggers and all sorts of street performers. In the summer the Vondelpark open air theater stages regular performances. There are several bars in the park, all of course with their own outside terrace, and Vertigo also offers good food at reasonable prices. All in all a very pleasant place to spend a lazy sunny afternoon.
De Pijp
This area is populated by a mix of hip young professionals and students. The small quaint streets and squares are crawling with little shops, bars and restaurants, and of course the Pijp hosts the famous Albert Cuyp day market (every day 10-17u). If you want to mingle with the locals this is the place to be!
Jordaan
A former working class area which has become very sought after. Especially the expensive converted warehouses are popular, and the Jordaan is now inhabited by a colorful mixture of original 'Jordanezen', students, and well-to-do businessmen and creatives. There aren't any major sights to see here, it is the Jordaan area itself which is remarkable: easygoing and peaceful, with lots of bars, restaurants and interesting little shops. The Noordermarkt hosts a flea market, (Monday morning) joined on Saturday mornings by alternative farmers selling their produce out of the back of their cars.
