You are now on Mr. Visserplein, the centre of the Plantage Amsterdam. Before starting the walk you can take a look at the open-air exhibition about the neighbourhood, the history and about our collaboration between residents, entrepeneurs and cultural institutions, to keep the Plantage alive and liveable.&nbsp;

Plantage Portraits

Walk East towards the large building on the square: the Portuguese Synagogue.

Navigation

The Portuguese Synagogue: colossal, square and secluded. In the seventeenth century synagogues were allowed to be visible in Amsterdam, but the entrance was not supposed to be noticeable. That is why there are a number of annexes surrounding the enormous prayer house that draw the eye away from it. And are you allowed into this mysterious building? You certainly are! Once inside you will be rewarded by the impressive beauty of the synagogue. The seventeenth-century interior is fully intact and is still used for religious worship. 	The history of the Jews in Amsterdam begins in Spain. In the Middle Ages, the Spanish Inquisition forced the Jews to leave the country and many fled to Portugal. Their freedom there was short-lived however and when the Netherlands had a war of independence against Spain around a hundred years later, many Jews decided to flee to the Netherlands so that they could once again practice their faith openly. There was after all reasonable freedom of faith here. from 1 April-31 October: Sun-Thu 10am-5pm (Fri to 4pm) | 1 November-31 March: Sun-Thu 10am-4pm (Fri to 2pm) | +31 (0)20 5310380 | PORTUGESESYNAGOGE.NL

Portuguese Synagogue

Cross over the bridge and follow the road towards Plantage Middenlaan.

No-one walking through the gates and discovering the Hortus for the very first time could possibly anticipate what lies in store for them: ponds with exotic waterlilies, hothouses with palms and butterflies, rustling bamboe and trees in blossom. It is an abundant oasis of green, in the middle of the busiest city in the Netherlands. The Hortus was first created as a medicinal herb garden so that doctors and pharmacists could become skilled in the preparation of prescriptions. Herbs formed the basis for medicines. 	The Hortus established itself as the first institution in the Plantage in 1682. Thanks to the trade of the Dutch East-India Company, the collection was able to expand quickly with herbs, spices and exotic ornamental plants from overseas. At least 4000 different species of plants now grow here. The enormous palm house was built in 1912 and is home to one of the ‘crown jewels’ of the Hortus: the 300 year old Cape Bread Tree, the oldest container plant in the world. Furthermore this secret garden in Amsterdam also has one of the most beautiful terraces, at the Oranjerie. Daily 10am-5pm | +31 (0)20 6259021 | DEHORTUS.NL

Hortus Botanical Gardens

Follow the curve of the road and go straight ahead onto Plantage Middelaan. The Hollandsche Schouwburg is on the right.

Café Eik & Linde

In 1892 the Artis theatre operetta was built on this site. Two years after the theatre opened, the name was changed to the Dutch theatre. Successful productions by Jewish artists were put on here. At the start of the Second World War, the theatre acquired the name the Jewish Theatre and only Jewish artists were allowed to perform for Jewish audiences. Later the occupiers decided to make the theatre into a deportation centre. From the 14th of October onwards, Amsterdam Jews were locked up in the 'Umschlagplatz Plantage Middenlaan', which was the name the Germans gave to the Dutch Theatre, before subsequently being deported to concentration camps. The nursery situated opposite was also taken over as a place where children up to 12 years old, were kept separately from their parents to await deportation. 	Since 1962, the Dutch Theatre has become a monument in memory of the 140,000 Dutch Jews that were killed. Daily 11am-5pm | +31 (0)20 5310310 | HOLLANDSCHESCHOUWBURG.NL

National Holocaust Memorial

Cross the Plantage Kerklaan and then cross the Plantage Middenlaan on your left. Go through the black swivel gate.

Wander around the Artisplein – no ticket required – and the city around you changes. There, you’ll make contact with living nature. Time will seem to tick by more slowly. You’ll see buildings, people, and city life with new eyes. From a more historical, more complete perspective. Sit down by the pond, and take a little time to observe the stately flamingos, who stand with such poise and ease. Nearby, in the historic aviary, the Dutch polder comes alive: spoonbills and other wading birds live there in a landscape that was here before the city was, and before you were. Sit on the terrace, amidst the 19th-century historic buildings, enjoy the plane trees and the softly murmuring fountain as you soak up the sun. Be inspired by the environment that connects nature, the city and you yourself as an inseparable whole. It is the perfect spot to have a drink or a delicious lunch at the restaurant De Plantage.

