Medieval Amsterdam
In the oldest part of Amsterdam you can still browse through medieval streets. The city of Amsterdam was built around the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam's oldest building dating from 1300. In this part of Amsterdam every stone tells a story!
It's home to the main downtown shopping areas and attractions such as the Royal Palace, Old Church, Amsterdam Museum, Madame Tussauds, and many canal-boat piers. This makes the Old Centre, right in the heart of the city, an attractive place to stay. On the other hand it can be very busy, filled with traffic, noise, and entertainment venues. If you seek tranquility, the Old Centre is not the place to find it.
The neighborhoods of De Wallen (Red Light District), Dam, Spui and Nieuwmarkt are all located in the historical centre of Amsterdam. On the Nieuwendijk (new dike) - nowadays a busy, modern shopping street - along the west bank of the former part of River Amstel the oldest known (wooden) houses of Amsterdam rose around 1225.
