Amsterdam Nieuwe Zijd

The Nieuwe Zijd (despite the name) is one of the oldest parts of the city. Both important historical architecture and museums dedicated to the past can be found within its borders. Some of the more recent and gimmicky museums, such as Madame Tussaud's and the Amsterdam Dungeon, are located here as well.

Nieuwe Kerk, Dam Sq. (☎063 869 09; www.nieuwekerk.nl), Built in 1408 when the Oude Kerk became too small for the city's growing population, the Nieuwe Kerk is a commanding Gothic building that manages to hold its own amid the architectural extravaganza that is Dam Sq. Inside, the church is all vaulted ceilings and massive windows. Don't miss the intricate organ case designed by Jacob van Campen, Koninklijk Palace's architect. Today, the church is no longer used for religious purposes but is the site of royal inaugurations (the last one being that of Queen Beatrix in 1980) and some royal weddings (Prince Willem-Alexander, the heir to the Dutch throne, was married here in 2002). Most of the year, however, the space serves as a museum. Each winter, the church holds exhibits on foreign cultures, with a specific focus on world religions, and recent topics have included Islam and Ancient Egypt. Other times during the year, the space is used for temporary exhibits by prominent Dutch museums like the St Any tram to Dam. Nieuwe Kerk is on the northeastern edge of the square. €5, students €4, with Museumjaarkaart free. Organ concerts €8.50, recitals €5. Open daily 10am-5pm. Recitals Th 12:30pm. Concerts Su 8pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Begijnhof, Begijnhof (www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl), The Beguines were medieval groups of Roman Catholic laywomen who took vows of chastity and chose to serve the Church without retreating from the world and formally joining a convent. After seeing this beautiful 14th-century courtyard (the Beguines lived in the houses surrounding it), you'll agree that they made a good call: this is a pretty sweet crib. Tour groups, bicycles, and photographs aren't allowed, so you can get some sense for the place's original tranquility. During the Alteration, the original chapel was turned into a Protestant place of worship. The women responded by using a secret Catholic church, the Begijnhofkapel, built within two of the houses. Today, the cute but unremarkable chapel is an English Presbyterian church that is open to respectful visitors. Tram #1, 2, or 5 to Spui/Niuewezijds Voorburgwal. Walk down Gedempte Begijnsloot; the gardens are on the left. Free. Open daily 9am-5pm. Wheelchair access. Has outdoor seating.
Amsterdam Historical Museum, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 357, Kalverstraat 92 (☎052 318 22; www.amh.nl), People, schmeople. This place is about Amsterdam, the city. Watch the introductory video that shows how this northern powerhouse has grown from a tiny settlement by the Amstel to a familiar horseshoe ring of canals to the recognizable urban destination of the past century. Then, proceed on the museum's “Grand Tour,” which begins in 1350 with “The Young City,” continues through the growth of trade, art, and turbulent politics of “The Golden Age,” and finishes off with the period from the Industrial Revolution to “The Modern City.” The path is a little unnecessarily winding, but the collection of paintings, artifacts, and multimedia presentations that lines the way are well-presented and informative. Don't miss the room dedicated to Golden Age art, with some stomach-churningly gruesome paintings of the anatomy lessons that were fashionable during the 17th century. Also fascinating is the corner that shows various city p Tram #1, 2, or 5 to Spui/Niuewezijds Voorburgwal. Head up Niuwezijds Voorburgwal; the museum is on the right. €10, seniors €7.50, students and ages 6-18 €5, under 6 and with Museumjaarkaart free. Audio tour €4.50 Open M-F 10am-5pm, Sa-Su 11am-5pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Dam Square, Dam Sq. Once upon a time, lively Amsterdam was just two small settlements on either side of the Amstel River. Then one day, the settlers decided to connect their encampments with a dam. Three guesses where that dam was built. Since then, Dam Square has been the heart of the city, home to markets, a church, the town hall, and a weigh house (until Napoleon's brother had it torn down because it blocked his view). The obelisk on one end is the Nationaal Monument, inside of which soil from all twelve Dutch provinces and the Dutch East Indies is stored. The monument was erected in 1956 to honor the Dutch victims of WWII. Across from the monument, next to the Nieuwe Kerk, you'll find the Koninklijk Palace, which is currently closed for restoration. Louis Napoleon took it over in 1808, deciding that the building, constructed in the 17th century as Amsterdam's town hall, would make an excellent fixer-upper. Since then, it has been an official royal palace of the Netherlands, t Tram #1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24, or 25 to Dam. Yeah, it's pretty easy to get here. Wheelchair access.
Beurs van Berlage, Damrak 277 (☎053 041 41; www.beursvanberlage.nl), The first stock and commodities exchange was established in Amsterdam during the 17th century, and at the end of the 1800s, the exchange got a spiffy new home. Hendrik Petrus Berlage won the task of designing the exchange's new digs, and after initially entering the competition with a Neoclassical design that matched the trend of the period, he scrapped it all and came up with what was to become this hulking brick building on the Damrak. To put it mildly, not everyone was thrilled at the time, but Berlage's Modernist innovation paved the way for important Dutch architectural movements like that of the Amsterdam School. (Learn more about them at the Museum het Schip) Nowadays, there's no stock market to be found here. Instead, look for music and dance performances (see Arts and Culture), conferences, and other private events. This fulfills the socialist Berlage's prediction that capitalism would eventually fail, the stock market would no longer exi From Centraal Station, walk straight down Damrak. Cafe open M-Sa 10am-6pm, Su 11am-6pm. Wheelchair access.
Allard Pierson Museum, Oude Turfmarkt 127 (☎052 525 56; www.allardpiersonmuseum.nl), Had too much of the modern city's hustle and bustle? Step back a few millennia at the archaeological museum of the University of Amsterdam, named after the school's first professor of Classical Archaeology. The artifacts here are drawn from Egypt, the Middle East, the Roman Empire, Etruria, and the Greek world. It's not an overly large collection, but there are graceful statues, a large collection of pottery, and even a mummy. Small, specialized displays like the ones on the Coptic church or the role of animals in antiquity are quirkily informative. Unfortunately, some display cards are only written in Dutch, but larger informative displays are bilingual. Tram #4, 9 €6.50; ages 4-16, seniors, and students €3.25; under 4 and with Museumjaarkaart free. Open Tu-F 10am-5pm, Sa-Su 1-5pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Amsterdam Sex Museum, Damrak 18 (☎062 283 76; www.sexmuseumamsterdam.nl), Unless you were previously unaware that people have been having sex since the species's origin, there is not much information about sex or sexuality to be had at this museum. (The brief “Sex Through the Ages” presentation is hilariously simplistic, though the elegant British accent narrating it is priceless.) Instead, there's a lot of pornographic paintings, photographs, books, and statues, mainly from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, though most historical periods are represented in some form or another. Scattered throughout are models of various sexual icons: there's Marilyn Monroe with her skirt fluttering over the subway vent, a 1980s pimp, and even a V flasher who thrills the audience like clockwork every few seconds. If you really want to see a parade of pictures of people having sex, you could just walk through the Red Light District and get it for free. At least this place charges a low rate for the high kitsch factor. From Centraal Station, walk straight down Damrak. Must be 16+ to enter. €4. Open daily 9:30am-11:30pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access.