Skylines and views

Amsterdam's city center, Binnenstad, is very old and wellpreserved with a medieval skyline of church spires and other kind of historic towers. The tallest buildings in the old town/city center is Westerkerk (85m). So almost no highrises have been built in the center. Rotterdam and The Hague has a much larger, and taller concentration of skyscrapers in the city center. But that doesn't mean that Amsterdam has no skyscrapers. There are some taller brand new buildings in the harbour just northeast of the central station, at Ooosterdok and Eastern Docklands. The 2 tallest buildings in Amsterdam, Rembrandttoren (150m) and Mondriaan toren, are situated in the Omval district south of the city center, next to Amstel river.

But the largest concentration of skyscrapers is in the outskirts, even more southwards, in the new Zuidas district, also next to Amstel river. Most buildings in Zuidas are only around 100m tall. Zuidas is also known as the "Financial Mile" and have been built around 2010.

More notable areas with smaller concentration of highrises/skyscrapers are Amsterdam Arena and Sloterdijk. There are totally about 7 highrise districts in Amsterdam.

Historical City Center (Binnenstad) skyline:

Seen from the rooftop café at the top of the Openbare Bibliotheek (the new municipal library):

From the left, front: Old Town. In the distance: Omval, Zuidas.

In the background, right, you can see Zuidas. The historic tower in the front middle is Montelbaanstoren.

Towards Amstel business park in Omval district (center). In the far left distance you can see the Amsterdam Arena cluster.

Part of the new library's roof and the floating chinese restaurant and Ooosterdok hrabour with the city center in the background.

NEMO science museum and the new bridges. In the distance you can see the National Maritime Museum.

Seen from the rooftop bar of Kalventoren Shoppingcenter:

The historic Rijksmuseum's 2 towers dominates the pictures, with Zuidas business district in the background.

Munttoren.

Towards the church Krijtberg Kerk.

Towards Sloterdijk skyline in the distance.

Kritjberg church, Sloterdijk.

You can see the skyline right through Kalvertoren's rooftop bar.

Westerkerk and other historic towers seen from Raadhuisstraat.

The Dam.

Omval skyline:

Amstel River nera Waterlooplein towards the south with the 2 tallest buildings to the left, in Omval District.

Rembrandttoren, Mondriaantoren and Breitner Center in Amstel Business Park.

Mercure Hotel Amstel and Omval with Amsterdam's 2 tallest buildings.

A water tower and Omval with the 2 tallest buildings in Amsterdam.

Harbour skylines:

Overhoeks area with Toren Overhoeks (80m) and Eye film institute, seen across Lake IJ from the central station.

Eastern Docklands and Ooosterdok from the left: Muziekgebouw (concert hall)/Bimhuis, Mövenpick Hotel/ferry terminal and NEMO.

The same as above plus Ooosterdokeiland (left).

Muziekgebouw (concert hall)/Bimhuis, Mövenpick Hotel/ferry terminal

Oosterdok harbour with St Nicholas churfch (left) and the new Openbare Library to the far right, from there you have magnificent views (see further up the page).

St Nicholas, 2 other churches, Ibis Hotel, Railway station and Sea palace.

Ibis Hotel, one of the few highrises in the city center.

Not exactly the outskirts, but this is just west of the central station.Here you can find newly built modern residential buildings, canals and boat houseses. In the distance you can see Overhoeks.

Zuidas skyline:

The skyline of Zuidas. It is located in the south outskirts of Amterdam, within less then an hour train ride to Schiphol and the Hague.
From the left: ABN-AMRO, Symphony Towers, Ito-toren and The Rock, all in front of the Zuidas train station, that is expected to be the 5th busiest in the Netherlands.

WTC Bldg H behind the train.106m high.Built in 2004. The tallest building in Zuidas, and 3rd tallest in Amsterdam.

World Trade Center, some of the 9 buildings. The road goes above a huge biking parking.

Skyline of Zuidas seen from the north, with Symphony Towers in the middle.

Overview of the WTC complex.

De Boelelaan towards the East. The highrise to the left is brand new.

East part of Zuidas, at RAI station:

East part of Zuidas, at the RAI station. Fro the left: Communication tower and Ernst & Young.

Ernst & Young (87m) from 2007 is the building with the crosses. In the distance is central Zuidas.

Sloterdijk skyline:

A business district in the south part near Sloterdijk station, between Schiphol and Amsterdam Central. Here seen from the train.

Crystal Tower (95m) at Sloterdijk station. It was built in 2002. The square in front of it is called Orlyplein.

Schiphol skyline:

Schiphol Airport skyline. The control tower was the tallest in Europe upon completion.

Commie block suburbs fo Amsterdam.

Amsterdam from the sky.