Amsterdam's Western Islands (Westelijke Eilanden): Prinseneiland, Realeneiland and Bickerseiland

Updated on October 2, 2026

The Western Islands (Westelijke Eilanden) are three man-made islands north of the Jordaan and the Haarlemmerdijk: Prinseneiland, Realeneiland and Bickerseiland. They were laid out between 1611 and 1615, during the city's third expansion, to house shipyards, warehouses, tar works and herring-salting sheds. The large ships of the late 19th century made this harbour obsolete; after the Second World War, artists turned the warehouses into homes and studios. The area is free and open to explore on foot, in about an hour. It is a quiet residential neighbourhood, away from the crowds of the centre: walk around it with discretion.

Highlights

Drieharingenbrug

This white double wooden drawbridge crosses the Realengracht between Realeneiland and Prinseneiland; it is open only to pedestrians and cyclists. Its name, "Three Herrings Bridge", comes from a gable stone with three crowned herrings at number 1 Vierwindendwarsstraat. From the bridge, the view takes in the houseboats moored along the quays.

Zandhoek

On Realeneiland, this quay facing the Westerdok takes its name from the boats that unloaded sand here. Reinier Reael had a row of fourteen houses built here in 1645 and 1646, numbered 1 to 14, with step, neck and bell gables. At number 14, the "In den Gouden Reael" gable stone shows a coin bearing the image of Emperor Charles V; the house was restored in 1978 by the Stadsherstel heritage association.

The Prinseneiland warehouses

In the 17th century, the islands' warehouses stored herring, grain, tobacco, wine, salt and pitch. From 1643, tar works settled along the Prinseneilandsgracht. Many of the brick warehouses, with their loading doors and hoists under the gable, are now homes and studios.

Sloterdijkerbrug and Galgenstraat

The Sloterdijkerbrug, another double wooden drawbridge, links Sloterdijkstraat to Prinseneiland across the Prinseneilandsgracht. Built in 1881 and rebuilt to the same design in 1952, it has been a municipal monument since 1995. It leads onto Galgenstraat, "Gallows Street": from here you could see the Volewijck gallows on the other side of the IJ.

A possible walk

Enter by the Sloterdijkerbrug, cross Prinseneiland along Galgenstraat, follow the Bickersgracht, then cross to Realeneiland over the Drieharingenbrug and finish at the Zandhoek, by the Westerdok. Then carry on to the Westerpark, covered in our guide to the Westerpark neighbourhood.

Infos pratiques

Tips

People live on the islands: keep your voice down, do not photograph the inside of houses and houseboats, and do not sit on doorsteps or boats. The quays are narrow and shared with bikes. Combine the walk with the Jordaan, just to the south, or with a stroll along Amsterdam's canals.

How to get there

Prinseneiland, Realeneiland and Bickerseiland, 1013 Amsterdam, between the Westerdok, the railway line and the Haarlemmerdijk. From Amsterdam Centraal station, allow 15 to 20 minutes on foot along the Westerdok; bus 48 (Centraal Station - Houthavens) stops at Westerdoksdijk and Barentszplein, a few minutes' walk from the islands. From the Haarlemmerdijk and the Jordaan, go under the railway via Planciusstraat, at Haarlemmerplein, then take Sloterdijkstraat to the Sloterdijkerbrug.