9 Streets

The 9 Streets cover nine cross streets in the ring of canals sandwiched between Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht - from Raadhuisstraat to Leidsestraat.

The individual names (Reestraat, Hartenstraat, Berenstraat, Wolvenstraat, Runstraat, Huidenstraat and the rest) are hardly familiar to most Amsterdammers. What they do know is the area as a whole: a contiguous piece of city with its own character, somewhere between the Jordaan and the center.

What you'll find there

Most of the offerings revolve around independent entrepreneurs. Fashion and accessories, vintage, design, jewelry, art, specialty stores for cheese, chocolate or even toothbrushes - it's all mixed together. Chain formulas are scarce. That makes the alleys one of the few areas in the center where the range of stores still really varies by building. For a list of stores in the area, see our stores in Amsterdam section.

Food and drink

Eating or drinking in between is as natural here as shopping. Cafes, lunchrooms and restaurants are scattered throughout the nine streets. The mix of things makes it easy to spend an afternoon here without a clear plan. Also check out our overview of restaurants in Amsterdam center for more nearby options.

The properties

The buildings date largely from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and are part of the Unesco World Heritage-listed ring of canals. This is visible in the facades, the width of the streets and the corners where you always overlook the water. The combination of that historic scale with contemporary small businesses is what sets the area apart from more representative pieces of the canal belt.

Practical

The area has more than 250 stores, restaurants, hotels and small museums. Thursday is shopping night. On weekends, especially in season, it is busier than during the week. Get there by streetcar via line 13 or 17, Westermarkt stop.