Walk the Amsterdam Diamond Area
If there is anything that Rihanna has taught us, it is that diamonds are forever. In Amsterdam, this is very much the case. Therefore, this week’s walk is in the Diamond area, starting in the Pijp. Once again, this walk features some lesser known spots and hidden gems – pun intended.
Enjoy your walk!
Distance: 4km
Total Walking Time: 44 min
Calories: 275
Directions:Link or click the top right corner of the map to open full screen in Google Maps
FYI: the technology behind Google Maps is sometimes a bit shaky, so sometimes you need to click the link more than once, or zoom in to get the route view. Apologies for the inconvenience.
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Diamond Area Route Highlights
Best Roast en Route: Scandinavian Embassy
By far the most delicious coffee you can find in the city! They are very serious about their roast: they measure their coffee to the microgram, the temperature is always just right, and the shapes in your latte foam is like a Picasso every time. Ow heavenly father, how we wish we could wake up with their coffee every morning!
Highlight A: Massimo Gelato
By far the most delizioso ice-cream in the city. Massimo has lived in the Netherlands for years and wanted to share a little bit of Italy with the people in Amsterdam. Because of his secret recipe, his gelato is in a league of its own. The place is hard to miss – the line is out the door and it can take up to 15 minutes before its your turn.
Highlight B: Sarphatipark
The loveliest little park in one of the busiest parts of the city. Enjoy the open fields and the elevated bridge on the far East side of the park. If you are a history freak, read up on Sarphati and what he has done for the city. He deserves more than just a park named after him.
Highlight C: Royal Asscher Diamond Company
Amsterdam has a rich history of diamond trading and cutting. Asscher was one of many diamond cutting factories, right in the Pijp area. The building is from 1907. In March 2020 the company had transferred?ownership to the 6th generation of the family.
Asscher decided his workers should live close and had houses built in the streets to the south of his factory. You can see a few of them on the other side of the street.
Highlight D: Pestana
Amstelveen was feeling the pressure of the ever-growing city of Amsterdam. To mark its territory, Amstelveen (back then called ‘Nieuwer-Amstel’) decided to build their city hall as close to the city border as possible. Unfortunately to no avail. 4 years after completion, Amsterdam expanded its city borders further south annexing the building. For a long time it was an archive, but today functions as a high-end hotel.
Highlight E: Workers’ Houses on Lutmastraat
We think these are some of the cutest houses in the city. The houses on this street were built for the workers of the nearby Asscher diamond-cutting factory. The houses were designed by A.L. van Gendt, who also designed the Concertgebouw. Today, it’s mostly young families who live here.
Highlight F: De Dageraad
De Dageraad (‘Morning Glory’ in English) was a social housing cooperation. It was the pearl of Plan Zuid – the expansion of Amsterdam in the 1920’s-1930’s. The idea behind Plan Zuid was to create comfortable living arrangements for the less fortunate. To that end, the houses were quite spacious and the roads were nice and wide. Yet, all this had to be done on a budget. In order to still make the street view as aesthetic as possible, the architects decorated the houses using the building materials. You’ll notice decorations made of brick, metal, and roof tiles.
Highlight G: Secret Square
This square is so secret, there is not even a name for it! If you visit in summer, enjoying a drink on the terrace is a must. Once it gets dark, look up at the lights in the trees to experience how romantic Amsterdam can be.
In winter, Cafe Buhrs should be your go-to. Always filled with tons of locals, this is where you can get the good old ‘brown cafe feel’.
Your Fav Hidden Gems
The above highlights are just some of our favorite spots along the way. If something catches your eye while en route, share a picture with us so we can share with the group next week.Email is best to info@amsterdamexperiences.nl 🙂
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