Jordaan: Amsterdam

The Jordaan is Amsterdam's hippest neighborhood and a great place to stroll along the canals and enjoy one of the many outdoor cafes. The name "Jordaan" may come from the French word for garden, 'jardin", because many of the houses have hidden gardens and the neighborhood is generally green. The Dutch word for little garden is "hofje", and it is common to go on walking tours of these gardens.

You will also find a high concentration of the city's famous houseboats in the Jordaan, which is a result of the fact that this used to be a neighborhood of the working class, and houseboats were a housing solution for the poor. Today, however, houseboats are some of the most expensive property in the city.

The Jordaan has Amsterdam's biggest tourist attraction, the Anne Frank House. The house is near the Westerkerk, or Western Church, which is at the border of the neighborhood called Westermarkt. Located in the city centre, the Westermarkt has many little cafes, most of them scattered around the "9 Straatjes" or "9 Little Streets". At café Lust you can find the best Dutch coffee in town, a koffie verkeerd, or Dutch latte.

If you're looking for some great traditional Dutch food, check out the Pancake Bakery located near the Anne Frank House, or café Winkel, located next to the Noordmarkt. Winkel has the best apple pie in town, while Noordmarkt holds a weekly market each Saturday. Here you can find arts and crafts, organic food and various antiques.
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