We have now arrived at the old Pijp district. The Heineken Brewery heads de Pijp at its entrance and marks the neighbourhood with its impressive industrial building. It was the 22-year old Gerard Heineken who bought an old Amsterdam beer brewery and made it to a very successful enterprise. Since 1988, no beer has been brewed inside the Heineken Brewery, but it’s moved to a new building to now called Heineken Experience. The beer is now brewed in a different place in the Netherlands, called Zoetemeer. But don’t worry, you can still smell and even taste the beer in this remarkable building, were they also offer tours for fans. If you buy a ticket you can see inside the building and learn something about the famous pilsner and drink as you like. If you want the ultimate experience in the Pijp district, you can also walk around here. You can find many café, bars and restaurants.

Heineken Experience

Standing in front of the Heiniken Experience, turn right. Into Eerste van der Helststraat. 

Navigational story for Heineken Experience

Turn left at the first street. Keep on walking to the end of the street, where you will find a typical house at the corner on your right.

In the 19e century there was an explosion in population growth and an extension of the city was necessary, the industrial revolution had begun. The area of De Pijp was then an agricultural area, with lots of grassland, farms, waterways and watermills. It was the perfect area to extend the city. The plan was to make it look just like Paris, with broad boulevards. Unfortunately it was too expensive. They had to think of a new plan. But then came Revolution Building, new investors got permission to build houses as they liked. The investors started to build houses as quickly as possible. The building materials were very cheap and poor quality. The area was built in the most chaotically and the worst way possible. But it was the way to make good money vast. Look at this house were you are standing right know. You can still see the result of chaotically building. The front side of the houses are typically small, but are very deep. Inside the building the staircases are super narrow, there’s one small balcony to dry laundry and the rooms are very small and there is poor isolation against humidity, cold and noise. In the 19e century a family of five or seven people lived here in tiny, humid and dark rooms. But the old Pijp was not a poor area. People who lived here owned small businesses, they were students or worked for the government, like police men, teacher or administrative.

Housing in De Pijp: small and noisy

Continue walking straight ahead. Turn right at the Albert Cuypstreet. Keep on walking, you will reach the market. 

Navigational story for Housing in de Pijp: small and noisy

Do you smell fresh fruit and food, do you hear the noise of a lot of people? You have arrived at the Albert Cuyp Market. The Albert Cuyp Market has been around since 1905 and was the natural consequence of the expansion of the city. Around 1900 there lived about 50.000 people in de Pijp. As people could only buy fresh produce at a market, soon enough people started to sell fresh products from wooden carts. By shouting out comments about their products, they made themselves noticed and sell more. To this day, many market traders shout out their wares. Stalls sell everything from fruit, vegetables, cheese, fish and spices to clothes, cosmetics and bedding. The prices are among the cheapest in Amsterdam. The Albert Cuyp Market is well known everywhere in the Netherlands. It’s by far the most famous market. And the biggest. Especially on Saturday people swarm to this typically Amsterdam market, which is surrounded by many exotic shops and ‘gezellige’ cafés and restaurants. The only day that the market is closed is Sunday. Take a look around at the market before you go to the next stop of the tour.

Albert Cuypstraat Market

When you’ve had a good look around at the market, turn the first street that you pass on your left, into the Eerste van der Helststraat. Keep on walking on your left you will find a nice green park called Sarphatiepark. Walk into the park. 

Navigational story for Albert Cuypstraat Market

The people call it one of the most nicest parks in Amsterdam. Can you feel the peaceful atmosphere and fresh air that the park radiates? Locals visit the park quite regularly with its English Landscape style to get away from their busy live style. Now walk towards the Sarphati monument in the middle of the park. It’s an attraction in itself. This marvelous monument was created in the 19th century for the Jewish instigator of the park Samuel Sarphati. Sarphati was a doctor who did a lot of good things for the poor people in the city. As you can see it has a round stone temple- like structure. This 12 meter sculpture that was designed by Jocobus Roeland de Kruijff contains a lovely nice bronze statue of Sarphati in the middle. This statue wasn’t always here. During the German occupation in the Second Word War all streets that were named after Jews had to change the name. So during the war this park was called Bollandpark. When the war ended in 1945 it was returned to its original name. Over the years the monument has been restored and since 2004 the Sarphati monument has been named a national monument. Over the years the park has undergone quiet a lot of maintenance. This was necessary because the bridges, lawns and water quality of the ponds were in poor condition. Now the park is good condition and you can enjoy the English Landscape style with its diverse, surprising, mysterious and picturesque design by the architect Van Niftrik. Complete with bridges, fountains and a waterfall. The park is designed so everybody can enjoy it. Enjoy your walk around the park while you’re walking to the next stop.

