Amsterdam/Zuid

Zuid (Dutch for South) is one of Amsterdam's seven boroughs. It is an affluent area and a popular place among foreign visitors. It has some of the country's best museums, fine dining, and lots of opportunities for shopping. It's also where many visitors sleep, as it has a plethora of affordable accommodation options relatively close to the city centre.

Understand

During the 1860s, when the Dutch economy grew rapidly, the Canal District became too small for the city's wealthy residents. Development of the Museum Quarter started, named that way because the upper classes of that time found this new area the perfect place for a grand national museum, the Rijksmuseum. The Museum Quarter is Amsterdam's equivalent of Paris' 1st arrondissement. With the later construction of the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum, the area now has three top-class museums side by side. The Rijksmuseum, affectionately nicknamed "Rijks" by the locals, is largely similar to the British Museum or the Louvre, and houses a treasure of Dutch Golden Age paintings from Rembrandt, Vermeer, and others. The Van Gogh Museum is the largest collection of paintings and drawings from the post-Impressionist master, while the Stedelijk Museum has an impressive display of modern art. Surrounding the museums are the Vondelpark and the P.C. Hooftstraat, where you can spot Dutch celebrities buying designer shoes and gold watches.

De Pijp was developed around the same time, and city planner Van Niftrik had grand plans for the area. Then known as "neighbourhood YY", it was planned to become the new city centre of Amsterdam. A railway line was supposed to cut the district in half, and Amsterdam Centraal, the city's main railway station, was planned here. The neighbourhood was envisioned with large residential blocks and grand avenues, and it was supposed to have a grandeur that equalled that of Paris. However, the city council struck the plan down, as required land purchases made it too costly, and large tenements were needed to house a growing working class. In 1876, urban planner Kalff came up with a new plan, which was accepted, and turned the neighbourhood into an example of revolutiebouw, a late-19th-century architectural movement dedicated to building as much cheap housing as possible for a booming population. Nowadays, De Pijp has gentrified, and blue-collar workers are slowly making way for students, yuppies and foreign-born residents. The Albert Cuyp Market, a large working-class street market, is a nationally famous attraction, and the area around the Heinekenplein is Amsterdam's equivalent of Paris' Quartier Latin, a going-out area for students and beer lovers.

The Museum Quarter and De Pijp are known together as Oud-Zuid ("Old South"). Between 1917 and 1927, the middle and upper-class neighbourhoods of Nieuw-Zuid ("New South") were built, designed by urban planner Berlage in the Amsterdam School style, a movement of functionalist architecture. The 1928 Olympic Games took place here, as can still be seen by the Olympic Stadium and the Greek names of the streets. In the following decades, Amsterdam kept expanding southwards gobbling up surrounding municipalities with neighbourhoods like Buitenveldert. Since the late 1990s, a large construction project has been taking place in an area known as the Zuidas (or "Financial Mile"). It's Amsterdam's central business district, inspired by La Défense in Paris. Yes, Paris again. While some of Zuid's urban planning may have been inspired by that grand city, it has a unique atmosphere and completely stands on its own.

Get in

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By car

If you are arriving by car, the best advice is to park it at the Olympisch Stadion (Olympic stadium) park and ride and use public transport to get around. The P&R costs €1 for 24 hours if you arrive after 10:00 (or anytime at weekends). Otherwise, it costs €8 for the first 24 hours.

By train
  • 🌍 Amsterdam Zuid. The district's main transportation hub. It is located on the strategic railway line between the Schiphol Airport and Utrecht (with another branch going to Almere), which connects to pretty much all major Dutch cities in provinces other than North and South Holland. Metro lines 50 and 51, tram line 5 and numerous bus lines stop at Amsterdam Zuid allowing easy access to both the district and the rest of Amsterdam. Tram line 5 and Metro 51 run all the way north to Amsterdam Centraal, with the tram stopping close to many major attractions. (updated Oct 2023)

Trains from Schiphol to Amsterdam-Zuid take only 7 minutes and cost half of what trains to Centraal do, so if Zuid is on your list, you may want to begin there and make your way to the north.

By tram

Zuid is a vast district and just looking at a map of all the tram lines that go through it can make you dazzle. But it's not that complicated if you know the few lines that are interesting for visitors.