Artis Square

Continue your walk down this long street and listen to how the Plantage neighbourhood has emerged. Overseas trade made Amsterdam one of the wealthiest and fastest growing cities in Europe during the 17th century. The need for accommodation was great so the city council decided to reclaim the swampy tracts of land on this side of the Amstel River. This ‘fourth city extension’ was completed in 1680, but the area soon appeared to be too large and many plots remained unsold. Construction in the new city district stagnated and in 1682 the decision was taken to turn it into an idyllic spot. It was to become a place where good citizens could purchase and keep gardens, take walks, enjoy the sunshine and chat about flowers and plants. The district became a green recreational area with elegant allotments, to which the Plantage owes its name. Citizens were allowed to purchase the gardens and build small garden houses, but permanent dwellings, the practise of trades and commerce were forbidden. 

The Plantage as an idyllic spot

Keep walking straight ahead on Plantage Middenlaan. 

The Plantage was a huge success immediately and all the plots were sold swiftly. The stench of the canals in the densely populated city centre made middle-class residents of Amsterdam yearn for some green areas. The small gardens continued increasing in size during the 18th century and illegal public houses also appeared. Some beautifully preserved examples are ‘Weltevreden’ and ‘Welgelegen’ at numbers 47 and 49, which you can see here on the left. Their age is evident from the fact that they lie a little below ground level. Customers flocked to the area and the Plantage became known as a ‘debauched garden of pleasure’ – many prostitutes had also found their way to the green area in the meantime. In an attempt to restrict the Plantage’s wild reputation to some extent, permits were revoked, sellers of liquor were fined and a policeman was assigned to the area.  

The Plantage in the 18th century

Follow the road straight ahead, cross over the bridge and go straight ahead on Alexanderplein. Turn left onto Mauritskade. The large building on your right is the Tropenmuseum. 

Look straight ahead, there you see a beautiful imposing building which is home to the Tropenmuseum. The museum’s collection is enormous, but the building itself is also worth a visit. The Koloniaal Instituut opened to the public in 1926 at this location, where visitors could come and see products, arts and crafts from the Dutch East Indies. The exterior is decorated with symbolic carvings relating to the four religions: Animism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. The main tropical export products from the nineteenth and the start of the twentieth century are also depicted. Even the weathervanes on top of the towers are decorated with eastern figures. 	When you visit the Tropenmuseum, you are travelling through time and the world. In the different rooms, overlooking the imposing Light Hall you will discover a world of art and culture that brings to life thousands of stories, fascinating works of art and intriguing objects. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm | +31 (0)20 5688300 | TROPENMUSEUM.NL/EN

Tropenmuseum

Continue straight ahead on the Mauritskade. Turn left to cross over the water onto Wilhelmina Blombergplein. Follow the road straight ahead and cross over Sarphatistraat. Go straight ahead to find the Entrepotdok. 

The street you’re walking on right now is called Entrepôt. Entrepôt is the French word for warehouse. The Entrepotdok was constructed in the first half of the nineteenth century for the temporary storage of goods that came into the city by water but weren’t destined for Amsterdam. As there is no need to pay import duty on those types of goods, they were stored in no fewer than 400 different locations around the city. Naturally that was not very convenient and furthermore it facilitated fraud and smuggling. A decision was made to set up a central State warehouse that could be well-monitored. A large chain was stretched across the canal to protect the goods. The port on the Kadijksplein was the access port and it was kept under vigilant guard. Up to the end of the nineteenth century this port provided the only access to the Entrepotdok. In total there are now 96 warehouses and the Entrepotdok is also one of the best-preserved warehouse complexes in Europe.

Het Entrepotdok

Continue straight ahead and then cross over at the  bridge on your left.

On this site once stood the ‘Plancius’ country house, named after the clergyman and skilled navigator Petrus Plancius, who lived in around 1600. In 1876 the house was replaced by a building that houses the Jewish men’s singing society Oefening Baart Kunst, which retained the name of the building in commemoration. If you look up, you will see musical instruments and a Star of David on the façade in memory of the musicians. The Dutch Resistance Museum that was established in 1984 took up residence in this building in 1999. The Museum takes you on a walk through the 1940s on which you experience the dilemmas that normal people had to face throughout the time of the occupation. In the impressive hall full of photos of street scenes, intimate snapshots and personal stories, the past hits very close to home. There is also a Junior Dutch Resistance Museum! Here you can take a time machine to the Netherlands during the war where you will live with Eva, Jan, Nelly and Henk. A truly hands-on exhibition for anyone aged 9 and over. Tue-Fri 10am-5pm | Sat-Mon 11am-5pm | +31 (0)20 6202535 | VERZETSMUSEUM.ORG

The Dutch Resistance Museum

Walk straight ahead. Artis Royal Zoo is on your left. 

