Amsterdam Jordaan

Electric Ladyland, 2e Leliedwarsstraat 5 (☎042 037 76; www.electric-lady-land.com), The “First Museum of Fluorescent Art” and a sight unlike any other, Electric Ladyland deserves a good chunk of your sightseeing time. The endearingly eccentric and passionate owner, Nick Padalino, will happily spend hours explaining the history, science, and culture of fluorescence and fluorescent art to each and every visitor who walks through the door. He's collected a spectacular assortment of rocks and minerals, many exceedingly rare, that hail from New Jersey to the Himalayas and glow all kinds of colors under the different light Padalino expertly shines upon them. A case full of ordinary objects that fluoresce under blacklights includes a credit card with a hidden face of Einstein. Other artifacts tell the history of fluorescence and its popularity in the early part of the century: paintings made from fluorescent paint or ground mineral pigments, some dating to as early as the 1940s, hang on the walls. Most intriguing, though, is the fluorescent cave-like sculpture that Padalino Tram #13, 14, or 17 to Westermarkt. Cross Prinsengracht and walk 1 block down Rozengracht, then make a right and walk a few blocks—the museum is just before you reach Egelantiersgracht. €5. Open Tu-Sa 1-6pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam, Rozenstraat 59 (☎042 204 71; www.smba.nl), As the Stedelijk Museum's project space, the Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam (SMBA) seeks to promote cutting-edge contemporary art, primarily from the Netherlands. The bright white room hosts around six exhibitions a year, with everything from sculpture to painting to performance art represented. Lectures and discussions are also organized by the gallery. Check the website to see what's currently running. Given the free admission, there's no reason not to drop by. Tram #13, 14, or 17 to Westermarkt. Cross Prinsengracht, make a left, and walk 1 block. Free. Open Tu-Su 11am-5pm. Wheelchair access.
Hofjes, Located in the northern third of the Jordaan One theory regarding the origin of the Jordaan's name speculates that the moniker is derived from the French word jardin (garden), as a number of French Huguenots immigrated here in the 17th century. Such a hypothesis may provoke skepticism, however, since Jordaan is one of Amsterdam's few areas that doesn't have a park—it all starts to make sense, though, once you've stepped behind some of the neighborhood's closed doors. Here, you will find a number of hofjes, courtyards surrounded by almshouses that were originally designed to provide housing for poor older women. Nowadays, the buildings have been turned into private houses, but many of the gardens are still open to the public. In the northern part of the Jordaan, at Palmgracht 28-38, you can find the Raepenhofje, named after the founder (Pieter Raepe) who had it built in 1648 for orphans and widows to enjoy. A few blocks down is the Karthuizerhof, at Karthuizersstraat 21-1 To start off at the Raepenhofje, take tram #3 to Nieuwe Willemstraat, cross Lijnbaansgracht, make a left, and then a right onto Palmgracht. Free. Wheelchair access.
Houseboat Museum, Prinsengracht, facing #296 (☎042 707 50; www.houseboatmuseum.nl), You can't avoid seeing X houseboats floating in the canals as you wander through Amsterdam, and this museum is designed to answer the inevitable questions that arise when landlubbers contemplate living on the water. The museum is a houseboat, and it appears deceptively large—it's actually the same size as the average Amsterdam apartment. It's cozily set up to look like a real home, too, but it's more than just a model: the informative guide available in dozens of languages, slideshows, and photos tell you all about the history, construction, and maintenance of the boats. If you're inspired to get on the water yourself, you can always rent a houseboat from Frederic Rent-a-Bike. Tram #13, 14, or 17 to Westermarkt; cross Prinsengracht, make a left, and walk to the intersection with Elandsgracht. €3.50, with Museumjaarkaart €2.75. Open Mar-Oct Tu-Su 11am-5pm; Nov-Jan 3 F-Su 11am-5pm; Jan 30-Feb F-Su 11am-5pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Pianola Museum, Westerstraat 106 (☎062 796 24; www.pianola.nl), Vying with Electric Ladyland (see above) for the title of Weirdest Museum in the Jordaan, Pianola began as a private collection and now fills a space on busy Westerstraat with a glimpse into early 20th-century music and culture. What's a pianola, you ask? Commonly referred to as a player piano, it's an upright piano whose internal mechanism has been partially replaced with machinery that lets it play automatically. Different songs are recorded on paper rolls and inserted into the instrument. The museum holds over 25,000 such rolls, most of which can be played on the instruments that fill the place. A 1920s feel pervades the exhibition, as this was the time when these instruments were at their peak popularity (though we expect a resurgence any day now). Regular concerts are held here: check the website or posters outside for details. Tram #3 or 10 to Marnixplein. Cross Lijnbaansgracht and walk up Westerstraat. €5. Open Su 2-5pm. Group visits by appointment. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access.