WATERLOOPLEIN, KONINGSPLEIN, STOPERA, FLOWER MARKET, SINGEL, OUDESCHANS, THE JEWISH QUARTERS
Old Town part 2
The Old Town, Binnenstad, is the heart of Amsterdam. The borders to Binnenstad is the Singelgracht canal in the south, east and west and the lake IJ and the harbour Ooosterdok in the north. It is where the old canal buildings are, as well as all famous squares and the central station.This is part 2.
Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt)
Amsterdam has a Flower market parallel to the Singel canal, between Muntplein and Koningsplein. Bloemenmarkt is the world's only floating flower market.
The flower market was crowded with visitors this Monday.
Bloemenmarkt has 15 floating florists and garden shops.
Holland is famous for its clogs, here for sale on Bloemenmarkt.
A cheese store next to Bloemenmarkt. Holland is also famous for its cheeses and here you can taste different types.
The floating flower market, Bloemenmarkt, seen from Koningsplein and the Singel canal. Bikes everywhere...
Singel canal
The Singel is a canal in Amsterdam which encircled the city in the Middle Ages. It served as a moat around the city until 1585, when Amsterdam expanded beyond the Singel. The canal runs from the IJ bay, near Central Station, to the Muntplein square, where it meets the Amstel river. It is now the inner-most canal in Amsterdam's semicircular ring of canals. The canal should not be confused with the Singelgracht canal, which became the outer limit of the city during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th Century. Other Dutch towns also have ring-shaped canals named Singel. Source: Wikipedia.
The church De Krijtberg next to the Singel canal.
De Krijtberg is a roman catholic church.
Kalvertoren Shoppingcenter, at the pedestrian street Kalverstraat between Muntplein and Koningsplein.
The interior of Kalvertoren Shoppingcenter is a mix of old and new. There are very few shopping malls in central Amsterdam.
The glass elevator of the shopping galleria is leaning.
There are nice views from the bar at the top of Kalvertoren.
A buidlings opposite the mall at Kalverstraat.
Koningsplein
Koningsplein is situated between the Singel and the Herengracht canals, next to the Flower market.
Beautiful buildings at Koningsplein.
A long red and white tram at Koningsplein. The trams used to be yellow.
Albert Heijjn is a common super market chain, here at Koningsplein.
The Torture Museum at Koningsplein.
A nice shining bronze building (middle).
Waterlooplein
Waterlooplein is situated in the northeast part of the city center, next to the Amstel River. You can find the City Hall/Opera at Waterlooplein, as well as a daily market. The area around Waterlooplein once was the Jewish quarters.
The Stopera (combined city hall and opera), seen from Blauwbrug, one of the nicest bridges in Amsterdam.
Details of Blauwbrug.
Blauwbrug (blue bridge) seen from Waterlooplein. It is historic and was inspired by Parisian bridges.
The Stopera seen from the Amstel.
The Stopera, officially Stadhuis & Muizeikteater because it houses both the City Hall and an Opera. It is the most prominent building on Waterlooplein and faces Amstel River. The opera is home for both the Netherlands Opera, the National Ballet and the Holland Symphony Orchestra. It was constructed between 1982 and 1986 and lead to heavy riots.
Inside the opera. Here it is clear that you are inside a curved buildings.
Moses and Aaron Church at Waterlooplein.
A market outside the Moses and Aaron Church.
I found several vintage Citroën in Amsterdam, here at Waterlooplein.
Dutch Film Institute and TV Academy at Waterlooplein.
River Binnenamstel, looking south towards the Magerebrug and further away the Amstel Business Park, that has Amsterdam's 2 tallest buildings.
Blauwbrug.
The daily market at Waterlooplein with origins from the Jewish period.
As you can see, the beer brand Heineken is very popular in the Netherlands.
Yet another coffee shop, here near Waterlooplein.
Jodenbreestraat
This is the most important street of the former Jewish quartiers. There is a Jewish museum and a memorial in the area.
Jodenbreestraat. A Jewish memorial, a Dutch post van and the Rembrandt museum can be seen here.
Jodenbreestraat, the old jewish quarters. Much of the jewish quarters were abandoned after the WW2.
Café de Sluyswacht, the old building of the sluice watch from 1695.
View towards the North and the Oudeschans canal that leads to the harbour.
The Stopera and the Sluyswacht building seen from the side of the canal.
The social sofa, one of two at Sluysewacht/Jodenbreestraat.
Details of the sofa.
Montelbaanstoren (center), Mövenpick Hotel and part of Nemo seen from Jodenbreestraat.
The Dutch police cars (politie) are white with strong red and blue diagonal lines.
Willet-Holthuysen Museum (click here to read about it and see pictures from the interior).
The Rembrandt House Museum is located on Jodenbreestraat, near Waterlooplein (click here to read about it and see pictures from the interior).
Oudeschans Canal
This canal goes from Jodenbreestraat at Waterlooplein to the Eastern Docklands and harbour.
A house boat on the Oudeschans Canal.
Towards Stopera.
Recht Boomssloot, A side canal.
Montelbaanstoren. This medieval tower stands next to the IJssel Lake. It was built in 1512 as a part of the city wall. It is often nicknamed "Silly Jack" because it rings at strange times, and sometimes not at all. Today it is a water tower.
Binnenkant Canal with its many boat houses. The ones that are legal have eletrictiy, the illegal ones not.
A closer look.
Even more old Citroëns.
The end of Oudeschans Canal with Montelbaanstoren, "Silly Jack", in focus.