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Dutch Flowers, Coffeeshops, Amsterdam
Karl O'Brien

Old Centre area guide

Discover the best restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, nightlife and things to do in the Old Centre of Amsterdam

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Amsterdam's ground zero of consumerism, vice, entertainment and history, the Old Centre is bounded by Prins Hendrikkade to the north, Oudeschans and Zwanenburgwal to the east, the Amstel to the south and Singel to the west. Within these borders, the Old Centre is split into the New Side (west of Damrak and Rokin) and the Old Side (east of Damrak and Rokin). Within the Old Side, roughly in the triangle formed by Centraal Station, the Nieuwmarkt and the Dam, is the famed Red Light District. The area around Waterlooplein was settled by Jews two centuries ago and took its name - Jodenbuurt - from them.