Meet De Negen Straatjes

How much can you fit into 9 little streets?

If you ask an Amsterdam local, they’d quickly tell you - a LOT. Welcome to the small but mighty district of the 9 Streets. Wrapped around the UNESCO World Heritage canal belt, this area is decked out with some of the city’s most chic spots. Wander along the cute, cobbled streets and find some of the best boutique shops, quaint cafes, delicious restaurants, and terrace bars overflowing with both locals and tourists. Start your journey along the picturesque canals with a visit at The Houseboat Museum. From there let the 9 streets be your oyster, as you discover all of the coolest vintage shops, art galleries, and so much more.

Learn Something New

Canals are kind of a big deal here, and for a reason. With the 9 Streets being situated between the Singel and Prisengracht canals, it’s pretty much a central focus of the area. So it makes sense that there would be a museum dedicated to the incredible sight. Head to the Museum of the Canals to get educated on the area. If photography is more of your thing, you should definitely check out the Huis Marseille Museum for Photography. You’ll find Dutch and international contemporary works of photography in a 17th-century home. Plus there’s a super cute garden and book store.

Get Outdoors

While there aren’t any parks in this compact area, the canals are more than a good enough excuse to get outside for some fresh air. Canal boat tours are about as touristy as you can get in the Netherlands, but hey - they get the hype for a reason. We recommend the Viator Tour which starts in front of the Anne Frank Museum and tours around the Amsterdam canals for 75 minutes.

Sip N Dine

Is this the best area to eat and drink in all of Amsterdam? I think a lot of people would agree, YES. Everywhere you turn you’ll find trendy cafes, insanely good quality food, and bars that will keep you hanging out until the wee hours of the night. You can start your day at Chun Cafe with minimalistic vibes, serving up a combination of Korean and Dutch drinks, such as boba teas. We’ve heard Bussia has brioche buns that are TO. DIE. FOR. But don’t take our word for it, you’ll have to head to the part bakery, part restaurant to try for yourself! For any cheese lovers, step into heaven at De Kaaskamer. It’s a decadent cheese shop where you can also get sandwiches made right in front of you.

For the bars, we’ve got two great suggestions for you. First is Proeflokaal A Van Wees - this place dates back to 1973, so you know it must be good to still have hundreds of guests a day. Along with a tasty food menu, they’ve got over 17 jenever flavours for you to try. Bar Brasserie OCCO is the other on our list, which is great for brunch, lunch, or just some great cocktails. The best part? They’ve got a super cute outdoor garden area to dine in.

Shop Til You Drop

While the list could go on and on for the shopping spots along the 9 streets, we’ll highlight a few of our favourites. Anna + Nina is a chain of stores owned by Amsterdam locals - yup, you guessed it: Anna and Nina. Their store is filled with clothing, jewellry, and homeware that will have you quickly snatching your wallet. For our vintage lovers, Episode has all of your secondhand dream outfits awaiting you. Home interior and design thrive in the store The Frozen Fountain. It’s basically an institution for design. Find your favourites from both famous and up and coming designers.

Play

Everyone loves a good board game! Find something for the whole family in De Gamekeeper - a store dedicated to old and new games that will surely liven up any group. Find classics like Monopoly, Risk, and Catan, or find one of the newer games like Cards Against Humanity. Whatever games you’re into, it’s likely De Gamekeeper has it ready for you. They’ve been Amsterdam’s leading game store for the last 25 years for a reason!

Stick Around for a While

Even though the neighbourhood isn’t too big, we totally don’t blame you for feeling like you need more time in the 9 Streets. After all, there are TONS of shops and restaurants to check out. If you need a place to extend your stay, we recommend The Huxton. Situated along the Herengracht canal, the boutique hotel was originally made up of 5 canal houses. Now you can find over 100 rooms with a cool, modern style. They’ve also got Lotti’s Restaurant on sight. It’s got neighbourhood vibes serving up strong coffee, brasserie-style dishes, and tasty cocktails right in the hotel.

After the 9 streets have been conquered, why not dive even deeper into Amsterdam? Check out all of our neighbourhood guides around the city.