Did you plan a trip to the North Venice? So discover everything you need to know to visit Jordaan, the city’s must-see!
The vintage, bohemian and artistic quarter of Amsterdam, Jordaan is located northwest of Amsterdam. It is limited by some charming and well-known channels: the Leidsegracht in the south, the Lijnbaansgracht in the west, the Prinsengracht in the east and the Bouwersgracht in the north. Five channels also cross it, all of which are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage site. In addition to being one of the most beautiful and charming districts of the capital, visit Jordaan reserve a few unmissable monuments, such as the Anne Frank House or the Westerkerk Church. You will also find the most nice coffee shops in the city, as well as exceptional brown coffee shops, restaurants and clubs.
Are you coming to Amsterdam soon? So you can't miss visiting Jordaan! To help you with your adventures, you will find in this article everything you need to know about this beautiful and fascinating district of Amsterdam.
The Jordaan quarter in a few words
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Dennis van de Water
Originally, the Jordaan district was built by the municipality of Amsterdam in 1609 to house the popular layers, the workers and small craftsmen. He later welcomed many Huguenot refugees, fleeing France after the revocation of Nantes’s edict. Thus, a common theory wants the name Jordaan to be drawn from the French word "garden". Another theory says that the word Jordaan would be a deformation of Jourdain, the river of Holy Land evoked in the Bible. Because many alleys in the neighborhood have flower names, the first hypothesis is most commonly accepted.
Because of its popular history, this neighborhood is traditionally left. It is also a symbol of the amstellodamian tolerance. A statue of Anne Frank and Homomonument, in tribute to the homosexual victims of Nazism, perpetuate this tradition of tolerance. If the neighbourhood was almost shaved after the Second World War, conservation efforts allowed it to be rehabilitated. Today he almost lost this popular aspect to become almost bourgeois.
What to see and what to do in the Jordaan district in Amsterdam?
During your stay in Amsterdam, do not miss visiting Jordaan. As mentioned earlier, the neighbourhood houses some of the must-see monuments of the Dutch capital. But in addition to its historical heritage, it houses cultural treasures. The neighborhood is unmistakable, because it has a unique atmosphere, an exciting artistic dynamism and charming decors.
Here is an overview of what you will discover during your visit to Jordaan.
The channels of Jordaan
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Ivo Antonie de Rooij
The first step to visit Jordaan is obviously to get lost along its channels. As mentioned in the introduction, Jordaan is delimited by four channels and five cross it. Classified at UNESCO World Heritage, they make the beauty of the neighborhood.
The northern part is a tourist and commercial area par excellence. There are many shops, including vintage. The south of the Jordaan district is more picturesque with its small boutiques and medieval houses. All its streets and spaces are scattered from beyond trees, which offer a refreshing shade in the summer. In short, don’t hesitate to lose yourself, through the visits.
La Maison d’Anne Frank
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Dennis van de Water
The must-see visit to the Jordaan district is certainly the Anne Frank House. This museum is dedicated to the memory of the famous and courageous young girl, known worldwide for having held a moving and edifying diary. The visit will allow you to learn more about life in Amsterdam under the Nazi Occupation, about the history of Anne Frank and his family.
The Westerkerk
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Alexander Tolstykh
After the Anne Frank Museum, don’t miss visiting Westerkerk, the largest Protestant church in Amsterdam. Built in the 17th century by the architect Hendrick from Keyser , the illustrious painter Rembrandt is buried in the church. However, the exact location of the sepulture is unknown. During this visit, we recommend you climb to the top of its belfry. Up there you will enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the capital!
The Noorderkerk
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Artur Bogacki
The Noorderkerk is another 17th-century church that we owe to architect Hendrick de Keyser. In front of the church is the most friendly market place in Amsterdam. On Monday, she welcomes a crusher. You can find antiques, clothing, vintage fashion accessories or local designers, old pictures, postcards and many other pepits. On Saturday, it’s a bio market that takes care of it. Local producers then offer their fruits and vegetables, nuts and honey, cheeses and breads, as well as fish. The market square is also lined with cafes and restaurants.
On the square you will also find a commemorative plaque. The latter recalls the first strike movement denouncing the deportation of Jews in 1941.
Brown coffees and coffee shops Jordaan
Photo credit: Shutterstock – InnaFelker
Two of the other must-see attractions in the neighborhood are obviously brown coffee shops and coffee shops. If travellers rush to the second, the first is an institution in the Netherlands.
