In contrast to Amsterdam’s Oude Zijde, the Nieuwe Zijde made up the other half of what most people know as Central Amsterdam. Surrounding the Centraal Stations Stationplein and heading south along the Singel canal on it’s most western border, and Oudezijds Voorburgwal on it’s eastern border. The Nieuwe Zijde was also at the heart of Amsterdam’s maritime settlers.
The Nieuwe Zijde is home to many popular and busy shopping areas as well as attractions for visitors to the city to see and do. The Nieuwendijk which is now a popular pedestrian shopping precinct, once formed part of Amsterdam’s early sea defences, nowadays it houses a popular shopping area visited by locals and tourists alike looking for bargains.
As the Nieuwe Zijde was made up of alot of wooden houses, the area suffered considerable damage from fires that ran rampant through this area. Mostly due to the expansion of the area which left the west side of the Nieuwe Zijde neglected. Although the fires may have caused many of the buildings to be pulled down and not rebuilt due to safety standards, one wooden house still survives after all this time and can be seen at the Begijnhof.
The rebuiling and redevelopment of the Nieuwe Zijde saw the Singel canal cut bringing with it rich merchant houses,warehouses and quays.
Modern Day:
In modern day Amsterdam, the Nieuwe Zijde is still a busy and popular place to visit and work. Thousands of people everyday walk the streets of the Nieuwe Zijde, despite the wet conditions or dry air of the summer, there really is something for everyone in this part of the city.
The history of the Nieuwe Zijde is easily recoginised by the types of sights to be seen in the area. It’s confined boundaries still pack an amazing 15 sights and plenty of other worthwhile things to see, this is after all part of central Amsterdam that many people visit for various reasons.
The Centraal Station at the north of it’s bounderies is worth spending at least 15 – 30 mins just viewing it’s spectacular design. Heading south down the Damrak, the Beurs Van Berlage can be seen, the original stock exchange for Amsterdam.
At the south most part of it’s boundaries is the Begijnhof, a secret hidden garden once lived in by a sisterhood who helped the needy and sick in exchange for living at the Begijnhof.
Sights to see in the Nieuwe Zijde :
Beurs Van Berlage – Damrak 2
Centraal Station – Stationsplein
Koninlijk Paleis – Dam Square
Magna Plaza – Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182
Nationaal Monument – Dam Square
Torensluis – Singel, Between Torensteeg and Oude Leliestraat
Begijnhof – Spui
NES – Nes Street on Dam Square
Nieuwe Kerk – Dam Square
Lutherse Kerk – Kattengat 2
St Nicolaaskerk – Prins Hendrikkade 73
Madame Tussauds – Dam Square 20 (Peek Cloppenburg building)
Amsterdam Historisch Museum – Entrances at Kalverstraat 92, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 357, St Luciensteeg 27
Allard Pierson Museum – Oude Turfmarkt 127
Museum Amstelkring – Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40
Some of the Restaurants and Places to eat in Nieuwe Zijde:
“1e Klas” Grand Cafe Restaurant – Stationsplein 15
Al’s Plaice Fish & Chips – Nieuwendijk 10
Pizzeria Orvieto – Nieuwendijk 9
Grill Steakhouse “Me & Me” – Nieuwendijk 21
Italiaans Restaurant La Madonna – Nieuwendijk 33
Madre Maria Restaurante Argentino – Nieuwendijk 40
De Silveren Spiegel – Kattengat 4- 6
Motimahal Indian Restaurant – Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 34
Top Thai Spui – Spuistraat 90 – A
‘T Nieuwe Cafe – Eggertstraat 8
La Boca Restaurant – Paleisstraat 15
Eetcafe Sushi – Taksteeg 3
