Amsterdam Jordaan Explained .

Historical Context

The Jordaan was developed from the early 17th century as Amsterdam expanded beyond its medieval center. The neighbourhood was originally known as Het Nieuwe Werck and was built primarily to house workers, craftsmen, and immigrants as the city's population grew.

Unlike the nearby Canal Belt, which was carefully planned around the major concentric canals, many of the Jordaan's streets and canals followed existing paths and drainage ditches. This created the unusual angles and narrow streets that remain one of the neighbourhood's defining features today.

As the population increased, houses, courtyards, and backyards became increasingly crowded. Small dwellings were built behind existing houses and connected to the street through narrow passages, creating a dense network of homes that was largely hidden from the main streets. By the 19th and early 20th centuries, overcrowding, poor sanitation, and difficult living conditions had become serious problems in parts of the neighbourhood.

For centuries, the Jordaan remained strongly associated with Amsterdam's working class. Markets, local cafés, street life, community organisations, and music all contributed to a distinctive local culture. The neighbourhood's working-class identity also played a role in periods of social and political unrest, including the Jordaan riots of 1934. Noordermarkt later became one of the gathering places connected to the events leading up to the February Strike of 1941 against the persecution of Amsterdam's Jewish population.

During the 20th century, living conditions improved and many deteriorated buildings were renovated or replaced. From the second half of the century onwards, the Jordaan became increasingly attractive to students, artists, professionals, and more affluent residents. Property values rose considerably, gradually transforming the former working-class district into one of Amsterdam's most desirable residential neighbourhoods.

Despite this transformation, much of the Jordaan's historic street pattern, small-scale architecture, markets, courtyards, cafés, and cultural identity have survived.

Streets and Character

The Jordaan is characterised by narrow streets, small canals, historic bridges, low-rise canal houses, and quiet courtyards. Many streets and canals are named after flowers and plants, including the Bloemgracht, Egelantiersgracht, and Lauriergracht.

The neighbourhood is particularly enjoyable to explore without a fixed itinerary. Small streets and passages connect the canals, while the irregular layout creates a noticeably different streetscape from the more formally planned Canal Belt immediately to the east.

Rozengracht cuts through the neighbourhood from east to west and provides a striking contrast to the smaller surrounding streets. Originally a canal, it was filled in during the 19th century and is now one of the Jordaan's main traffic and public transport routes.

Westerstraat and Elandsgracht are also among the neighbourhood's more important streets, while the smaller canals and side streets generally have a quieter and more residential atmosphere. The Jordaan's compact layout makes it easy to explore on foot or by bicycle, although some of its narrowest streets can become busy with pedestrians.

Main Attractions in the Jordaan

Immediately beside the Jordaan, along the Prinsengracht, are two of Amsterdam's best-known landmarks: the Anne Frank House and Westerkerk. Although they sit on the edge of rather than deep within the neighbourhood itself, both are naturally combined with a visit to the Jordaan.

The Anne Frank House preserves the hiding place where Anne Frank, her family, and four other people hid during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Today, it is one of the best-known museums in Amsterdam and an important destination for visitors interested in the history of the Second World War.

Beside it stands Westerkerk, one of the most recognizable landmarks in this part of Amsterdam. The 17th-century church and its tall Westertoren have formed part of the local skyline for centuries and are closely associated with the Jordaan and western Canal Belt.

Noordermarkt, at the northern end of the Jordaan, is another important historic space. The square is dominated by the 17th-century Noorderkerk and has long functioned as a gathering place for the surrounding neighbourhood. Its markets remain an important part of Jordaan life today.

The Jordaan is particularly known for its hofjes, or historic almshouse courtyards. Many were established as charitable housing for elderly people and other residents with limited means. Because land in the Jordaan was relatively inexpensive compared with the prestigious Canal Belt, a considerable number of these small residential complexes were established in the neighbourhood.

Hidden behind relatively ordinary entrances, the hofjes often consist of small houses arranged around an enclosed garden or courtyard. Some can be glimpsed from the street or visited when accessible, but many remain residential spaces and should not be entered unless public access is clearly permitted.

