| | Amsterdam is the perfect city to explore on foot. No other city boasts as many attractions per square meter. Nearly all tourist attractions are located within walking distance from each other. The many unique, beautiful and wacky things that you will see en route ensure that you will have a great time.
ROUTES
The Amsterdam Tourist Offices (VVV offices) offer a number of interesting walking routes. These tours take you through various quarters of Holland's capital city. The prices of the booklets range from EUR 2.25 to EUR 4.50. The route is indicated on a handy map. Following are short descriptions of the various routes.
THE FORMER JEWISH QUARTER
This walk takes you past many reminders and sites of the former Jewish quarter. Amsterdam is sometimes called the 'Jerusalem of the West'. From the 17th century until the middle of the 20th century, it was the main Jewish center of Western Europe.
JEWISH HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Testimony to this is, among other things, the Portuguese Synagogue. At the time this was built it was the largest in the world. Other reminders are the Synagogue Complex of the High-German Jews (which now accommodates the Jewish Historical Museum) and monumental private residences.
POVERTY
Unfortunately, not much remains of the narrow streets and alleyways in the Jewish quarter, where poverty was commonplace. The 'Jewish quarter,' which developed in the course of the 17th century, was not completely Jewish. Around 1900, approximately 100,000 people lived here of whom some 60 percent were Jewish
IN REMBRANDT'S FOOTSTEPS
Would you like to walk in the footsteps of Rembrandt? The new booklet Rembrandt along the Amstel is all you need. The guide describes two routes. You can walk one and cycle the other in two hours. The route With Rembrandt through Amsterdam starts at the Rembrandt House Museum. Via the Waag, Dam Square, Westerkerk, Begijnhof and Munt Tower you return to your starting point. The length of this walk is approximately 3 miles.
AMSTERDAM THEN AND NOW
Pictures of Rembrandt's drawings and some of his etchings illustrate the route descriptions. The booklet has two maps that fold out. Contemporary photos of a number of locations are included too. These photos were taken at places where Rembrandt made his sketches. It is quite fascinating to compare 17th century with contemporary Amsterdam.
THE MOST SUNG-ABOUT QUARTER OF AMSTERDAM
The booklet Walks through the Jordaan, Past and Present describes three walks. The duration of each is approximately two hours. The first walk 'A Laugh and a Tear, that Jordaan Feeling' takes you past characteristic spots. These include unique cafés, such as De 2 Zwaantjes, 't Smalle and café Nol.
ALMSHOUSES
The second walk is called Paupers and Philanthropists. This journey of discovery shows the age-old tradition of public housing in this quarter. You will see almshouses from the 17th century, such as Rapenhofje, Zeven Keurvorstenhofje and Karthuizerhof. The Concordia Complex (1862) is an early example of public housing. This complex has served as an example for public housing in the past 25 years.
CRAFTS AND KITSCH
The third walk - Crafts, Kitsch and Curiosities - shows you the southern part of the Jordaan. It takes you past homes where artists, such as G.H. Breitner, lived. You will also see the antique markets near Elandsgracht. |
| |
Mail this
Top 
