The apartment is deliciously positioned to the east of the old city centre on the cusp of the leafy Plantage district and the Dappermarkt. Getting in and out of the city is very easy as you can simply hop on a tram at either of two stops close by, indeed the tram trundles right past the end of your street.
Almost directly across from the apartment lies the excellent Tropenmuseum which is jam-packed with fascinating exhibits relating to non-western cultures. This is of course only one of nearly sixty museums to explore in the city and you don’t have far to walk to reach a handful of major attractions.
Behind the Tropenmuseum lies the pretty Oosterpark which translates simply as ‘Eastern Park’. It has lots of green space and a delightful lake in the centre around which you can enjoy a homemade picnic in the warmer months. Just like the area itself in general, the park boasts a very tranquil ambience, unlike the busier and much larger Vondelpark located to the west.
This district was once one of the main Jewish areas in the city but all that changed with the Second World War. Be sure to visit the nearby Hollandsche Schouwburg on nearby Plantage Middenlaan and second memorial in Wertheim Park to those who were murdered in the Holocaust. This is a very important piece of Amsterdam’s recent history and such memorials are visited daily by people from all over the world who come to pay their respects and experience some quiet private reflection.
The fantastic Artis Zoo and the horticultural museum (Hortus Botanicus) are also close by. The latter boasts huge greenhouses that are heated to rainforest-like temperatures and you can walk amongst some impressively tall cacti. This is the perfect place to visit on a rainy or cold day.
