Amsterdam - Part 2 - Orlando / Florida Guide
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Area 1, Jordaan
Enjoying authentic Amsterdam in a relaxed way that is what you do in the Jordaan. In the past labourers and craftsmen used to live in the crisscross of little streets. Now you can get pleasantly lost among the local shops, antiquarian bookshops, galleries and pubs. This charming working-class area is currently the place to be.
You can wander around through the streets and side streets in a relaxed way and enjoy the spontaneous and relaxed atmosphere. You can experience the typical atmosphere of the Jordaan, in streets like Westerstraat, Tweede Anjeliers-dwarssstraat, Tuindwarstrat and around the Noordermarkt. On Saturdays, this is where you will find the best organic farmers market in Amsterdam.
If you walk from the Noorderkerk to the Westerkerk ‘western church’ which is the recognizable church that has a blue and red crown on its tower you will automatically get to Westermarkt. From here you can go directly onto Rozen canal. The shopping street is very well-liked because of its diversity of nice shops.
Also not far from Westerkerk you can take a look in the Anne Franks Achterhuis. Behind a closet that turns out to be a door, you will find the small house where she wrote in her diary.
Gezellig is a Dutch word, that can be rarely be translated properly but it applies perfectly to the typical pubs in Jordaan. The atmosphere is easy-going, the people are spontaneous and speak with a very broad Amsterdam accent. You will also regularly hear the sound of original Dutch music.
While visiting be sure to weave your way down to the Prinsengracht and be certain you visit Keren De Vreede’s Art Gallery, where the local artist is happy to chat about her textural floral canvases.
Area 2, The Nine Streets
This as its name suggests this is a line of small streets full of shops. Not far behind Dam square, between the well-known rings of canals, you will find nine small streets full of small specialist shops, boutiques and galleries. The three by three streets are situated neatly side to side and together they are a kilometre long but make no mistake, you can easily lose yourself here for a day. In former times the workshops of craftsmen could be found in Reestraat, Berenstraat, Runstraat, Hartenstraat, Wolvenstraat, Huidenstraat, Gasthuismolengteeg, Oude Spiegel-straat and Wijde Heisteeg.
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