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Borough of Amsterdam in North Holland, Netherlands
Photo: Marion Golsteijn, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Noord (Dutch for North) is the borough of Amsterdam north of the IJ. It is a residential district, and with about 86,000 inhabitants, it is a medium-sized city (and it is growing at a rapid pace—three new neighbourhoods are under construction). This district has remained well off the radar among tourists visiting Amsterdam, so amenities are not well-developed. It looks strikingly different from the city centre, so get in with an open mind. Yet, there is more to see than you might think. The ferry to it in itself is a breeze, crossing the river IJ and showing the urban landscape of Noord. Get off at the NDSM shipyard, which functioned as a shipyard until the 1980s, but now boasts a lively art scene. Urban culture comes alive in its large skate park. Then patch up your bicycle, and ride it through the rural farmland in the east. The picturesque villages Ransdorp and Zunderdorp are favourites among the locals for their traditional Dutch farmhouses.
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Windmill on the bank of the Noordhollands Kanaal in the north, ferry from Central Station.
Museum depicting street art in a large indoor exhibition.
EYE is an institute dedicated to the preservation of film for future generations. It is the successor of the Filmmuseum. It has four film theatres with alternative screenings such as art films. In April the Imagine Film Festival is held here with screenings dedicated to exploitation, cult and lower-budget films. Well worth it if you're a fan of the genre.
A restaurant and cafe in a hall which used to be a bank.
A fish and seafood restaurant in an old factory on the banks of the river.
A redesigned aircraft hangar, turned restaurant.
An Indian and Nepalese restaurant. Vegetarian friendly.
A bar and restaurant in an old industrial area, by the river.
3-star hotel with 86 rooms.
Boven 't Y
The north lies fairly isolated from the rest of Amsterdam, but there is a free GVB ferry from Centraal Station in the Binnenstad. Instead of just being a way to get in, the ferry ride is an attraction in itself.
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