Page 98 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

96 ❯❯ Amsterdam Area by Area

The junction of Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht
Noordermarkt
Brouwersgracht
5 7
MAP D2 • Noordermarkt
MAP D1
If you stand at the breezy junction of flea market: open 9am–1pm Mon
Brouwersgracht and Prinsengracht, • Boerenmarkt: open 9am–4pm Sat
you will get terrific views in all direc­ By the entrance to the Noorderkerk
tions. Today, Brouwersgracht, with (see p54), a sculpture by Sofie Hupkens
its pretty bridges and picturesque commemorates the Jordaan riot of
houseboats, is a romantic’s 1934, in which seven people died
(and photographer’s) delight, protesting cuts in unemployment
but if a 17th­century brouwer benefits. Today, the square
(brewery worker) could see it comes to life during the Monday
now, he would be astonished flea market and the Saturday
to find that the spout­gabled boerenmarkt (farmers’ market).
warehouses of this once
The Amsterdam
reeking industrial canal 8
had been converted into Tulip Museum
the smartest of private MAP L2 • Prinsengracht 116
housing – particularly fine Jordaanoproer • Open 10am– 6pm daily
examples of which you can memorial, • Closed 27 Apr, 25 Dec
see at Nos. 188–194. Noordermarkt • Admission charge • www.
amsterdamtulipmuseum.nl
Jordaan
6 Tulips were first introduced to the
Netherlands in the late 16th century,
MAP K3
Quirky and characterful, with an
intimate, easy­going atmos phere all
of its own, the Jordaan is a dense ZON’S AND DE STAR HOFJES
patch of small­scale streets and Secretive and intimate, Amster dam’s
canals peppered with interesting hofjes – almshouses for the needy built
shops and galleries, charming hofjes by wealthy merchants in the 17th and
(almshouses) and inviting brown 18th centuries – are part of the city’s
cafés. Bounded by Prinsengracht charm. Unobtrusive street entrances
and Lijnbaans gracht to the east lead to pretty houses, some of which
are still used for their original purpose.
and west, and Brouwersgracht and Two of the most delightful hofjes are
Looiers gracht to the north and Zon’s and De Star on the Prinsengracht.
south, it was built for the working Both hofjes are open to visitors from
classes who served in the Monday to Friday.
Grachtengordel (see p15).

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