Around the Westerkerk: what to see within a 10-minute walk

The Westerkerk and its tall tower stand over the Westermarkt, a corner of the canal district that holds several of Amsterdam's most sought-after visits. Within ten minutes' walk of the church you pass from the Anne Frank House to a memorial, a cat shelter, a houseboat museum and streets of shops. This guide suggests what to see, in what order, and how to combine it without tiring yourself out. Opening hours quoted are those checked in October 2026.

The central point: the Westerkerk

The Westerkerk and its tower

The Westerkerk, a 17th-century Protestant church, is one of the district's landmarks. Entry is free, Monday to Friday from 11 am to 3 pm. Rembrandt was buried there in 1669. The tower is not currently open to visitors. The carillon marks the hours in the neighbourhood, and Anne Frank mentions it in her diary.

Within 5 minutes' walk

Place	Distance	What you do
Anne Frank House	1 min	Visit with online ticket
Homomonument	1 min	Outdoor memorial, free
Woonbootmuseum	3 min	Visit a houseboat
Nine Streets	5 min	Shops and cafés

Distances are walking estimates from the Westerkerk.

Anne Frank House: the annexe where the Frank family hid. Tickets are sold only online, on the official website, for a specific time slot.
Homomonument: three pink granite triangles at the edge of the Keizersgracht, in memory of people persecuted because of their homosexuality. Access is free at any hour.
Woonbootmuseum: the houseboat Hendrika Maria, built in 1914, at Prinsengracht 296 K, shows life on board.
Nine Streets: nine small cross streets between the Prinsengracht and the Singel, full of independent shops and cafés.

5 to 10 minutes' walk away

The Homomonument at the edge of the Keizersgracht

Poezenboot: the floating cat shelter at Singel 38 G, open to visitors on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 1 pm to 3 pm.
Jordaan: west of the Prinsengracht, a district of small canals, hidden courtyards and brown cafés. Markets on Monday and Saturday.
Dam Square: 10 minutes' walk east, with the Royal Palace and the National Monument.
Canal ring: the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht and Herengracht, to explore on foot or by boat.

A 10-minute walking route, step by step

Start at the Westermarkt and look at the Westerkerk from the square.
Stop at the Homomonument, at the edge of the Keizersgracht.
Walk up the Prinsengracht to the Woonbootmuseum, if you want to see a houseboat from inside.
Enter the Nine Streets by the Reestraat or the Hartenstraat and wander between the shops.
Finish at the Poezenboot on the Singel, if the opening hours suit, or at the Dam.

Allow 2 to 3 hours with breaks, not counting the Anne Frank House visit, which takes about an hour and a half.

Where to eat in the area

The Westermarkt terraces are convenient but often pricey. To eat better, walk a few minutes to the Nine Streets or the Jordaan. Our guide where to eat near the Anne Frank House details the streets and the traps.

Getting there

The Westermarkt is about 20 minutes' walk from Amsterdam Centraal station. While the Rozengracht roadworks last, no tram serves the Westermarkt stop: get off at the Dam tram stop, a 10-minute walk away. The nearest metro station is Rokin (line 52). Our guide to transport in Amsterdam covers tickets.