The old centre & the Dam
The old centre and the Dam: the back story
Neighbourhood guide
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout The old centre and the Dam: the back story
The oldest part of Amsterdam runs from Centraal Station to the Muntplein, around the Dam: the Royal Palace and the Nieuwe Kerk, the Oude Kerk, the hidden church of Our Lord in the Attic and the quiet Begijnhof off the Spui.
Sights
The Royal Palace, De Nieuwe Kerk, the Oude Kerk, Our Lord in the Attic and the Begijnhof.
Eating and drinking
Flore at De L’Europe (Two MICHELIN Stars), Bougainville and The White Room (One Star), Café Hoppe on the Spui and the tasting rooms of Wynand Fockink and De Drie Fleschjes.
Come early to the Dam, then lose the crowds in the lanes behind the Spui.
Staying
De L’Europe on the Amstel and Hotel TwentySeven on the Dam.
Our advice: step out of the Kalverstraat crowds into the Begijnhof for five quiet minutes.
Why it's on our list
- Sights
- Eating and drinking
- Staying
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The old centre and the Dam: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from The old centre and the Dam: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro stations
- WaterloopleinM51M53M54250 m3 min walk
- NieuwmarktM51M53M54350 m4 min walk
- RokinM52600 m7 min walk
Key sights
- The Begijnhof750 mWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- The Dam850 mWalk 10 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Anne Frank House1.4 kmWalk 17 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Rijksmuseum1.4 kmWalk 18 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Van Gogh Museum1.7 kmWalk 22 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- A’DAM Lookout1.7 kmWalk 22 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Concertgebouw2.0 kmWalk 25 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Schiphol Airport12 kmCar or taxi 44 min
Main railway stations
- Amsterdam Centraal1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Amsterdam Amstel2.7 kmWalk 34 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Amsterdam Zuid3.8 kmCycle 16 minCar or taxi 18 min