  • Tram 2 from Amsterdam Centraal serves the Museum Quarter with stops at Rijksmuseum and Van Baerlestraat (Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum).
  • Tram 4 from Amsterdam Centraal, serves De Pijp at stop Stadhouderkade, which is near the west side of the Albert Cuyp Market.
  • Tram 5 from Leidseplein, serves the Museum Quarter with stops at Rijksmuseum, Van Baerlestraat and Museumplein (Concertgebouw). This line continues to Station Zuid (Zuidas).
  • Tram 12 from Amsterdam Centraal serves the Museum Quarter with stops at Rijksmuseum, Van Baerlestraat and Museumplein. It also serves De Pijp at Ferdinand Bolstraat near the east side of the Albert Cuyp Market before terminating at Amstelstation.
  • Tram 24 from Amsterdam Centraal, serves De Pijp at stops Marie Heinekenplein and De Pijp (Ferdinand Bolstraat). It continues south to the Olympic Stadium (stop Stadionplein).

By metro

From Amsterdam Centraal you can take the new 52 metro direct to Zuid station via De Pijp and Europaplein, alternatively, you can take the 51 metro which goes past RAI and Zuid.

See

Museums

The Museum Quarter has some of the best museums in the world, and especially the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum stand out. A trip to Amsterdam is not complete if you haven't been to at least one of these museums. Catering to its wealthy demographic, there are also two diamond museums here.

  • 🌍 Coster Diamonds, Paulus Potterstraat 2-8 (tram 2 or 5 to Hobbemastraat), ☏ +31 20 305-5555. This stately building is one of Amsterdam's two diamond factories. Guided tours are given showcasing the complicated diamond production process. It looks like just an ordinary jewellery shop, and of course it is, but there is a lot more to it. If you want to purchase diamonds, ask for the tax refund form so you can get up to 12% of the asking price back at the airport. Free. 
  • 🌍 Diamant Museum, Paulus Potterstraat 2-8 (tram 2 or 5 to Hobbemastraat), ☏ +31 20 305-5300. 09:00-17:00. This brand new exhibition is about the history of the diamond trade in Amsterdam. €8.50. 
  • 🌍 Heineken Experience (former Heineken Brewery), Stadhouderskade 78 (tram 16 or 24 to Stadhouderskade). Daily 11:00-19:00, last entry 17:30. Do not expect a beer museum, but rather to be flooded with Heineken advertisements. 
  • 🌍 Rijksmuseum, Museumstraat 1 (Tram 2, 5 or 12 to Rijksmuseum), ☏ +31 20 6747 000, . Daily 09:00-17:00. The largest and most prestigious museum for art and history in the Netherlands: works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and other Dutch masters. Its garden has a curious collection of architecture and has free entrance during museum opening times. Recommend getting there early to avoid long queues and crowds, then head first for the second floor to see the Rembrandt classics and others such as Avercamp's Winter Landscape with Skaters. €20/adult, €19/adult online, €10/European Youth Card, children free, no student discounts. (updated Oct 2020)
  • 🌍 Stedelijk Museum, Museumplein 10 (tram 2, 5 or 12 to Van Baerlestraat), ☏ +31 20 573-2911, . Daily 10:00-18:00. The Stedelijk Museum is the municipal museum of modern art. It has a long history, as it first opened in 1874 and has been at its current location since 1895. It was reopened in 2012 after a renovation that took four years: the new building is now locally referred to as the "bath tub" due to its unique shape. The "bath tub" will host newly acquired film and video expositions, while the highlights remain in the old part of the building. Adults €18.50; students €10.00; Under 18 free. (updated Oct 2020)
  • 🌍 Van Gogh Museum, Museumplein 6 (tram 2, 5 or 12 to Van Baerlestraat), ☏ +31 20 570 52 00, . Generally 09:00-18:00, but check website. This museum is dedicated to Vincent van Gogh, a late 19th-century Post-Impressionist Dutch painter. Tickets are available online only, and can be booked out weeks in advance during busy periods. In the museum are many, but not all, of Van Gogh's works. The museum contains some famous paintings like Sunflowers and Potato Eaters, but lacks others such as Starry Night. Also, there are selected works of Monet exhibited there. The audio tour at €5, in the language of your choice, will give you a much better understanding of Van Gogh's life and his paintings. €20 for adults, under 18 free, no discounts for students. (updated Oct 2020)
  • 🌍 Moco Museum, Honthorststraat 20 (Tram 2, 5 or 12 to Van Baerlestraat), ☏ +31 203701997. Su-Th 10:00-19:00; F Sa 10:00-21:00. Moco is a private museum of modern and contemporary art. Adult €19.50, Youth (13-17) and student €16.50, children (0-12) free. (updated Oct 2020)

