Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Amsterdam Old Town is a captivating district in the heart of the Netherlands’ most populous city. It’s dissected by 17th-century canals and dominated by narrow streets lined with centuries-old buildings and museums.
Not to miss is Amsterdam’s oldest building, the Oude Kerk, which has watched over the Old Town since 1213. Take note of its sculpted choir before climbing the narrow spiral staircase that leads up its tower for elevated views of the city. The Oude Kerk is a short walk from Our Lord in the Attic Museum, a 17th-century residence with a Catholic church hidden on its top floor.
Delve into the past at the Amsterdam Museum, which occupies an old orphanage where children were housed from 1580 to 1960. See an aerial map depicting the city in the Middle Ages and explore the Amsterdam Gallery where portraits from 1530 to the present day are exhibited.
Getting there
Amsterdam Old Town is a short walk from the Amsterdam Central railway and subway station while Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is 25 minutes’ drive away. Trams travel throughout the district and most of its attractions are accessible on foot.