Amsterdam Districts
Amsterdam is a compact city - at least the areas that are of primary interest to tourists. You will find most of what you are looking for in the area known as De Wallen (The Walls). This is the "original" city and includes the Dam, Central Station and the Red Light District. The Begijnhof is an enclosed courtyard dating from the early 14th century. Hidden behind the busy Spui shopping strip, it's a surreal oasis of peace, with tiny houses grouped around a well-kept courtyard. The Canal Belt is elegant, with impeccable mansions facing tree-lined canals. This is where you will find Leidesplein and Rembrandtsplein with their shops and restaurants. The Jordaan is a maze of small streets and canals to the west, beyond the major canals. Once a working-class neighborhood, it's become fashionable with a growing number of upscale boutiques and restaurants. Vondelpark surrounds the three major museums on Museumplein - the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum - and hosts the Concertgebouw concert hall, many restaurants, Amsterdam's most elegant shopping streets and its best-known park.