The nothern Jordaan starts here at the Brouwersgracht, (the Brewery Canal) one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful canals. How did Brouwersgracht earn this status? It all began in the 16e century when the Brewery Canal was dug. They named it brewery canal because of the many beer brewers in the area. The oldest Amsterdam distillery for gin and liqueurs is called the Ooievaar. It’s on the corner of Brouwersgracht and Driehoekstraat. If you look around you will notice the number of warehouses. You can recognize them by their shutters. These huge and small warehouses were used to storage goods and food, because the Brouwersgracht was easy accessible for large freighters do to its drawbridges. This created an industrial area of breweries, paper mills and factories. You will also notice that the warehouses are quite narrow, this is because in the 16e century many people had to pay taxes based on the width of their house. So instead of going wider, the houses rose upwards into the sky and they went deep. And the end of the day many local Dutch people enjoy Brouwersgracht by visiting a nice café to drink a cup of coffee and take in the views.

Brewery Canal

Walk into Goudsbloemstraat. Turn left on the first street. 

Navigational story for Brouwersgracht

Then turn right, you will find yourself on Lindengracht.

Lindengracht? This is in English Lindencanal. But there is no canal here. The Lindengracht is one of the canals that has been filled in. Instead of water, you can now enjoy number of cars which is actually strange. There were plans to dig a new canal, but that never happened. You don’t have to fear that it won’t be cozy in this street. The street, the location, the stalls and the café and restaurant gives you an nice authentic feeling. The Lindengracht is almost one kilometre long. A market is held here every Saturday. The market is almost 120 years old and host 232 stalls covering various trades.

Lindengracht

Navigational story for Lindenmarkt

Then turn left onto Lindenstraat. Walk toward the Noorderchurch. 

Every Saturday and every Monday is the Noorder Market in the bustling heart of Amsterdam. It’s a famous market. Even Rembrandt wandered around here about 350 years ago. Centuries ago there was already a little market here, partly because of its flow of trade by way of the canals of Amsterdam. Many motivated farmers and market traders brought their wares to the market. The market has been a well visited place and for those with a good sense of smell and appreciate the splendor of second hand trade the market is an area that they may enjoy.

Noorder Market

A quick stop here at Café Winkel. The small side streets are filled with small boutiques, lovely neighbourhood bakeries, butcher shops and old style brown cafés. And this is one of them. You can stop of here in the morning or evening to sample the most delicious food and drinks. Don’t leave before you have taste the wonderful Dutch apple pie. A true traditional taste!  

Café Winkel 43

Turn right on Prinsengracht. Walk along Prinsengracht. 

Navigational story for Café Winkel 43

Then left on Eerst Tuindwarsstraat. The Inner Courtyard is just on your left.

Claes Claeszoon Hofje is one of the courtyards in the Jordaan area. These court yards with little houses was built by rich merchants who found it very important to care for the elderly and the poor. Especially women and non-protestant people set up charity funds to build the closed courtyards. In the small houses windows and single women lived or there orphanages, hospitals for the poor and homes for the elderly. At the beginning of the 70th century most of these courtyards were in a poor shape, like the rest of the neighbourhood. After their restoration they were discovered by artists, students and some older people with special privileges because of a their church membership. Walk into the inner courtyard of Claes Cleaszoon to get a good look!

Claes Claeszoon Hofje (courtyard)

Keep on walking on Eerste Egelantiersdwarsstraat, then turn left. 

Navigational story for Claes Claeszoon Hofje (courtyard)

And then right again and walk along Prinsengracht. Keep on walking till you see the Westerchurch on your left.

Kling, klong, kling, klong. You hear the carillon of the Wester Tower. Look up. Every fifteen minutes the Wester Tower plays these beautiful sounds. The Wester Church is named as the symbol of Amsterdam. And that’s not without reason because the church tower is the highest of Amsterdam. It's 87 meter high! The Wester Church is very old. Four centuries ago this masterpiece was designed and built by Hendrick de Keyser. Look up again, because the tower of the church is crowned by a real Emperor crown. The story behind it is that the Austrian Emperor was cured from the plague in Amsterdam. And gave this crown to thank the city. This really gives the city a royal aspect. Also princes Beatrix and prince Claus were married here. When you take a look inside the church you will notice the beautiful organ. This beautiful painted organ makes penetrating sounds and certainly gives an impression with his dizzying pipes. Have a nice walk around the church before you go to your next stop.

Wester Church

Turn right and enter Rozengracht. Keep on walking till you find number 184. 

Navigational story for Wester Church

This historical place on the Rozengracht commerates the sign of the last home of Rembrandt van Rijn, one of most important painters of the Netherlands. Rembrandt was born in Leiden in 1606 where he spent much of his life and where he discovered his passion for painting. Years later after many adventurous, he held his first exhibition in Leiden. Rembrandt’s work was received very well and more orders came from Amsterdam to paint portraits. This was why he moved to Amsterdam. There he learnt from a true master painter how to paint even more skillfully. Rembrandt moved with his wife, to what is now a museum, the Rembrandthuis in the painters district. When Rembrandt had to move out of his house, he moved to a small, modest house here on the Rozengracht, where he started an art shop. Here he painted his many last works and died.

Rembrandt van Rijn

Turn back slightly and turn right on Tweede Rozendwarsstraat. 

Navigational story for Rembrandt van Rijn

Keep on walking until you reach Elandsgracht street. Then turn left. Walk towards Johnny Jordaanplein.

After the death of Johnny Jordaan in 1989, a dutch singer and interpreter of Amsterdam folk music, money was raised for a statue. The love of the Jordaan was subject of many Jordaan folk music. The Dutch ‘blues’, the hardship but also the friendship of its inhabitants were often topics of the lyrics. There are others statues of the great singers of the Jordaan here, like Tante Leen and Johnny Meijer. There are plans in the further to place more statues of other great singers here from the Jordaan. Who are theJordaan people? People from the Jordaan are called Jordanezen. They like kitsch, they have a specific sense of humour, they speak with a strong local accent and they are loud and direct. The Jordaan people love music, so on King's Day, this is where many Jordaans go out and listen, sing and dance to live music.

Jordaan Folk Music

We are at the end of the audiotour. We hope you enjoyed walking around this beautiful quarter and learned something about the Jordaan. 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. Enjoy your stay in Amsterdam and we hope to welcome you again!

Navigational story for Jordaan Folk Music

Welcome to the Jordaan Quarter. The Jordaan Quarter is considered a typical Amsterdam neighbourhood. The rich Jordaan history involves immigrants, poverty and social unrest, reflected in In Jordaan folk music and culture. But the Jordaan is also great quarter for restaurants and shops. During this tour you will visit and hear about the finest places in this part of the city. The tour starts at Brewery Canal a beautiful canal with many warehouses. Enjoy the tour!

Amsterdam

What's up tours the Jordaan Quarter

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