Neighborhood Nieuwmarkt / Lastage
Floor on Nieuwmarkt / Lastage
If you ask someone about Nieuwmarkt, they often say: busy and touristy. That’s partly true, but if you take the time, you quickly discover that this neighborhood has so much more to offer. Let me tell you about it!
Favorite spots
The area breathes history; you can spend hours admiring the beautiful old buildings, each telling its own story. A great example is the national monument Oost-Indisch Huis (1606), built in Dutch Renaissance style. It was once the VOC headquarters and is now part of the University of Amsterdam. What I love about this neighborhood is the mix of people. You’ll see students, tourists, but also real Amsterdammers. I also enjoy walking through the area. My favorite canals are the Raamgracht and the Groenburgwal. From the well-known Staalmeester Bridge, you get a beautiful view of the Zuiderkerk—a perfect spot for a tourist photo. And who could blame them with a view like that!
Another favorite spot
In the winter months, I like to go to Café Bern on Nieuwmarkt. They serve the best cheese fondue (with entrecôte) in the city! Another favorite spot is Café Café, recently opened on the Amstel. It has a lovely sunny terrace and great interior. Around the corner is Waterlooplein, also home to the lively Waterlooplein Market—the oldest flea market in the Netherlands.
Fun fact: by the end of 2025, a new market hall will be added to the neighborhood in part of the City Hall. It will house shops, dining, and a fresh market—a great addition!
A great addition
Besides personally enjoying the area, we are also active here as real estate agents. My most recent transaction as a buyer’s agent was an apartment in a national monument on Kloverniersburgwal—a unique place with a fantastic view over the Amstel.
