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Plantage is a leafy neighborhood in the centre of Amsterdam. This article also covers the Eastern Islands.

Understand

De Gooyer

Get in

By tram

As walking to Plantage can take more than 20 minutes, most visitors would take the tram to get there. From Centraal Station, trams 9 and 14 cross right through the district. The stops Plantage Kerklaan, Plantage Badlaan and Alexanderplein are the most central ones.

By metro

The metro is the fastest way to get into the district, but the locations of its stops are somewhat less convenient than the tram stops. Two stations serve the Plantage. Waterlooplein is the closest to the main sights, including the Artis Zoo, the various museums and the Hollandsche Schouwburg. Exiting the station at Hortusplantsoen, it's only a short walk to the area. Weesperplein is close to the University of Amsterdam and the Carré Theatre. All metro lines from Centraal Station (lines 51, 53 and 54) stop at both stations.

See

The Plantage Amsterdam is a green area, mostly known for Artis Zoo and the Hortus, the botanical garden. In fact, most of Amsterdam's museums are gathered in this area. Just beyond the Waterlooplein, you will find -amongst may other museums- the historical buildings of The Jewish Cultural Quarter, the renowned Hermitage Museum and the impressive Scheepvaartmuseum.

  • Artis Zoo, Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, +31 20 523 34 00. An entry ticket for Artis also provides admission to the Planetarium, the Aquarium and the Zoological Museum. Artis is also a botanical garden, with plants and trees gathered from all over the world, just like the animal species. Don't miss the Artis ZOOmeravonden [1]. Tickets: youth (3 to 9 years) €15,50, normal (10 to 64 years) €18,95, seniors (65 +) €17,50.
  • De Gooyer. the site of the popular microbrewery Brouwerij t' IJ. It's the only windmill (1814, restored) in the centre of Amsterdam, and the closest one that's open to visitors. De Gooyer at Funenkade, Bus 22, Tram 7, open Wednesday to Sunday from 3PM to 7PM. Easy to combine with a visitor to the popular microbrewery Brouwerij 't IJ.
  • Hermitage Amsterdam, Nieuwe Herengracht 14 (Metro Waterlooplein), +31 20 5308751. Hermitage Amsterdam is a branch of the Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg on the Amstel River in Amsterdam. This museum hosts exhibitions with paintings and other cultural artifacts from the vaults of its Russian parent.
  • Hortus Botanicus, Plantage Middenlaan 2 (Tram Mr. Visserplein), +31 20 625 90 21. The 'Hortus' as it is called by locals, was formerly the Botanic Garden of the University of Amsterdam. NOw it is an independent organisations, open daily to public from 10AM to 5PM. The garden regurlary holds extra exhibitions and music performances. Admission €8,50 Adults/ €4,50 seniors and children (prices 2014).
  • 1 Scheepvaartmuseum, Kattenburgerplein 1, +31 20 523-2222. 09:00-17:00 daily. Het Scheepvaartmuseum reopened in late 2011 following major renovations. Stimulating, interactive exhibitions allow visitors to explore 500 years of maritime history. The building, called the Arsenal, is impressive. The Central Square, the indoor courtyard can be visited for free and takes your breath away. Also the museum shop, the restaurant and the library are open to the public free of charge. €15 (adults), €7.50 (children, students and seniors) (prices 2014).
  • Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum), Plantage Kerklaan 61D, +31 20 620 25 35. Award-winning museum showing what Amsterdam and Holland were like during Nazi occupation.
  • Wertheimpark (opposite the Hortus Botanicus). A small park with a World War II memorial located at one of the nicest canals in Amsterdam.

Do

  • Carré Theatre.
Carré seen from the Amstel

Buy

Eat

  • De Bamboeseur, Plantage Parklaan 10, +31 20 625 47 21. Daily 11AM-1AM. Fabulous little bar in the traditional "brown cafe" style in a fairly residential district near Artis Zoo. All the food is homemade daily; you really can't go wrong with any part of the menu. No reservations necessary, but seating is limited to a small bar and 8 tables of varying sizes upstairs. Great place to spend an evening. Open for lunch and dinner.
  • Koffiehuis van den Volksbond, Kadijksplein 4. Former coffeehouse for harbour labourers. Now a small atmospheric restaurant in the east of the city centre. Mainly visited by locals. Different menu every evening, ranging from €10 to €15 for a main course. Not possible to make reservations and you may have to share a table with other guests.
  • Cafe Kadijk, Kadijksplein 5. Cafe Kadijk is a small Indonesian restaurant that offers good food at a decent price. The restaurant has a coffee shop vibe and is located in a "trendy" area. Just outside Amsterdam's city center, it is a bit of a walk away from the more touristy areas of the city. Patio dining and indoor dining are both available. €€.

Drink

  • Brouwerij 't IJ, Funenkade 7, +31 20 622 83 25. W-Su 15:00-20:00. Its label with an ostrich egg is a visual pun, as IJ and 'ei' - the word for egg - sound the same in Dutch. East of the centre, close to Artis Zoo, in a former bath house beside a windmill. A small scale brewery where delicious beer in several varieties and strengths is brewed and sold - at a bar - on the premises. The beer is available at some specialist beer shops, and of high quality and, in some cases, alcohol content. Internationally renowned!

Sleep

The famous Amstel Hotel
  • Eden Lancaster Hotel, Plantage Middenlaan 48 (Opposite Artis Zoo), +31 20 535 6888. Recently renovated, quaint 3-star hotel with 91 rooms and bags of character. Friendly and helpful English-speaking staff, quiet area and very good value for money. €69.
  • InterContinental Amstel Hotel, Professor Tulpplein 1, +31 20 622 60 60. Historic 5-star hotel located on banks of Amstel River, near financial, shopping and theater districts. Voted the Netherlands' best in 2008 by Condé Nast Traveller. 19th-century palace, 79 guestrooms and suites, indoor swimming pool, spa facilities including a Turkish bath. €495.

Connect

Go next

Routes through Plantage
BinnenstadRembrandtpleinWaterlooplein  N  S  OostDiemen
Binnenstad  N  S  OostAmstelveen
Binnenstad  N  S  OostZuidoost
Binnenstad  N  S  OostZuidoost


This district travel guide to Plantage is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.