Museums.artTickets
Number 5 of 20 in Amsterdam

The Jordaan and the Nine Streets: Amsterdam at walking pace

The Jordaan was built in the seventeenth century for the people who worked for the merchants of the canal ring: small houses, narrow canals, streets named after trees and flowers. It is now one of the most expensive places to live in the country, and still the best one to get lost in.

What it is
Walk
Time to allow
1.5 to 3 hours
Cost
Free to walk
Best time
A weekday morning, or Saturday for the market at the Noordermarkt

Amsterdam this week

    Why the Jordaan is worth it

    The quarter lies between the Prinsengracht and the Singelgracht, from the Brouwersgracht in the north to the Leidsegracht in the south. Its canals were dug for carrying goods, not for show, and most of its streets were given the names of plants. One theory says the name itself comes from the French jardin.

    For three centuries it was crowded and poor. Rembrandt spent his last years here, on the Rozengracht, and he is buried in the Westerkerk at its edge. From the 1970s it was restored, and the artists, students and galleries moved in.

    Across the Prinsengracht, between the Raadhuisstraat and the Leidsegracht, the Nine Streets cross the canal ring between the Singel and the Prinsengracht: short streets of small shops, cafés and vintage clothes, in three rows of three.

    What to see

    1. The hofjes

      Courtyards of small houses round a garden, built by the rich for elderly women. Some open their gates to visitors in the day: go in quietly, people live there.

    2. The Egelantiersgracht and the Bloemgracht

      Two of the prettiest canals in the city, narrow and lined with gabled houses, some with stone tablets over their doors.

    3. The Noordermarkt

      The square by the Noorderkerk, where markets are held, with stalls of food, books and secondhand things.

    4. The brown cafés

      Old bars of dark wood and worn panelling, like 't Smalle on the Egelantiersgracht and Papeneiland at the corner of the Brouwersgracht.

    5. The Nine Streets

      Short streets of independent shops between the great canals, from the Reestraat to the Huidenstraat.

    How to do it well

    • Wander without a plan: the Jordaan is small, and every canal leads back to the Prinsengracht.
    • Keep to the pavement and look both ways before crossing: the cyclists here are many and fast.
    • A hofje is somebody's home. If a gate is open, keep your voice down and do not go up to the windows.
    • The Anne Frank House and the Westerkerk are at the Jordaan's edge, on the Prinsengracht.

    Where it is

    Address

    West of the Prinsengracht, between the Brouwersgracht and the Leidsegracht

    Nearest station

    Westermarkt tram stop, three minutes from the Bloemgracht

    Museums and sights nearby

    Distances are in a straight line.

    Tickets and tours: The Jordaan and the Nine Streets

    The Jordaan and the Nine Streets: common questions

    What is the Jordaan in Amsterdam?
    A neighbourhood of the seventeenth century west of the Prinsengracht, built for craftsmen and workers, with narrow canals, streets named after plants and many hidden courtyards. It is now one of the most sought-after places to live in the city.
    Where are the Nine Streets?
    In the canal ring between the Singel and the Prinsengracht, from the Raadhuisstraat to the Leidsegracht. They are a few minutes' walk from the Jordaan.
    Can you visit the hofjes in the Jordaan?
    Some of them, in the day, when their gates are open. They are homes, so visitors are asked to be quiet and to keep out of private doorways.
    How much time do you need for the Jordaan?
    Allow 1.5 to 3 hours. That is this site's estimate for an unhurried visit.

    Things to do near the Jordaan

    The nearest of this site's best things to do in the city. Distances are in a straight line.

    All 20 things to do in Amsterdam

    Artists to see near the Jordaan

    The museums nearest to here, and the most famous artists on show in each.

    All 18 artists in Amsterdam

    Where to eat near the Jordaan

    The nearest of the famous tables this site lists in Amsterdam. Distances are in a straight line.

    All 20 restaurants in Amsterdam, ranked

    Hotels near the Jordaan

    The five-star hotels closest to it, of those this site lists in Amsterdam. Distances are in a straight line.

    All 9 hotels in Amsterdam, ranked
    All 20 things to do in AmsterdamMuseums and attractions in Amsterdam