Welcome to the first in a series of articles exploring Amsterdam’s world famous neighbourhoods. Look into the eyes of the city, practice yoga in the tropics or walk through natures portal.
Let’s explore Overhoeks, De Plantage and Oud-Zuid.
Welcome to the first in a series of articles exploring Amsterdam’s world famous neighbourhoods. Look into the eyes of the city, practice yoga in the tropics or walk through natures portal.
Let’s explore Overhoeks, De Plantage and Oud-Zuid.
Located in Noord, just across the IJ River from Centrum is the mixed use neighbourhood – Overhoeks. Futuristic architecture meets picturesque picnic spots with stunning views of Amsterdam. The area was developed as part of an urban planning strategy which favoured developing upon Amsterdam’s inner city fabric.
The star of the area is the EYE Film Museum, a building you’ve probably already seen in countless photographs. The museum took the name as a play on from the IJ and the building’s unique form. Inside, exhibitions, talks, and events trace the history of filmmaking, while the EYE cinema showcases gems and classics that shaped world cinema.
Shell technology Centre Amsterdam occupies a central plot of land in the area – the building serves as the global campus with a focus on providing solutions for low carbon energy and renewable innovation. The building is home to 1000 people from around 50 countries and it provides offices for research institutions and academia.
The recently completed Maritim hotel Amsterdam is now open for business and welcoming guests. Plush surroundings meet some of the best 360 views of you can find of the city. The German hotel operator is known for setting high standards when it comes to luxury and facilities. The Hotel has a total of 579 rooms, four restaurants, a skyline bar and spa.
The first trip to Overhoeks began with a surprise: a ferry from Centraal Station which is always free. Fast, bike friendly ferries connect Overhoeks with the central transportation hub of Amsterdam, offering river views on every ride.
Along with waterfront promenades, you can enjoy spectacular views of Amsterdam from the A’DAM Tower’s rooftop bar and the highest swings in Europe— you can even make out the word ‘Amsterdam’ on Centraal station roof, the letters being added as part of a large renovation in 2014.
© Stefan Müller Fotografie
Back on the east side of Centrum, De Plantage was founded in 1663 part of Amsterdam’s Fourth Expansion and built as a tranquil green area. That legacy lives on: it’s still the perfect spot for people who want nature around them but also love the energy of a big city.
It is home to the University Of Amsterdam’s Roeterseiland campus, one of the four main campuses. Here students from all around the world study Economics, Business, Social and behavioural sciences plus the recently added, Faculty of Law. De Plantage has a significant Jewish history, today you can visit the Jewish museum, Jewish Cultural Quarter and a Portuguese Synagogue.
The main attraction of this area is the Hortus Botanicus, one of the world’s oldest gardens, founded in 1638 as a medicinal herb garden. During the colonial era, the Dutch East India Company brought back plants from all over the world—including the Coffee Arabica plant that helped kick off Europe’s coffee obsession. Today, Hortus is one of Amsterdam’s secrets, an oasis. You can wander through the Palm House with its tropical trees, join yoga or art workshops, or just take a quiet break in the middle of the city. And don’t miss the 300-year-old Eastern Cape cycad, one of the oldest pot plants in the world.
Right next door is Micropia, the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to microbes. Sounds niche? Maybe. But once you step inside, it’s fascinating. You’ll see real microbes under microscopes, body scanners showing where they live on us, and interactive exhibits about how they shape our food, medicine, sustainability—and even space exploration.
And if you’re ready to end the day in style, Restaurant De Plantage is a must. Housed in a 19th- century glasshouse with soaring ceilings (and a living tree growing inside), it mixes modern design with classic charm. The Mediterranean menu is vegetarian-friendly, and the atmosphere is just right whether you’re meeting colleagues, friends, or someone special.
The cultural heart of Amsterdam: Oud-Zuid. Here you’ll find the highest concentration of museums, alongside noble mansions and fashion streets. Start at Museumplein, where the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk, Moco, and Diamond Museum all sit within steps of each other.
The hidden treasure here is the Rijksmuseum library, which feels like stepping into a Harry Potter scene. The sound of street musicians under the museum arches adds to the magical atmosphere. Reserve a winter day for Museumplein so you can skate on the ice rink right next to the Van Gogh Museum. For fashion lovers, Oud-Zuid invites you to shop on PC Hooftstraat, Van Baerlestraat, Beethovenstraat, and Cornelis Schuytstraat, where numerous brand boutiques are housed in classic Dutch buildings standing side by side. Walk through in the evening and you might even glimpse private fashion events inside.
Once you’ve wandered through the fashion streets, you’ll find Amsterdam’s most beloved green space: Vondelpark. With wide paths, lakes, and meadows, it’s perfect for bike rides, picnics, or morning coffee at a park café that might turn into a jazz venue by night. Local residents often choose this place for teaching sports to their children or having the morning coffee at the cafes or bars, that turn into the jazz venues in evening.
Finally, be ready to see the fascinating collaboration of a human with nature: the Lomanstraat, a residential street where the London plane trees create a giant arching tunnel, bending toward the sunlight. The perfect location for Instagram photos and Tik Tok content that deliver the spirit of mysterious Amsterdam streets at its best.