Brown coffees ("truffle kroeg") are well known for their strong and delicious beers, sometimes brown, for their local and warm atmosphere, and also for their decor made of bric and brocc. To discover this universe, we especially recommend Hegeraad coffee, located on Noordemarkt.
Visiting Jordaan is also discovering its coffee shops, which are among the most friendly and authentic of the capital. Among the best are Paradox, Tertulia, Grey Area or Siberie.
Other visits by Jordaan
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Pamela Loreto Perez
In the area you can also visit the Cheese Museum (Musée du Fromage) and the nearby Tulip Museum. These establishments offer you some gustative or olfactory surprises.
Guided tours to make in the Jordaan district
To visit Jordaan, you can also use a guide. The latter will help you in your discoveries and will allow you to learn much more about monuments, the neighbourhood, its history and its inhabitants. To help you, we have selected some guided tours to do in the Jordaan district.
Walking tour of the Jordaan district
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Harry Beugelink
To visit Jordaan, there is nothing better than a guided walking tour of two or more hours of the neighborhood. On this occasion, you will obviously discover its most famous and rich sites in history, but also some unknown places. On this occasion, you will learn more about the popular and working history of Jordaan.
Guided cycling tour of Jordaan
Photo credit: Shutterstock – P. Kamput
Amsterdam is ideally visiting by bike, and Jordaan is no exception! To discover this neighborhood, as well as its neighbours, you can obviously opt for a guided cycling tour. Accompanied by a passionate and professional guide, you will discover the most famous historical and cultural monuments and sites, walk the canals and learn more about this fascinating area. On average, these visits usually cost between €25 and €40 per person.
Guided tour of Jordaan on the theme of Anne Frank
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Mikhail Markovskiy
Anne Frank and her family have marked the history of the Jordaan district. To learn more about it, you can choose a guided tour on this theme. Your professional guide will make you discover the Jewish quarter of the city, which is several centuries old, and will give you a few anecdotes about the life of Anne Frank and the Second World War. From 2 to 3 hours, these visits usually cost 25 to 40€ as well.
Gourmet visit
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Edalin Photography
Because you don’t visit a city without tasting its specialities, think about the gastronomic tower of Jordaan. Accompanied by an epicurean guide, you travel the neighborhood to discover its flavors! For nearly 4 hours, you will learn about high culinary places and taste various Dutch dishes. A walk not like others for a gourmet experience.
Best hotels to stay in Jordaan
To visit Jordaan easily and enjoy its unique atmosphere, we recommend you to stay there during your stay in Amsterdam! There are many charming and comfortable hotels.
Among them, we can only recommend the hotel-boutique Canal House . This 4-star boutique hotel overlooks the Keizersgracht canal and occupies old 17th century merchant houses. Its comfortable rooms are beautifully decorated with unique works of art and exposed wooden beams. One night in this hotel costs an average of 250€ for two people.
The Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel is also a charming option to stay in Jordaan. Pittoresque, it offers a superb view of the Prinsengracht canal. The rooms are comfortable and casual. One night costs an average of 160€ for two people.
For smaller budgets, we recommend it Shelter Jordan Hostel . This hostel is ideal for visiting Jordaan and the capital in general. It has clean and pleasant common spaces, as well as a green courtyard outside. The hostel offers free breakfasts and even bike rental for the day. There is an average of 35€ per night for a person in this facility.
Where to eat in the Jordaan district in Amsterdam?
Jordaan certainly does not lack options to recover! In this area you will find many restaurants with various inspirations and cuisines. After all, the neighbourhood was originally popular and welcomed various waves of immigration, especially French, before acquiring this arty and bohemian complexion. Among the best are:
- SLA : a charming restaurant and salad bar, which wants to be as eco-friendly as possible. All dishes are cooked with fresh, local and seasonal products.
- Restaurant Daalder : an establishment, or even an institution, which offers refined and traditional cuisine.
- Tijger ' de Vis : an excellent restaurant to taste seafood and traditional and popular dishes!
The neighbourhood obviously has many other exceptional restaurants and cafes. Do not hesitate to test several during your stay!
How do I get to Jordaan?
Trams are the most convenient way to travel to Amsterdam. So we recommend you borrow them to join and then visit Jordaan. Line 5, for example, runs along the eastern part of the neighborhood. Lines 13 and 17 cross and have a stop at the Anne Frank House. You can also go to Jordaan by bike from nearby neighborhoods.
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