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Walk Old Amsterdam
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A walk through the old town
Central Station
We start this short walk at the Central Station. You will notice that there is water everywhere. We are actually on a little island in the IJ. The station was built in 1889 and is supported by 8657 wooden pillars. For more information about the city, visit the Amsterdam Tourist Board (ATB) at Stationsplein.
Dam Square
Right opposite the station, you will see a wide street called Damrak leading right to the heart of Amsterdam: Dam Square. This is where the city originated when a dam was built on the Amstel river. Dam Square is a meeting place for young people. You can make yourself comfortable on the National Monument and enjoy listening to the buskers. The monument is fairly recent; it was built in 1956 and symbolises human suffering at times of war.
Other points of interest on Dam Square are Madame Tussauds, the Royal Palace and the New Church.
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Royal Palace
This building is also supported by wooden pillars (13,659 of them!) and originally served as the town hall. When Louis Napoleon suddenly declared Amsterdam the capital of Holland, the town hall instantly became the Royal Palace, which it still is. The royal family does not live here and never visits the palace more than once a year for an official ceremony. We highly recommend a visit to this building. Closed untill 2008.
New Church
This is the National Church of the Netherlands, which is protestant. This is where Queens Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix were crowned and where the poet Vondel was buried. The church is often used to stage concerts or present exhibitions. Entry fees apply.
Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds doesn't need any introduction. In Amsterdam, Madame Tussauds is ideally located on Dam Square, the most central point of the capital. This museum is one of the best in its kind and you can meet some very life-like famous stars. Every visit to Madame Tussauds is a unique experience that is very different each year.
West Church
We walk past the Royal Palace to Raadhuisstraat. The West Church is hard to miss. It is much higher than all the other buildings and its tower is topped by a big imperial crown, built in honour of Maximilian of Austria. Rembrandt was buried in this church. To go to the West Church, walk along Keizersgracht, where you can also see the monument in memory of all prosecuted homosexuals.
Anne Frank Museum
Go through Prinsengracht behind the West Church. Turn right and you will probably see a queue. You have arrived at the Anne Frank Museum. This city guide has a separate section on this museum.
The Houseboat Museum
The Houseboat Museum is on Prinsengracht (at a 5-minute walk from the Anne Frank house). It shows what it is like to live on board of a houseboat on the Amsterdam canals. The museum itself used to be a freighter, but looks absolutely gorgeous now.
Amsterdam Historic Museum
We walk back down Prinsengracht past the West Church. A few hundred yards on, we take Berenstraat and Wolvenstraat towards the Amsterdam Historic Museum. This museum is located in a former orphanage and tells you all you need to know about the history of Amsterdam with paintings, sculptures and other works of art.
Begijnhof (Beguinage)
The Beguinage is located on Spui and is definitely worth a look. Sometimes it can only be accessed from Kalverstraat. The Beguinage was established right in the middle of town in the 14th Century. This oasis of peace and nature includes a beguinage church, which can be visited free of charge. Charges sometimes apply when visiting the Beguinage itself.
We walk past Koningsplein with its daily flower market and go to Muntplein. The Munt Tower is the remains of 17th Century city gates. To get back to Dam Square, go through Rokin with its equastrian statue of Queen Wilhelmina. Rokin is an outlet of the Amstel. The rest was filled in.
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Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/Steven Allan
Text: GVDV - © AT-Europe bvba
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