Places in Amsterdam: 6 places to visit

Amsterdam has several well-known squareseach with its own characteristics and particularities.

All squares offer numerous terraces, restaurants, cafés and stores, and are all easily accessible on foot, by bike or by public transport.

Today, let's take a closer look at the city's best-known squares.

Places in Amsterdam: the Dam

The Dam is the historic heart of the city and a popular venue for events. Its many remarkable buildings make it a major tourist attraction.

When the weather's fine, you'll always find different types of street performers: musicians, jugglers, dancers, "living" statues, etc. The dam is also used for a number of events, including the fair, the national commemoration, and the traditional Christmas tree.

On the west side of the dam, you'll find the 1655 Royal Palace. The luxurious Bijenkorf department store is on the east side. Finally, you'll also find a passageway that takes you directly to the main station.

To the northwest, you can visit the Nieuwe Kerk (new church) and the famous Nieuwendijk shopping street. At the southern end of the square is the Madame Tussauds Wax Museumand the famous Kalverstraat shopping street. As you can see, the Dam is the focal point of the city.

The Leidsplein

The Leideplein is a real entertainment area, with countless cafés, restaurants and theaters. The square is a meeting place for locals and tourists alike, and is also home to numerous street performers.

When the weather is fine, the terraces are a popular spot.

On the square, or a short distance away, you'll find the Nationale Schouwburg, the De Balie, Bellevue and DeLaMar theaters, the Paradiso and De Melkweg music temples, the Sugar Factory clubs and the famous The Bulldog café.

Every winter, the square is transformed into an ephemeral ice rink. Fun for all the family during your winter vacations.

Places in Amsterdam: Museumplein

At Museumplein, you'll find three major museums. First, of course, the Rijksmuseumat the northern end of the square. At the west end, you'll find Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum. Finally, to the south, you'll find the Royal Concert Hall.

Locals and tourists alike use this square every day to relax and take a break. The green space is perfect for soccer, Frisbee and picnics, while under the plane trees and around the basketball court, you can play pétanque. There's also a pond near the Rijksmuseum, with terraces on both sides.

The Museumplein is also often used for various events, shows and festivals, such as King's Day.

The Nieuwmarkt

The Nieuwmarkt is a square in Amsterdam's Chinatown, bordering the southeast side of the red light district. The square is surrounded by historic buildings, restaurants, cafés and a supermarket.

The Nieuwmarkt is very popular with localsespecially at weekends. There's a daily market, an organic market on Saturdays and a book and antique market on Sundays during the summer.

In the middle of the Nieuwmarkt, you'll see a remarkable building: De Waag. It's Amsterdam's oldest non-religious building. It was built in 1488. Since then, the building has had many functions: a prison, a place of commerce and a museum.

Rembrandt Square

Rembrandtplein and the adjacent Thorbeckeplein are Amsterdam's most popular nightlife areas. The rectangular square is surrounded by trendy clubs, many charming cafés, good restaurants and sunny terraces.

On the north side, around the Amstel river, you'll find numerous cafés that perpetuate traditional Dutch musical culture. During King's Day and Amsterdam's Gay Pride, the whole of Amsterdam is having fun.

To the west is Reguliersdwarsstraat. This is one of the most important streets for the LGBT community, with a host of trendy new gay bars and clubs.

Places in Amsterdam: Le Spui

The Spui is the square between the Rokin and the Singel, and is crossed by the Kalverstraat. Thanks to its location, it's a great place to take a break from shopping.

There are also several affordable cafés and restaurants in the side streets, making it a popular meeting place for students.

What's more, every second Friday of the month there's a major book market with around 25 booksellers, and every Sunday (March to December) an art market.

To the south, you'll find the former Lutheran Church and the Maagdenhuis, built in 1787. Across the street is the entrance to the Begijnhof, which was formed in the Middle Ages.

Amsterdam's squares are exceptional places that will make your city vacation unique. Don't hesitate to visit them all on your visit to Amsterdam.

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