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Borough of Amsterdam in North Holland, Netherlands
Photo: User:Voytikof, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
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.
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Coster Diamonds
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.
This exhibition is about the history of the diamond trade in Amsterdam.
former Heineken Brewery
Do not expect a beer museum, but rather to be flooded with Heineken advertisements.
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.
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.
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 €3.75 for adults, €2 for children aged 13 to 17, in the language of your choice, will give you a much better understanding of Van Gogh's life and his paintings.
Moco is a private museum of modern and contemporary art.
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.
Situated in De Pijp, this is a place where people sunbathe and have picnics in the summer.
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.
House with the Gnomes
Named after two gnomes decorating its facade, this building is in a mix of Gothic and Renaissance Revival and includes gargoyles and narrow lancet windows. Built in 1884, it became a rijksmonument in 1984.
With bar and restaurant
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.
Waternet Pompstation
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.
A charming photogenic street known for its curiously crooked trees, that form a kind of a tunnel.
Electric Tram Museum Amsterdam
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.
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.
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).
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.
Ice Rink Amsterdam
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.
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.
Tijn's Exotische Broodjes
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.
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.
A rock venue for cutting-edge music (punk, noise, riot grrrl, etc.)
Completely organic menu, fair selection, good prices, lovely staff, free fruit!
Just around the corner from Media, good prices + nice atmosphere.
Basic bar and beer garden
Quite tea house with a small garden.
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.
Friendly youth hostel.
From single rooms to five people sharing, steep stairs and no lift, shared or private bathrooms (quite small), very close to the museums.
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.
3-star hotel. All the floors are reachable by elevator. All rooms have their own private bathrooms.
Attractive, in a peaceful location in a quiet residential area.
The hotel has 70 rooms with stylish interiors and a beautiful view.
Second property by citizenM hotels, opened in 2009. Rooms include free WiFi and movies, a rainshower, and an XL kingsize bed with luxury linens.
Ticks all the main boxes for facilities but about due for a refurbishment.
Free Wi-Fi in public areas.
Five-star hotel just off the Apollolaan.
Internationally famous as the site of John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's bed-in. Nationally famous for being where Dutch artist Herman Brood killed himself.
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.
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.
Five-star hotel offers 129 guest suites spread throughout 8 floors.
Hotel JL No76 is a luxury boutique hotel 2½ blocks from Vondelpark.
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.
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.
By train
Trains from Schiphol to Amsterdam Zuid take only 6 to 7 minutes and cost a third less of what trains to Amsterdam Centraal do, so if Zuid is on your list, you may want to begin there and make your…
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.
By metro
From Amsterdam Centraal you can take metro 52 direct to Zuid station via De Pijp and Europaplein, alternatively, you can take metro 51 which goes past RAI and Zuid.
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