Oudezijds

Area

Southeast of Central Station, Oudezijds lays between the city's red carpet Damrak and the scenic Oude Schans canal. It is capped on its southern end by the Binnen Amstel river. The Red Light District only takes up a small portion: within a triangle roughly formed by Central Station and the two main squares, Dam and Nieuwmarkt.

History

It is said that Amsterdam was founded by two fishermen and a seasick dog sometime before 1000 AD. It was only around 1300 with the building of the dyke Zeedijk did it become more than a fishing village with barely enough bog to stand on.

By the 15th century, with the establishment of the East India Trading Company and the incoming ships filled with spices and booty from the high seas, the area became a centre of trade and a place where sailors came to unwind. But to temper excess, many churches and religious orders also set up shop. And so the balance remained for centuries to come...

Highlights

Residents live in the heart of the city - but that does mean avoiding the occasional wayward tourists on bicycles or revelling party-goers. With the building of the new Amsterdam Public Library, one can not only enjoy one of Europe's largest public collections but also the expansive view of the neighbourhood from the roof-top café.

The streets offer access to all basic needs as well as quieter delights, such as the theatre street Nes, the filmic Staalstraat, or University of Amsterdam's Oudemanhuispoort book market.

Your neighbourhood

It's easy to avoid the Red Light District and such busy arteries as Damrak, and the very touristy Warmoesstraat and Damstraat. On a local level there's an intense and diverse brand of social interaction between residents, shopkeepers, trades people and, yes, even your friendly neighbourhood prostitute. In a funny way, the area comes across as a surreal Sesame Street of sorts. And the locals are steadfast: during the 1970s when the area around Nieuwmarkt was threatened with destruction by the building of a Metro line, the community came together to save the historical buildings.

Eating, drinking etc

The new city policy of Project 1012 seeking to clean and open up the Red Light District has opened it up to higher-range restaurants and bars, as well as artists and fashion designers now dwelling behind some of the red-framed windows, while tourist strip Warmoesstraat now features more cafés than coffeeshops.

Chinatown around Zeedijk is on-hand for a quick bite while the scenic Nieuwmarkt with its Waag as its medieval centrepiece, is crowded with terraced bars and restaurants. There's also more traditional brown cafés to be found: t Mandje, De Doelen or Tasting Room Wynand Fockink.