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Venice of the North

Amsterdam architecture

The city is famously built on approximately 11 million wooden poles to prevent its historic structures from sinking into the soft, swampy soil. It features more than 100 kilometers of canals and 1,500 bridges, creating a picturesque urban labyrinth that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

  • 15Landmarks
  • 1631Oldest · Westerkerk
  • 91 mTallest · The Rock (Zuidas)
  • 15Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoSchiphol (AMS)

    The airport is remarkably situated about 13 feet below sea level on the bed of what was once a large inland lake. It operates as a 'polder' airport, requiring a complex system of pumps to keep the runways dry and safe for the millions of travelers who pass through annually.

  • CurrencyEuro (€)
  • LanguageDutch

    Dutch is the official language, but Amsterdam boasts the highest proficiency of English as a second language in the world. Visitors will find that almost every resident switches to flawless English the moment they are greeted.

  • Getting aroundGVB Trams

    Amsterdam's historic center is primarily served by an extensive network of blue and white GVB trams. The city is world-famous for having more bicycles than residents, with dedicated paths covering almost every street. Ferries behind the Central Station provide free transit across the IJ river for pedestrians and cyclists.

15 landmarks in Amsterdam

  1. Rijksmuseum
    Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Rijksmuseum

    Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam

    The largest museum in the Netherlands features a masterful blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles. Its design serves as a grand gateway to the city's prestigious Museum Square. A unique highlight is the public pedestrian and bike tunnel that passes through its very core. Architect Pierre Cuypers intended the red brickwork to celebrate Dutch national identity. Today, it stands as a world-renowned landmark housing centuries of Dutch art history.

    Built
    1885
    Architect
    Pierre Cuypers
    Style
    Gothic Revival
    Height
    35 m (115 ft)
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Museum

  2. Royal Palace

    Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147, 1012 RJ Amsterdam

    Originally constructed as the City Hall, this massive structure was built upon 13,659 wooden piles. It was the largest secular building in Europe at the time of its completion in 1655. The exterior displays the strict symmetry and grand scale of Dutch Classicism. Inside, the grand Citizen's Hall was designed to reflect the universe with maps inlaid in the floor. It transitioned from a civic center to a Royal Palace during the Napoleonic era.

    Built
    1655
    Architect
    Jacob van Campen
    Style
    Dutch Classicism
    Height
    30 m (98 ft)
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Royal Palace
  3. Eye Film Institute
    Photo: Jvhertum, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Eye Film Institute

    IJpromenade 1, 1031 KT Amsterdam

    This sleek, geometric white building sits prominently overlooking the IJ river. Its sharp angles and flowing lines are designed to evoke the concepts of movement and light. Many observers note that the structure resembles a resting bird or a futuristic spaceship. The building serves as a cultural hub featuring cinemas, exhibition spaces, and a popular terrace. It has quickly become an iconic symbol of the modern redevelopment in Amsterdam North.

    Built
    2012
    Architect
    Delugan Meissl
    Style
    Contemporary
    Height
    22 m (72 ft)
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Cinema / Museum
  4. NEMO Science Museum
    Photo: pj soans, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    NEMO Science Museum

    Oosterdok 2, 1011 VX Amsterdam

    Renzo Piano designed this copper-clad building to look like the hull of a giant ship emerging from the water. The green oxidized copper skin gives it a distinct presence in the Amsterdam harbor. Its unique sloping roof serves as a public plaza offering panoramic views of the city. This rooftop plaza is the highest city square in the Netherlands and features interactive water elements. Inside, the structure hosts five floors of hands-on science and technology exhibits.

    Built
    1997
    Architect
    Renzo Piano
    Style
    High-Tech
    Height
    22 m (72 ft)
    Stories
    5
    Today
    Science Museum
  5. Het Schip
    Photo: Janericloebe, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Het Schip

    Oostzaanstraat 45, 1013 WG Amsterdam

    This building is widely considered the pinnacle of the Amsterdam School style of Expressionist architecture. It is famously nicknamed 'The Ship' due to its curved, organic brickwork and soaring decorative tower. Originally designed as social housing, it provided high-quality living spaces for the working class. The facade features intricate details, including rounded corners and sculptural brick elements. Today, part of the complex serves as a museum dedicated to this unique architectural movement.

    Built
    1921
    Architect
    Michel de Klerk
    Style
    Amsterdam School
    Height
    20 m (66 ft)
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Museum / Housing
  6. Amsterdam Centraal Station
    Photo: Slaunger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Amsterdam Centraal Station

    Stationsplein 15, 1012 AB Amsterdam

    As the primary gateway to the city, the station features twin towers and elaborate red brickwork. It rests on three man-made islands supported by over 8,000 wooden piles. The Neo-Renaissance facade was designed by Pierre Cuypers, the same architect who created the Rijksmuseum. It was built to reconnect the city with its waterfront while modernizing its transport infrastructure. The station remains one of the most visited and photographed national monuments in the country.

    Built
    1889
    Architect
    Pierre Cuypers
    Style
    Neo-Renaissance
    Height
    25 m (82 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Train Station
  7. Westerkerk
    Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Westerkerk

    Prinsengracht 281, 1016 GW Amsterdam

    This historic church remains the tallest in Amsterdam and is a landmark of the Dutch Renaissance. Its spire is topped with the Imperial Crown of Austria, granted by Emperor Maximilian I. The interior is famously light and airy, reflecting the Protestant traditions of the time. It is the final resting place of the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn. The church is also famously mentioned in the diary of Anne Frank, who lived nearby.

