Zeedijk

Medieval Centre & Red Light District


This is one of Amsterdam's oldest streets. Initially a shipping district, it was a respectable place to be until the 17th century. Then the rich folk moved away to the Herengracht, and the Zeedijk turned to come-hither entertainment for sailors. It's been cleaned up again over the past decade or so, and forms the core of Amsterdam's Chinatown as well as one of the area's gay hubs.

Transportation

  • tram: 2/4/11/12/13/14/17/24/26 Centraal Station

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Medieval Centre & Red Light District attractions

1. Brouwerij De Prael

0.06 MILES

Brouwerij De Prael offers engaging behind-the-scenes tours of its brewery. Tours depart on the hour and last 40 minutes, followed by a sample (or four)…

2. Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder

0.07 MILES

Within what looks like an ordinary canal house is an entire Catholic church. Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Dear Lord in the Attic) was built in the mid…

3. St Nicolaaskerk

0.09 MILES

In plain view from Centraal Station, the magnificent cupola and neo-Renaissance towers belong to the city's main Catholic church, the first to be built …

4. Schreierstoren

0.1 MILES

Built around 1480 as part of the city’s defences, this tower is where Henry Hudson set sail for the New World in 1609; a plaque outside marks the spot. It…

5. Damrak

0.11 MILES

The Damrak is the original mouth of the Amstel river – rak being a reach (straight stretch of water). The river flowed from a lock in the Dam into the IJ…

6. Sexmuseum Amsterdam

0.12 MILES

The Sexmuseum is good for a giggle. You’ll find replicas of pornographic Pompeian plates, erotic 14th-century Viennese bronzes, some of the world’s…

7. Prostitution Information Centre

0.13 MILES

Established by a former sex worker, the PIC provides frank information about the industry to those in the trade, their customers and curious tourists. It…

8. Centraal Station

0.14 MILES

Beyond being a transport hub, Centraal Station is a sight in itself. The turreted marvel dates from 1889. One of the architects, PJ Cuypers, also designed…

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