De Pijp District in Amsterdam
Just a short tram ride south of Centraal Station takes you into one of the most cosmopolitan districts of Amsterdam. Welcome to De Pijp.
If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of De Pijp to the fullest, pick from this list of hotels in De Pijp.
What does De Pijp mean
Many will tried to guess what De Pijp stands for. But no one really knows. Perhaps it owes its name to the long narrow streets that resemble pipes. Or to the infamous gas company, the Pipe, which used to supply energy to the area.
Who lives in De Pijp
Formerly a working class quarter built to ease the overpopulated Jordaan in the 19th century. To house labourers. De Pijp as Amsterdammers know it today is a melting pot of cultures and nationalities. The young, old, students, immigrants, artists, and families have all moved to De Pijp and made it their home.
Atmosphere of De Pijp
Thanks to previous settlers such as "Heijermans", "De Haan", "Bordewijk", "Mondriaan", and nowadays thanks to many immigrants and students who search for cheap room to rent, De Pijp continues to live as a lively exotic and sometimes bohemian district. Removed from the busy central Amsterdam, this alternative is appealing to many. Today, De Pijp is so popular that house prices have gone up to very high prices.
What can be found in De Pijp
Like the neighboring district "Jordaan", "De Pijp" is brimming with fantastic cafés, restaurants, coffeeshops and bars. Of course, a visit to Amsterdam wouldn't be the same without a trip to the Albert Cuypmarket, and over 100 shops surrounding it.
If you wander down Albert Cuypstraat and Ferdinand Bolstraat, the main streets in De Pijp , you'll find many exotic and authentic Syrian, Moroccan, Surinamese restaurants, to name but a few, and a typical Amsterdam pub is located on almost every corner. Also in abundance are the Islamic butchers, Surinamese, Spanish, Indian and Turkish delicatessens and grocery stores.
The Heineken Experience
Even if you tried, you couldn't miss this enormous red-brick building on Stadhouderskade street. Although Heineken building is no longer a brewery, it has been fully renovated and now operates as a museum. You can trace the 244-year history of the Heineken Empire, pick up a few tips on brewing, see Dr. Elion (Inventor of Heineken's magic ingredient), and look inside a beer boiler. You can also go on a Bottle Ride. Seated on a moving platform, you follow the production route of a bottle of beer. Of course, if you are thirsty after seeing many of those activities, reward yourself with a beer or two. Cheers!
Sarphatipark
While it may feel empty in some of its parts, because of the loss of big trees through the severe winters and diseases, it is still one of nicest parks in town. Many people come here with their dogs, but the public is friendly, atmosphere relaxed and the park very clean.
Albert Cuyp Market
Over 300 stalls are lining both sides of the Albert Cuyp street in the neighbourhood of De Pijp. Stalls sell everything from fruit, vegetables, cheese, fish and spices to clothes, cosmetics and bedding. The prices are among the cheapest in Amsterdam. The market gets very crowded especially on a sunny day and Saturdays.
De Pijp District in Amsterdam on the map
photos attributions:
metro station - wikimedia commons - Steven Lek - creative commons licence (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en)
market - wikimedia commons - Alf van Beem
night street - unsplash - Riccardo Bernucci