Parks
  • 🌍 Museumplein, Willem Sandbergplein,. Not exactly a park, but a large grassed open space. Around its edges are the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Concertgebouw. On a sunny summer day, many locals chill on the grass lawn on top of the Albert Heijn supermarket. 
  • 🌍 Sarphatipark. Situated in De Pijp, this is a place where people sunbathe and have picnics in the summer. 
  • 🌍 Vondelpark. The only large park that is close to the Binnenstad, and definitely the most popular one. Especially in the summer, it is lively and crowded, many locals sit on the grass and enjoy a cold beer or wine. It's a lovely place to just hang out, sit in the sun and meet the locals. Open-air theaters are running in the summer on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. 

Notable buildings
  • 🌍 Huis met de Kabouters (House with the Gnomes), Ceintuurbaan 251 (just east of the Amstel). Named after two gnomes decorating its facade, this building is in a mix of Gothic and Rennaissance Revival and includes gargoyles and narrow lancet windows. Built in 1884, it became a rijksmonument in 1984. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 🌍 Riekermolen (1636) (on the bank of the Amstel river at Kalfjeslaan). 

Beaches

Other sites
  • 🌍 Frans Hals, Frans Halsstraat (south of Stadhouderskade). Those interested in urban renewal may wish to visit Frans Hals, a 19th-century, residential area along the narrow Frans Halsstraat (straat means street). By 2019, the city had removed on-street parking and replaced it with greenery, benches, picnic tables and some playground equipment. There are several restaurants along the street. (updated Nov 2020)
  • 🌍 Lady Solid (Waternet Pompstation), Amstelveenseweg 594 (at De Boelelaan). Lady Solid is a life-size statue of a woman in a striking pose standing with arms and feet spread. The statue has a water feature making the artwork controversial as it appears the lady has an incontinence problem. The pumping station features the artwork perhaps as it was "promoting the importance of well-functioning waterways", as suggested by a website on public art. The statue/fountain can be seen from the public sidewalk. (updated Jul 2020)

Do
  • 🌍 Electrische Museumtramlijn Amsterdam (Electric Tram Museum Amsterdam), Amstelveenseweg 264 (at Havenstraat, tram 2 to Amstelveenseweg then walk 240 metres south), ☏ +31 20 673 7538. Sundays, April-November, plus Easter & Pentecost Monday, 11:00-17:00. On operating days, the museum runs various vintage trams on two routes. Line 30 runs every 30 minutes along on a 7-km museum rail line to Amstelveen with stops along the route. Station Amstelveen is perhaps the most interesting stop as it is near an attractive small-town area with restaurants. Line 20 runs two trips only around Amsterdam. If you buy a day pass, you can travel both routes. Adult fares vary from €3.50 to €12.50 with reduced rates for seniors (65+) and children (4-11). (updated Oct 2019)
  • 🌍 Concertgebouw, Concertgebouwplein 6 (tram 2 or 12 to Museumplein), ☏ +31 900 671 83 45 (Dutch phones only). Famous for its orchestra and its acoustics (among the top ten in the world), this is one of the world's most frequently visited concert halls. Classical music is the main fare, but they also bring other kinds of music on stage. They have a free "lunch concert" on Wednesday from 12:30 till 13:00. In the same building is the "Kleine Zaal" ("Small Hall") for more intimate performances, often top-notch as well. It's worth a visit if only for its architecture. 
  • 🌍 Friday Night Skate, Vondelpark 3. Put on your skates, and join the popular weekly skate tour (since 1997), a different route every week. Starts every Friday at 20:30 from the Vondelpark (near the former Filmmuseum). 
  • 🌍 Rialto, Ceintuurbaan 338 (tram 3 to Tweede van der Helststraat, tram 12 to Ceintuurbaan, night bus 71.), ☏ +31 20 676-8700, . For all art-house cinema lovers. All films are shown in their original language with Dutch subtitles. They have late-night and classic showings too. Just a short walk from the Albert Cuyp Market/Heineken Brouwerij, in the nice non-touristy neighborhood De Pijp. M-Th €9, F-Su €10. 
  • ICE* Amsterdam (Ice Rink Amsterdam), 5, Museumplein, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, ☏ +31202623255. Daily 10:00-21:00. During winter time there is an amazing ice rink in Amsterdam at the Museumplein. The open-air ice skating rink that covers 1400 m2 can be found at its usual spot in the heart of Amsterdam and is open daily for all visitors. €6.50. (updated Jan 2019)