    Built
    1631
    Architect
    Hendrick de Keyser
    Style
    Dutch Renaissance
    Height
    85 m (279 ft)
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Church
  8. ARCAM
    Photo: Panhard, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

    ARCAM

    Prins Hendrikkade 600, 1011 VX Amsterdam

    The Architecture Centre Amsterdam is housed in a small but striking trapezium-shaped building. It features a continuous aluminum skin that wraps around the entire structure like a protective shell. The design uses large glass walls to provide a visual connection between the interior and the harbor. Despite its compact size, the building provides three levels of exhibition and office space. It stands as a contemporary contrast to the historic maritime buildings located nearby.

    Built
    2003
    Architect
    René van Zuuk
    Style
    Contemporary
    Height
    12 m (39 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Exhibition Space
  9. Beurs van Berlage
    Photo: Warren LeMay from Covington, KY, United States, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Beurs van Berlage

    Damrak 243, 1012 ZJ Amsterdam

    This former stock exchange is often cited as the starting point of modern Dutch architecture. Its exposed brickwork and functionalist approach broke away from the decorative styles of the past. Architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage focused on clean lines and the honest use of structural materials. The clock tower has become a recognizable silhouette on the busy Damrak thoroughfare. Today, the building has been repurposed as a premier venue for exhibitions and cultural events.

    Built
    1903
    Architect
    Hendrik Petrus Berlage
    Style
    Rationalism
    Height
    32 m (105 ft)
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Event Space

  10. The Rock (Zuidas)

    Claude Debussylaan 80, 1082 MD Amsterdam

    This skyscraper in the Zuidas financial district is designed to resemble a rugged mountain crag. The facade features cracked textures made of glass and aluminum on its lower sections. It stands as a prime example of Deconstructivism, intentionally challenging traditional skyscraper shapes. The building's jagged appearance creates a highly dynamic profile within the city’s modern skyline. It provides high-end office space that integrates artistic design with corporate functionality.

    Built
    2009
    Architect
    Erick van Egeraat
    Style
    Contemporary / Deconstructivism
    Height
    91 m (299 ft)
    Stories
    24
    Today
    Office

  11. Apple Haarlemmerstraat (Leidseplein)

    Leidseplein 25, 1017 PS Amsterdam

    This retail space is housed within the iconic 19th-century Hirsch & Cie building on Leidseplein. The renovation carefully preserved the original grand staircase and historic leaded glass skylights. Massive wrap-around windows offer shoppers an unparalleled view of the bustling square outside. The interior design blends original marble columns with state-of-the-art glass and lighting technology. Its central atrium, once a fashion hub in the 1900s, remains a spectacular focal point today.

    Built
    1912
    Architect
    Alphonsus Maria Leonardus Aloysius Jacot
    Style
    Renaissance Revival
    Height
    25 m (82 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Retail (Apple Store)

  12. Valley

    Beethovenstraat 605, 1081 BE Amsterdam

    This breathtaking mixed-use complex consists of three peaks with a craggy, stone-clad facade. The building is famous for its integration of nature, featuring balconies covered in lush greenery. A publicly accessible path winds up between the towers, allowing visitors to walk through the valley. In 2021, it was recognized as the best skyscraper in the world for its innovative design. It successfully combines residential living, office spaces, and retail within a high-density urban environment.

    Built
    2021
    Architect
    MVRDV
    Style
    Contemporary / Parametric
    Height
    75 m (246 ft)
    Stories
    27
    Today
    Mixed-use / Residential
  13. National Maritime Museum
    Photo: Fernando, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    National Maritime Museum

    Kattenburgerplein 1, 1018 KK Amsterdam

    Originally built as a naval arsenal, this structure is a masterpiece of Dutch Classicism sitting on the water. A modern renovation added a massive self-supporting glass roof over the central courtyard. This roof was inspired by the compass lines found on ancient sea charts and contains over 1,200 glass pieces. The design turns the historic inner court into a light-filled public square for visitors. It remains one of the most significant maritime heritage sites in the world.

    Built
    1656
    Architect
    Daniël Stalpaert / Ney & Partners (Roof)
    Style
    Dutch Classicism
    Height
    18 m (59 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Museum

  14. Silodam

    Silodam 1, 1013 AS Amsterdam

    This colorful residential building sits on a pier extending directly into the IJ river. The design intentionally resembles a stack of shipping containers to honor the area's industrial past. Different colors and materials are used on the facade to represent various apartment configurations. It has become a modern symbol of the transformation of Amsterdam's old harbor district. Communal neighborhood spaces are built directly into the structure to foster a sense of community.

    Built
    2003
    Architect
    MVRDV
    Style
    Modernist / Post-Industrial
    Height
    33 m (108 ft)
    Stories
    10
    Today
    Residential
  15. Stedelijk Museum (The Bathtub)
    Photo: John Lewis Marshall, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Stedelijk Museum (The Bathtub)

    Museumplein 10, 1071 DJ Amsterdam

    The museum of modern art is famous for its 2012 extension, colloquially known as 'The Bathtub.' This seamless white facade is made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, a world-class feat of engineering. The futuristic addition provides a stark contrast to the original 1895 Neo-Renaissance brick building. It serves as a bold statement about the museum's commitment to contemporary and experimental art. The vast overhang of the extension creates a large, sheltered public space on Museum Square.

    Built
    2012
    Architect
    A.W. Weissman / Benthem Crouwel
    Style
    Neo-Renaissance / Contemporary
    Height
    20 m (66 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Museum

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