This is Artis Royal Zoo: the first zoo established in the Netherlands and located right in the centre of Amsterdam. It is a place where nature and cultural heritage come together; a place where stories exist since 1838. Up until that point, zoos had primarily been the private property of the monarchy, but the bookseller G.F. Westerman felt that the people of Amsterdam should also be able to see exotic animals from across the seas. Natura Artis Magistra , which literally means nature is the teacher of art, was therefore opened for the citizens. Walk through the gate and admire the tropical fish in the Aquarium – one of the many historical monuments at the Zoo. Travel through time in the Planetarium. Enjoy the giraffes. See them gallop amongst the zebra, springbok and oryx. Walk through the historical Bird House and study the numerous species of free flying birds. Be amazed by the diversity of animals that share the tropical forest in the renovated Forest House. Surround yourself by hundreds of fluttering butterflies in the Butterfly Pavilion. In Artis you will learn of nature’s great story and its significance for our society. Daily 9am-6pm from 1 March to 31 October |daily 9am-5pm from 1 November to 28 February | Sat in June, July and August until sundown | +31 0900 2784796 (55 ct pm) | ARTIS.NL

Artis Royal Zoo

Next to Artis is Micropia which you access through the Artis gate.

You can’t see them, but they’re there. Microbes. They’re on you, in you, and you carry more than 100 trillion of them all by yourself. That’s fourteen thousand times more than the number of people on earth. Collectively, they’re known as human microbiota. In the historic Ledenlokalen a world premier has opened. The first museum where the invisible world of micro-organisms is made visible: Micropia. 	In this great museum you will meet the most powerful, most successful and, at the same time, smallest organisms. Microbiology can help solve global problems, from water purification to developing new ways to cure infectious diseases. It can produce energy, food and bio-plastics. There is no end to its uses. One thing is sure: after visiting Micropia, you will never see yourself, or the world, in the same way again. Discover your microbes! mon-weds 9am-6pm | thu-sat 9aM-8pm | Sun 9am–6pm | +31 900 27 84 796 (55ct / per call) | MICROPIA.NL

Micropia

If you are coming out of the Artis gate, go straight ahead on Henri Polaklaan. If you haven’t been to Artis and Micropia, turn right onto Henri Polaklaan.

You are now standing in front of the oldest and the most beautiful trade-union building in the Netherlands. In 1894, Jan van Zutphen and Henri Polak founded the ANDB (Algemene Nederlandsche Diamantbewerkers Bond), the General Diamond Workers’ Union of the Netherlands. Chairman of the union was the diamond cutter Henri Polak. Under him, the ANDB grew into the wealthiest and most powerful union in the Netherlands. It was also the first union to achieve the introduction of the eight-hour working day for its members, in 1911. Polak, however, focused on more than just material welfare. He wanted to improve his workers both socially and culturally. That’s why he had a union building built which was intended to be a palace for the people. Together with a whole team of leading artists, the famous architect Berlage turned the union building into a complete work of art, in which workers could relish the art and culture that until then had been reserved for the upper classes. Today, De Burcht, as it’s called, houses the research bureau of the trade-union movement.

De Burcht

At the end of the street, turn right onto Plantage Parklaan and then follow the bend round to the left onto Anne Frankstraat. Once you have crossed over the water, turn right onto Nieuwe Herengracht.

This is the end of the walk. Here, on Rapenburgerplein you can get a drink in two amazing cafés: Scharrebier or Café De Druif. De Druif would have opened its doors in 1631. According to legend the naval hero Piet Hein could regularly be seen here having a drink. The timings don’t quite match up, but that don’t let that spoil your fun.

Café Scharrebier

Cross over at the bridge on your left, keep walking straight ahead. The Dutch resistance museum, Verzetsmuseum in Dutch is on your right.

Navigation the Nijlpaardenbrug

Plantage Amsterdam &ndash; The Oasis of Amsterdam. Welcome to the Plantage, a unique location in the heart of Amsterdam where culture, green spots, history, nature and science go hand in hand. This walk lasts approximately one hour and takes you on a journey past canals, museums, parks, impressive architecture, unknown streets and the best places to enjoy a drink. The walk starts at the Mr. Visserplein and takes about an hour. However, you will then not have seen the entire Plantage. Feel like walking a bit further? The walk continues into part 2: "Plantage on the waterside", and ends again at the Mr. Visserplein. The easiest way is to follow the route, but of course you can also wander through our lovely neighbourhood.

Amsterdam

Plantage Amsterdam (part 1) The old Plantage neighborhood

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