Buy

The population of Zuid is mixed and that becomes most apparent when you're going shopping.

  • 🌍 Albert Cuyp Market. M-Sa 09:00-17:00. Largest street market in Amsterdam, and the best-known street market in the country. It is iconic for the "De Pijp" neighborhood and its working-class inhabitants. There is something for everyone here, whether you're looking for delicious Dutch treats, clothing or second-hand cameras. There's also a wide array of stores that cater to the city's Surinamese, Antillean, Turkish and Moroccan inhabitants, giving the market and neighborhood a strong multicultural feel. Can get very crowded, so watch out for pickpockets. 
  • 🌍 Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat (P.C. Hooftstraat). Probably the wealthiest street in the country where Dutch celebrities go for a new pair of designer shoes. Better bring a filled wallet if you're planning to buy something here. 

Eat

De Pijp is an excellent area for getting ethnic food that belongs to former Dutch colonies, such as Indonesian or Surinamese cuisine. Koreans have congregated in the area known as Buitenveldert, so that's an excellent location for Korean cuisine.

Budget
  • 🌍 Albina, Albert Cuypstraat 69. It's cheap and very good. If you arrive around dinnertime you probably have to wait for a table. The surroundings are depressing but the food is so good you will come back anyway. €6. 
  • 🌍 Tijns Exotische Broodjes, Willem van Weldammelaan 55, 1082 DD (Gelderlandplein), ☏ +31 20 404 2175. Tasty, great value Surinamese take-out.Sandwiches. Located a short walk from the Zuidas area hotels. A few tables are also available to eat in. 

Mid-range
  • 🌍 Sari Citra, Ferdinand Bolstraat 52 (De Pijp), ☏ +31 20 675 41 02. Located just off the far end of the De Pijp neighborhood's famous the Albert Cuyp Market, Sari Citra is one of the most delicious and most affordable Indonesian restaurants in town. Be sure to try several of the selections as the friendly staff builds a plate for you. Don't show up right at 17:00 unless you feel like waiting in line behind a lot of hungry locals just getting off work. Open during the week from 14:00-21:00, and from 15:00-21:00 on weekends. 
  • 🌍 CTaste, Amsteldijk 55, 1074 HX Amsterdam, ☏ +31 20 675 2831. Dining in the dark. All waiters are blind, and serve you dinner in a completely dark restaurant. A very weird, but actually quite fun experience. (updated Oct 2015)
  • 🌍 FRNZY, Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat 27 H, ☏ +31 6 506 332 21. Small restaurant with indoor and street seating. Serves good noodle salads and sandwiches with a Vietnamese influence. (updated Aug 2016)

Drink

Nightclubs
  • OCCII, Amstelveenseweg 134 (Tram Amstelveenseweg). A rock venue for cutting-edge music (punk, noise, riot grrrl, etc.) 

Coffeeshops
  • Club Media. Completely organic menu, fair selection, good prices, lovely staff, free fruit! 
  • Katsu. Just around the corner from Media, good prices + nice atmosphere. 

Bars and beer gardens

Cafes
  • 🌍 De Roos, Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat 183 (on the edge of Vondelpark). Quite tea house with a small garden. (updated Jul 2016)

Sleep
This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
BudgetUnder €80
Mid-range€80 to €150
SplurgeOver €150

Due to the area being cheaper than the center, Zuid has become the most popular location for budget and mid-range hotels.

