One of the districts not to be missed on a visit to Amsterdam is undoubtedly De Pijp.
Compared to other European capitals, Amsterdam is more like a village than a city.
Today, let's discover the De Pijp district.
De Pijp: article summary
What's the history of De Pijp?
In the 18ᵉ century, today's De Pijp district was a sparsely populated area with inns, mills and small houses. Due to the industrial revolution in the 19ᵉ century, Amsterdam's population grew enormously. and urban expansion was necessary.
A new neighborhood officially named YY was born, more commonly known as De Pijp, probably because of the long, narrow ditches of the former polder. The district is has become anything but a posh neighborhood.
The neighborhood for the working classes
De Pijp was a district for Amsterdam's working class and poor. From 1918 onwards, prostitution appeared, mainly around Sarphatipark. In brothels, prostitutes with a client could rent a room for a short period.
In the 1960s, the first foreigners began living in the neighborhood. Initially, these were Spanish immigrant workers who were employed in the at the Heineken brewery in Stadhouderskade.
After a while, they brought their families and so the number of Spanish inhabitants of De Pijp increased. Over the last few decades, De Pijp has been has become a more popular district.
Where is this district in Amsterdam?
De Pijp is located in the northern part of the southern district, next to the center of Amsterdam. The quay known as the "Stadhouderskade" forms the northern boundary of the district. To the west, De Pijp is surrounded by the Boerenwetering, to the south by the Jozef Israelskade and to the east by the Amstel River.
De Pijp offers a lively mix of cafés, restaurants and pleasant boutiques. The neighborhood is home to young couples, hipsters and sports enthusiasts. take advantage of our proximity to the center of Amsterdam. The region has a lot to offer and you'll find yourself in a place full of eclectic personality.
Things to do in De Pijp
There's plenty to do in this area. Among the most popular activities, you can visit a wonderful market and then head to one of the city's finest museums.
De Pijp: visit the Albert Cuyp market
In the 19ᵉ century, when Amsterdam's population grew considerably, many Jewish families also moved to De Pijp. The Albert Cuypmarkt had a large number of Jewish market vendors.
The Albert Cuyp is well worth a visit. Central artery crossing the northern part of the districtThe Albert Cuyp market is perfect for shopping, with its many stalls selling fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, cheese, nuts, chocolates and, of course, flowers.
I recommend that you visit the Albert Cuyp market in the mornings at weekends, as everyone comes to shop in the afternoons. The place is packed with people and it's much less pleasant to walk around.
Take a tour of the Rijksmuseum
This place is on every traveler's bucket list. To help you make the most of this museum, I'd like to leave you with a few tips.
First of all, I'd advise you to do some research and choose a few eras that you really like. The museum is and has much to offer.
So, unless you're planning to spend the day there, I'd advise you to do some pre-selection before you go.
I'd also advise you to buy your ticket online. It seems obvious, but long queues are a real waste of time!
Finally, it's a good idea to get there early and start on the top floor! This is where you'll find the highlights of the Rijksmuseum. Then explore the museum against the current. If you arrive too late, the museum will already be full of tourists.
De Pijp is a pleasant neighborhood, where you can meet an eclectic mix of people. While you're there, you'll discover some wonderful places and get a real feel for Amsterdam.
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