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Jordaan

#7of 9 places to visit in AmsterdamAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Also known as De Jordaan · Jordaan District

Quick answer

Opening hours: Open at all hours. Entry is free. Allow 2.5 hrs.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

Get directionsOfficial site

Photo: Jvhertum / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Opening hours: Open 24h; Public streets, open at any hour. The Noordermarkt and Westerstraat markets run on set weekdays, so check those before a market visit.
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 2.5 hrs
Best months: Apr – Jun, Sep
Address: Jordaan, 1015-1016 Amsterdam, Netherlands

About Jordaan

The Jordaan is free to explore and dates from 1612, when Amsterdam began building this working-class district as Het Nieuwe Werck on top of old ditches and paths. Narrow canals, low brick houses and tiny courtyards mark the district, which lies west of the Prinsengracht. Jordaan's name is most often traced to the French jardin, garden, which fits the tree-and-flower canal names, though another theory ties it to the river Jordan; the etymology is disputed.

Jordaan timings

Jordaan is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday.

Opening hours: Open 24h; Mon–Sun 00:00–23:59; Public streets, open at any hour. The Noordermarkt and Westerstraat markets run on set weekdays, so check those before a market visit.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	00:00–23:59

Good to know: Summer evenings draw the largest crowds to the bars around Westerstraat and Lindengracht.

Opening hours compiled from iamsterdam.com and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Jordaan ticket price

Entry fees for Jordaan
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	Free
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

Walking the Jordaan is free as of 2026. Some hofjes (almshouse courtyards) admit visitors only during daylight hours; the Westerkerk tower climb and museums charge separately, so verify at each site.

Prices compiled from iamsterdam.com and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Jordaan

Quiet
Moderate
Busy

08:00 - 10:30
Early MorningBest time to go
Residents and delivery vans only; the best light on the canals and empty hofjes courtyards.
Quiet
10:30 - 14:00
Market Hours
Saturday Noordermarkt and Monday Westerstraat markets bring crowds; the Anne Frank queue spills onto Westermarkt.
Busy
14:00 - 18:00
Afternoon
Foot traffic thins away from the Prinsengracht, and cafes on the side streets have seats.
Moderate
18:00 - 23:00
Evening
Dinner crowds fill the small restaurants and bars around Westerstraat and Lindengracht on summer nights.
Busy

History of Jordaan

The Jordaan was planned in the early 17th century for the craftsmen, immigrants and labourers who could not afford the canal ring, and its streets follow the lines of earlier ditches, which explains their odd angles compared with the strict Herengracht grid. The city filled in six canals in the 19th century, including the Rozengracht.

The district's history includes repeated unrest, with riots recorded in 1835, 1886, 1917 and 1934, and the February strike of 1941 against the German occupation began with meetings at the Noordermarkt. The Westerkerk, where Rembrandt was buried in 1669 in a grave whose exact location is unknown, stands at the district's edge. Hofjes, courtyard almshouses built for elderly women, survive behind plain doors, and many are now homes for artists and students. The Jordaan has shifted from working-class to expensive over the last decades, with galleries and restaurants replacing workshops.

Rules & etiquette at Jordaan

The Jordaan is a residential district, and visitors are guests in front of people's windows and doors. The hofjes, such as the Sint Andrieshofje, are private courtyards that residents allow visitors to enter only in daylight hours, if at all, so treat signs as binding, keep voices low and do not photograph residents.

Jordaan streets are very narrow, with bicycles and delivery vans sharing them, and cyclists do not brake for tourists who stop in the road, so use the pavements. Market vendors at the Noordermarkt and Westerstraat expect visitors to handle produce gently and to pay by card or cash without haggling over food. Bars on Lindengracht and Westerstraat are often small, and evening noise is a local complaint, so leave quietly.

Tips for visiting Jordaan

1
Jordaan visitors get the most from a slow loop that begins at the Westerkerk, follows Egelantiersgracht to the hofjes, and reaches Noordermarkt. The Saturday organic farmers' market and the Monday morning flea and textile market on Westerstraat are the two set events, though hours can change, so verify locally.
2
Jordaan cafes on Prinsengracht near Westermarkt are pricey and busy after the Anne Frank House, while side streets such as Tweede Tuindwarsstraat have small independent shops and lower prices. Brown cafes, the traditional Dutch pubs, serve coffee and apple pie at fair prices; tipping is not expected, and rounding up is enough. The district works well as a half-day between the museums and dinner.

How to reach Jordaan

The red star is Jordaan; the numbered pins are the 8 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

Jordaan, 1015-1016 Amsterdam, NetherlandsDirections in Google Maps

From Amsterdam Centraal
1.5 km · 10-15 min
About EUR 3.40 single GVB fare or contactless tap (verify at gvb.nl)
From Dam Square
1 km · 12-15 min
Free on foot
From Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
18 km · 40-50 min
About EUR 5.40 train plus about EUR 3.40 tram (2026 secondary sources; verify)

Nearest airport

From Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)

about 18 km; train to Amsterdam Centraal then tram or a 20-minute walk.

Nearest station

From Amsterdam Centraal

about 1.5 km; tram 13 or 17 to Westermarkt or Marnixstraat puts visitors in the heart of the district.

Jordaan FAQs

Is the Jordaan free to visit?

Yes. The Jordaan is a public residential district and is free to walk at any hour as of 2026. Only museums, tower climbs and market purchases carry a cost.

How did the Jordaan get its name?

The name most likely comes from the French jardin, meaning garden, because many streets and canals are named after trees and flowers. Another theory links it to the Jordan river, so the origin is disputed.

Where are the markets in the Jordaan?

The main markets are the Noordermarkt, the Westerstraat market and the Lindengracht market. Hours change by season, so verify locally, with the organic market on Saturday and a flea market on Monday.

Can you enter the hofjes in the Jordaan?

Sometimes. Many hofjes are private courtyards and admit visitors only in daylight hours, so follow the signs at each gate and respect residents.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places