Noord

Area

The District of Noord is indeed north of Amsterdam and separated by the IJ harbour. Noord goes beyond the ring of the A10 to include picturesque villages Holysloot, Ransdorp and Durgerdam. Pedestrians, bikers and scooters commute for 5 to 15 minutes via three free ferries that leave from behind Amsterdam Central Station, while traffic runs via three (soon to be four) tunnels.

History

Villages such as Holysloot and Ransdorp have been around since the 12th century and the harbour at Nieuwendam enjoyed a 16th century Golden Age before Amsterdam by transporting goods to France. Eventually it was annexed by Amsterdam and only started getting more solid land from the diggings of the North Sea Canal in the 19th century.

Along with neighbourhoods for workers, Noord developed as an industrial terrain, which made it a bombing target during WWII. In the 1990s, the long abandoned NDSM ship yards were squatted by artists and is now one of the biggest ‘cultural breeding grounds’ in the country and attracts major arts and media companies such as MTV Europe. Ambitious residential projects are also underway.​

Highlights

With the completion of the NZ-lijn metro, Noord should become a more integrated part of Amsterdam. But meanwhile one can enjoy the free 5 to 15 minute ferry ride - it’s very relaxing.

Not only does Noord have many parks, forests and sport complexes, it’s heaven for cyclists. Just a short bike ride away are the historic dykes of Nieuwendammerdijk, Schellingwouderdijk, Durgerdammerdijk and Buiksloterdijk.

The shopping is great with local butchers and bakers, outdoor markets, flea markets, a good-sized shopping mall (Boven ’t IJ or Buikslotermeerplein) with popular labels and local wares and even an alternative furniture boulevard of sorts.

Your neighbourhood

You won’t find a more diverse neighbourhood: old fishing villages, social high-rises, 1920s Amsterdam School-styled working-class tuindorpen (‘garden villages’), medium-rise apartments, students living in former sea containers near NDSM and brand new IJ-side condos.

A cosmopolitan attitude is arriving as artists and major businesses alike set up their new headquarters, such as MTV Europe, Red Bull and the iconic Dutch HEMA department store.

Eating, drinking etc

Unlike other outlying neighbourhoods, Noord has become a mecca for culture vultures from the centre. The once squatted former shipping yard NDSM-wharf has developed into the largest cultural ‘breeding ground’ in the country with studios, galleries, festivals, and an indoor skate park.

During the summer, the Tolhuistuin, the gardens under the former Shell building directly across from Central Station, has begun hosting magical evenings of food, film and music. It will soon be neighbours with the arising EYE Filmmuseum. There are also a variety of highly-rated restaurants appealing to the many working in the cultural sector, such as Noorderlicht, IJkantine and Hotel de Goudfazant. The last decade has seen ambitious redevelopment and residential construction to Amsterdam Noord, attracting young families and an emerging cultural scene.