Sarphatipark

Walk back to street were you entered the park. Continue walking straight ahead. And turn left on Rustenburgerstraat. 

Navigational story for Sarphatipark

Then turn right at the first street. Keep on walking straight ahead, and the Amsterdam School Architecture will be on your left. 

The entire area of The New Pijp is known for its expressionist Amsterdam School Architecture. You’re now standing in front of one of the best known monumental buildings in this style. It's the Dawn, de Dageraad. De Dageraad is a complex of several buildings created by Dutch architects Michel de Klerk en Piet Kramer on orders of the socialist housing corporation De Dageraad. The curls, swirls and waves in the buildings, the strange towers and fantastic plastic and exorbitant decoration make the buildings playful and human. The architects believed in the socialist principles of their clients. The aesthetically responsible housing would contribute to the uplifting of the working class. Inside, the houses had 3 or 4 rooms, which was a huge improvement. But the houses were not very functional. Aesthetics played a more important role than functionality. De Dageraad also has its own Visitor Centre. The centre is free to visit on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays between 11am and 5pm.

Amsterdam School Architecture

“Diamands are a girl’s best friend”. You’re now walking towards the Diamand neighbourhood. Turn left  at the end of the street.

Navigational story for Amsterdam School Architecture

Turn right. Then turn left into van Woustraat.

Then right into Tolstraat. The Diamond Building will be on your left at the end of the street.

The Diamond neighbourhood in The New Pijp is recognizable by its streetsnames, which are all named after precious stones: Diamondstreet, Robijnstreet which means rubystreet, Saffierstraat (Saphire street), Smaragdstraat (Emerald street) and Topaas street. The whole area is pleasant to walk around because there are so many remarkable buildings and monuments. You are now standing in front of the monumental building of Diamond cutter Abraham Asscher. His factory dates back to 1907. The building stands out by tis many windows and the tilt on the roof, which appears a little a castle or a Medieval church. In high times, there were 750 people working in this factory, most of whom lived in the Diamond Neighbourhood. The Asscher factory made world news in 1908, when the British King Edward VII ordered diamond cutter Abraham Asscher to polish the Cullinan, the biggest and most famous diamond in the world. This diamond is now part of the crown- jewels of the English Royal house.

The Diamond neighbourhood

Just across from the Diamand Cutter Building you will find Cinétol. Walk towards the Cinétol.

Navigational story for The Diamond neighbourhood

Here you see two buildings. On your left hand side there is Cinétol, a former cinema. It’s a modern building which is in glass and steel. The round building next to it was built as an conference room for the Theosophical association. This is a religious movement of which famous Dutch painter Piet Mondriaan was a member. This building now serves as a public library containing also the archives of the Theosophical movement.

Cinetol

We are at the end of the audio tour. We hope you enjoyed your walk around the district of the popular Pijp. Old and new, they both offer different things to see and enjoy. This tour was brought to you by whatsupwithamsterdam. A website filled with the best places to go out, to go shopping and to learn about the hidden treasures of Amsterdam.

Closing

Welcome to the tour about the district of De Pijp. The neighbourhood of de Pijp in Amsterdam lies just East of the Museum Square. The North side, the old Pijp is bustling with people, bikes, terraces, restaurants and bars, mostly centring the big Amsterdam Albert Cuyp daily market. The South side of De Pijp is the new Pijp. This is a quiet neighbourhood, with broad streets, a lot of green, playgrounds and small parks. De New Pijp hides some of Amsterdam&rsquo;s most characteristic socialist architecture from the 1920s known as the Amsterdam School. De Pijp is a worthwhile neighbourhood to shop, for night life and enjoy Amsterdam&rsquo;s finest architecture. The tour starts at the Heineken Experience. Enjoy your walk around the most famous district of the city.

Amsterdam

De Pijp

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