Budget
  • 🌍 Flying Pig Uptown, Vossiusstraat 46 (tram 2 or 5 to Rijksmuseum), ☏ +31 20 400-4187, . A bit loud and boisterous for travellers looking to relax, but good for those looking to meet people from all over the world and get the true "Amsterdam Experience". Lockers require lockpads, which are not available for rent, only buy for €5. dorms €16, room €33. 
  • 🌍 Hostel Cosmos, Frans van Mierisstraat 69a (tram 5 to Museumplein), ☏ +31 20 625-2438. Friendly youth hostel. dorm €24 per person. 
  • 🌍 Sphinx Hotel, Weteringschans 82, De Weteringschans, ☏ +31 20 6273680, . Check-in: 15:00 - 23:00, check-out: Until 11:00. From single rooms to five people sharing, steep stairs and no lift, shared or private bathrooms (quite small), very close to the museums. (updated Oct 2016)
  • 🌍 Van Ostade Bicycle Hotel, Van Ostadestraat 123 (Tram Tweede van der Helststraat), ☏ +31 20 679 3452, . Surrounded by fantastic architecture with reasonable rates, even at peak. Rooms from single to quadruple and optional en suite. Comes with free coffee, breakfast and wireless internet access. Doubles €50-85, doubles ensuite €80-120. 

Mid-range

Splurge
  • 🌍 Bilderberg Garden Hotel, Dijsselhofplantsoen 7, ☏ +31 20 - 570 56 00, fax: +31 20 - 570 56 54, . Five-star hotel just off the Apollolaan. 
  • 🌍 Hilton Amsterdam, Apollolaan 138 (in Oud-Zuid), ☏ +31 20 710 60 00, . Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Site of John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's bed-in. Nationally famous for being the site where Dutch artist Herman Brood committed suicide by jumping from the roof. From €200. 
  • 🌍 Hotel Okura, Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, ☏ +31 20 6788 300. Five-star Japanese-owned and -operated hotel with an excellent range of Japanese food, clothing, and book shops in the basement, and wireless internet in the lobby, bar, and conference rooms. The only drawback is that it's relatively distant from the central station (15 minutes by tram), but worth considering if work is paying and you don't mind taking cabs. €275. 
  • 🌍 Park Hotel Amsterdam, Stadhouderskade 25, ☏ +31 20 671 12 22. Bang in the middle of Amsterdam between Leidseplein, Rijksmuseum and P.C. Hooftstraat. Four-star hotel spread over several historical buildings. Parking. Very friendly staff. From €149. 
  • 🌍 Conservatorium Hotel, Van Baerlestraat 27, ☏ +31 20 570 00 00. Five-star hotel offers 129 guest suites spread throughout 8 floors. 
  • Hotel JL No76, Jan Luijkenstraat 76, ☏ +31 20 3485 555, . Hotel JL No76 is a luxury boutique hotel 2½ blocks from Vondelpark. (updated Sep 2016)

Connect

The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum have free Wi-Fi throughout the museum, and the Stedelijk Museum has Wi-Fi and laptop connections available in the reading room of its library. Bagels & Beans branches also offer unlimited free Wi-Fi access, and can be found in the Ferdinand Bolstraat (near the Albert Cuyp Market and Heinekenplein), Van Baerlestraat (near the P.C. Hooftstraat and Vondelpark) and the Pernassusweg (near the Zuidas).

Go next

If you haven't had enough of the museums, go to the Hermitage in Plantage and the Anne Frank House in the Canal District. The Canal District also has some quality dining and shopping options.

If you want to go completely off the beaten track, visit the urban forest Amsterdamse Bos in Amstelveen. It's three times the size of New York's Central Park and is visited by 4.5 million visitors annually (mostly locals). You can take a walk, hire a bicycle or go rowing or riding. If you're with children, visit the pancake restaurant or the petting zoo.

Routes through Zuid
Binnenstad ← Canal District ←  N  S  → Amstelveen
Binnenstad ← Canal District ←  N  S  → END
West ←  W  E  → Oost → Binnenstad
Binnenstad ← Oost ←  N  S  → Amstelveen


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