Jordaanmuseum - Discover One of Amsterdam"s Most Colorful Districts
The crescent-shaped Jordaan district is one of the most beloved parts of Amsterdam - and one of only two to have its own museum dedicated to it. (The other is Amsterdam North.) The chic character of the contemporary Jordaan belies its roots as one of the most poverty-stricken quarters in Amsterdam. Before the boutiques, cafes, and cultural venues, the narrow tenement houses of the 19th-century Jordaan overflowed with workers and their families.
Overpopulation and overall squalor furnished the perfect conditions for epidemics. By the mid-19th century, it was clear that the Jordaan needed an overhaul, and the city took various measures to ensure a proper clean-up.
While the Jordaan of the early 20th century enjoyed a markedly better quality of life than in the previous century, it still had its share of problems. The widespread poverty hadn't completely vanished; unemployment was rampant. Houses were in ill repair and in dire need of renovation. From the 1960s on, much of the Jordaan's typical architecture underwent careful restoration. Families moved en masse to other parts of the city and suburbs, and the population density dwindled; students, artists and entrepreneurs took their places, to form the character of the Jordaan as it is today.
The Jordaanmuseum chronicles the often turbulent history of the now-placid Jordaan in its permanent exhibit, De Jordaancultuur ('The Culture of the Jordaan'): from its impoverished past, punctuated with riots and revolts, to the hotbed of creativity that the district became.
Special attention is paid to the vibrant theater scene of the early 20th century, which witnessed an explosion of revues and other performances in the local venues. Other, temporary exhibits delve into special topics in local history. Guided tours afford visitors an expert-led encounter with the museum and the Jordaan itself to explore the district's rich history first-hand.
Jordaanmuseum Visitor Information:
Jordaanmuseum in de Rietvinck
Vinkenstraat 185
1013 Amsterdam
Hours
Admission: Free
Get There
More Information
Overpopulation and overall squalor furnished the perfect conditions for epidemics. By the mid-19th century, it was clear that the Jordaan needed an overhaul, and the city took various measures to ensure a proper clean-up.
While the Jordaan of the early 20th century enjoyed a markedly better quality of life than in the previous century, it still had its share of problems. The widespread poverty hadn't completely vanished; unemployment was rampant. Houses were in ill repair and in dire need of renovation. From the 1960s on, much of the Jordaan's typical architecture underwent careful restoration. Families moved en masse to other parts of the city and suburbs, and the population density dwindled; students, artists and entrepreneurs took their places, to form the character of the Jordaan as it is today.
The Jordaanmuseum chronicles the often turbulent history of the now-placid Jordaan in its permanent exhibit, De Jordaancultuur ('The Culture of the Jordaan'): from its impoverished past, punctuated with riots and revolts, to the hotbed of creativity that the district became.
Special attention is paid to the vibrant theater scene of the early 20th century, which witnessed an explosion of revues and other performances in the local venues. Other, temporary exhibits delve into special topics in local history. Guided tours afford visitors an expert-led encounter with the museum and the Jordaan itself to explore the district's rich history first-hand.
Jordaanmuseum Visitor Information:
Jordaanmuseum in de Rietvinck
Vinkenstraat 185
1013 Amsterdam
Hours
- Open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Get There
- Take tram 3 or bus 18, 21 or 22 to Haarlemmerplein. Follow Marnixstraat south, then turn left onto Vinckenstraat.
More Information
- Call +31 (0)20 624 4695, or visit the Jordaanmuseum web site.
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