Jordaan and the Nine Streets at a glance
The Jordaan is a historic neighbourhood of workers and craftspeople. It lies outside the formal core area of the canal ring, but inside the UNESCO buffer zone, so it is part of the setting of the heritage site without being the canal ring itself. The Prinsengracht and the Brouwersgracht are the canals most often tied to it.
The Nine Streets are something else: small shopping streets in the canal district, with shops and canal house museums. The two names are not interchangeable. Keep that in mind when you read a map or book a walking tour. If you want to taste your way through the streets, see the Amsterdam food walks.
Jordaan or Nine Streets: which one do you want?
Two walks, two moods.
| Jordaan | Nine Streets | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Former district of workers and craftspeople | Small streets in the canal district |
| What you find | Canals, bridges, residential streets and courtyards | Shops and canal house museums |
| UNESCO listing | Buffer zone | Part of the canal district |
| Good for | A quiet walk along canals | Browsing and short stops |
For most visitors with one free afternoon, start in the Jordaan for the canals and the calmer streets, then cross to the Nine Streets for shops and museums. You can plan both areas into one day, but check the map first.
Our pick: a Jordaan food walk
This walk stays in the Jordaan and combines the district with enough tastings for a meal.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Jordaan walks and canal cruises
Walking tours of the Jordaan and boat trips on nearby canals, with live prices and availability.
Canals to look for in the Jordaan
Water is what ties the neighbourhood together.
Prinsengracht
One of the three main canals of the ring, with warehouse gables and the Westerkerk. Read the Prinsengracht page for what is open and what is closed.
Brouwersgracht
Another canal that visitors link to the Jordaan. It is a good place for a short walk along the water.
Houseboats
Houseboats are part of the canal scene in Amsterdam. If you want to step inside one, see houseboats.
Courtyards are homes, not attractions
A short guide to being a good visitor.
Hofjes are courtyards with houses around them, and people still live there. A hofje that appears in a walking tour or on a list is not a free attraction with fixed opening hours, and a mention does not mean you may walk in. If a gate is open, keep your voice down, stay on the path and do not photograph windows or people. If it is closed, leave it.
The same goes for the quiet residential streets of the Jordaan. Local people use them every day, so do not block doorways and keep group talk short and low.
Nine Streets in Amsterdam: shops, canals and small museums
How the Nine Streets fit into a visit.
The Nine Streets link canals with shops, monuments and canal house museums. Opening hours and offers change from one shop to the next, so check each place before you go. The streets sit in the canal district, so they combine well with a walk along the Herengracht and Keizersgracht and a stop at a bridge.
Do not expect fixed shop opening hours across the whole area. Plan a coffee break between visits, and use the canals as your guide when you lose your way. If you prefer a guide, look at the Amsterdam walking tours.
Keep exploring
More of the canal ring.
Jordaan and the Nine Streets: frequently asked questions
Is the Jordaan part of the canal ring?
Not in the formal sense. It lies outside the core area of the World Heritage Site but inside the buffer zone.
Are the Jordaan and the Nine Streets the same area?
No. The Jordaan is a former district of workers and craftspeople. The Nine Streets are small shopping streets in the canal district. The names are not interchangeable.
Can I walk into the courtyards?
Do not assume so. Courtyards are homes. If a gate is closed, respect it, and if it is open, be quiet and brief.
Which canals belong to the Jordaan?
The Prinsengracht and the Brouwersgracht are the canals most often named with the Jordaan.
Do the shops in the Nine Streets have fixed opening hours?
Hours differ from shop to shop, so check the place you want to visit before you go.