De Pijp in Amsterdam: the neighbourhood guide

De Pijp at a glance: a working-class district turned bohemian

De Pijp lies between the Singelgracht to the north, the Amstel to the east, the Boerenwetering canal to the west and the Amstelkanaal to the south. It is part of the Amsterdam-Zuid borough and has around 35,600 residents. The Ceintuurbaan cuts it in two: the Oude Pijp to the north, the busier half, and the Nieuwe Pijp to the south, which is more residential.

The neighbourhood grew out of the extension plan drawn up by engineer Jan Kalff and adopted in 1877. This plan, more modest than an earlier scheme with wide avenues, followed the line of the old polder ditches. Private developers quickly put up cheap, hastily built four-storey blocks to house the workers who came to Amsterdam for jobs. The long, narrow streets are said to have given the area its name, "the pipe".

Look at the street signs as you walk: most streets are named after Golden Age painters, such as Albert Cuyp, Ferdinand Bol, Jan Steen, Gerard Dou and Frans Hals. From the 1960s, low rents drew students, artists and newcomers from Suriname, Morocco and Turkey. That diversity shows today in the shops and restaurants. Since 2022, the neighbourhood has had protected townscape status.

What to see in De Pijp

Albert Cuyp Market

Albert Cuyp Market has filled the Albert Cuypstraat since 1905. With around 260 stalls, it bills itself as the largest daily market in Europe. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm and closed on Sundays and public holidays. You will find fruit and vegetables, fish, cheese, flowers, fabrics, clothes and plenty of street food stalls. It is the natural starting point for a visit to the area.

Sarphatipark

Two streets from the market, Sarphatipark is the green heart of De Pijp. This 4.5-hectare English-style park was laid out in 1885 and is named after Samuel Sarphati (1813-1866), a physician and town planner who conceived several projects for the city. An 1886 monument, with his bust and a fountain, stands in the middle. Around a pond lined with willows, locals come to picnic, read or exercise. Entry is free.

Heineken Experience

The Heineken Experience occupies the former Heineken brewery at Stadhouderskade 78, on the northern edge of the neighbourhood. Brewing stopped there in 1988. The tour covers the history of the brand and the brewing process, with a tasting. Online tickets start at €24.95 for the self-guided tour, and €29.95 with rooftop access. Book a time slot in advance, especially at weekends.

The Magere Brug and the Amstel embankments

From the east of the neighbourhood, simply head to the Amstel and follow the river north to reach the Magere Brug, the famous white drawbridge. Allow about 15 to 20 minutes on foot from Sarphatipark. In the evening the bridge is lit up and the walk along the Amstel is especially pleasant.

Where to eat and drink in De Pijp

De Pijp is one of the Amsterdam neighbourhoods with the most varied food, often at reasonable prices. The places below are long established; check their opening hours before you go.

At the market: stroopwafels and herring

At the market, try a stroopwafel fresh from the iron: the Rudi's Original Stroopwafels stand, opposite number 182, has been making them since 1978. For herring, order it at one of the fish stalls, served with onions and pickles or in a bun (broodje haring). Cheese, chips and poffertjes stalls complete the choice.

Gerard Douplein and its terraces

Gerard Douplein is a small pedestrian square in the heart of the Oude Pijp, recognisable by its three sculpted columns by Henk Duijn. Cafés and restaurants set out their terraces as soon as the weather turns fine. It is the ideal spot for a late-afternoon break after the market.

A few local addresses

• Bakers & Roasters (Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat 54): New Zealand and Brazilian-inspired brunch, no reservations, with an on-site waiting list.
• Warung Spang Makandra (Gerard Doustraat 39): a small Javanese-Surinamese canteen, for a roti or a saoto soup.
• Brouwerij Troost De Pijp (Cornelis Troostplein 21): a craft brewery in the Nieuwe Pijp, with house beers and bar food.

To estimate what meals will cost during your stay, see our guide to the budget for a trip to Amsterdam.

Where to wander: a walk through De Pijp

Allow two to three hours, including breaks, for this loop of about 3 kilometres.

1. Leave the metro at De Pijp station, on the Ferdinand Bolstraat, and enter Albert Cuyp Market from its western end.
2. Walk the market to the Van Woustraat, then come back along the Eerste van der Helststraat and its shops.
3. Take a break on Gerard Douplein.
4. Head to Sarphatipark along the Eerste Jan Steenstraat and walk around the pond.
5. Cross the Ceintuurbaan for a look at the quieter Nieuwe Pijp, then make your way east to the Amstel.
6. Follow the Amstel embankments north to the Magere Brug.

If you prefer canals and 17th-century merchants' houses, compare with our guide to the Jordaan district.

Practical information

Getting to De Pijp

Since 22 July 2018, metro line 52 (Noord/Zuidlijn) has served De Pijp station, under the Ferdinand Bolstraat, a few steps from the market. From Central Station it is the third stop after Rokin and Vijzelgracht, a journey of about ten minutes. Tram 4, which runs between Central Station and RAI station, follows the Van Woustraat on the eastern side of the neighbourhood; tram 12 runs along the Ceintuurbaan. From the centre, allow around thirty minutes on foot or about ten minutes by bike. Full details on tickets are in our guide to getting around Amsterdam.

Summary of places to see

Prices checked in October 2026 on the official websites.

When to go

Come on a weekday morning to enjoy the market without the Saturday crowds. On Sundays the market is closed, but the cafés and the park stay lively. In summer, the terraces on Gerard Douplein and the Ceintuurbaan stay full until late in the evening.

Staying in De Pijp

The neighbourhood is a good base for a stay: quiet at night, well served by metro 52 and close to the Museum Quarter. To compare it with other areas, read our guide on where to stay in Amsterdam.

Further reading

De Pijp is easy to cover in half a day as part of a weekend in Amsterdam in 2 days. For a street food hall set in a former tram depot, head out to De Hallen, in the west of the city. The Museum Quarter, with the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, is a quarter of an hour's walk from Sarphatipark.