The waterways themselves are also an important part of the Jordaan. Smaller canals such as the Bloemgracht and Egelantiersgracht provide some of the neighbourhood's most characteristic views, with historic houses, bridges, houseboats, and tree-lined waterfronts.

Restaurants, Cafés and Nightlife

The Jordaan has a large concentration of cafés, restaurants, bakeries, bars, and traditional brown cafés. Dining ranges from informal neighbourhood restaurants and international cuisine to newer restaurants and more modern dining venues.

Traditional brown cafés, known locally as bruine cafés, are particularly closely associated with the neighbourhood. Generally smaller and more informal than Amsterdam's large nightlife venues, these pubs have historically functioned as important social meeting places for local residents.

During warmer months, terraces along streets, squares, and canals become popular meeting places for both residents and visitors. The Jordaan generally offers a more relaxed evening atmosphere than nightlife districts such as Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, with the emphasis on pubs, small bars, cafés, restaurants, and intimate music venues rather than large clubs.

Music is an important part of the Jordaan's cultural history. The neighbourhood became particularly associated with the Jordaanlied, a style of sentimental Amsterdam folk song dealing with everyday life, love, hardship, and the neighbourhood itself. Singers including Johnny Jordaan and Tante Leen became famous representatives of this tradition during the 20th century.

Their legacy can still be seen around Johnny Jordaanplein, where statues commemorate several singers associated with Amsterdam's traditional folk music. Events such as the Jordaanfestival also continue the neighbourhood's musical traditions.

Visitors looking for a broader overview of evening entertainment elsewhere in the city can also explore the different areas for nightlife in Amsterdam.

Shopping, Markets and Leisure Activities

Shopping in the Jordaan focuses primarily on independent businesses, specialty stores, vintage shops, galleries, and local boutiques. Rather than large international retail chains, much of the neighbourhood's shopping is spread between individual streets and smaller businesses.

Markets have been an important part of Jordaan life for generations. Noordermarkt hosts its well-known organic farmers' market on Saturdays, while a market is also held on Mondays. Nearby Westerstraat and Lindengracht add further market activity, with stalls selling products ranging from fresh food and flowers to clothing, textiles, antiques, and other goods.

Visitors interested in exploring more of the city's markets can find other options throughout Amsterdam in our overview of markets in Amsterdam.

The Jordaan is also well suited to walking and cycling. Distances within the neighbourhood are relatively short, and exploring the smaller streets makes it easy to move between canals, shops, markets, cafés, historic buildings, and residential areas.

Crossing the Prinsengracht brings visitors into the Nine Streets and western Canal Belt, making the areas easy to combine. The Nine Streets offer another major concentration of independent boutiques and specialty stores for visitors interested in shopping in Amsterdam.

The canals also connect the Jordaan with the wider network of Amsterdam waterways. Visitors can explore the historic center from the water on one of the many canal cruises in Amsterdam, providing a different perspective on the canal houses, bridges, and waterfront streets.

Character of the Area

The Jordaan's character is closely connected to its unusual history. It developed as a densely populated district for workers, craftsmen, and immigrants rather than as part of the prestigious Canal Belt, and this difference can still be seen in its smaller houses, irregular streets, narrow canals, courtyards, and compact scale.

The neighbourhood has changed dramatically. Poor living conditions and overcrowding have disappeared, many historic buildings have been restored, and the Jordaan has become one of Amsterdam's most desirable and expensive residential areas. Its population and businesses are therefore very different from those of the traditional working-class neighbourhood.

At the same time, elements of the older Jordaan remain visible in its markets, brown cafés, music, historic hofjes, street pattern, and strong neighbourhood identity. Moving only a short distance away from the busiest streets can also reveal quiet canals and residential side streets that contrast with the heavily visited parts of central Amsterdam.

The Jordaan's transformation from a densely populated workers' district into one of Amsterdam's most desirable neighbourhoods has changed the area considerably, but its unusual street pattern, small-scale architecture, markets, courtyards, and strong cultural identity still distinguish it from the neighbouring Canal Belt.