Jewish Area

Posted on 22/08/2012 by wieskedam

Mokum, a word derived from the Hebrew which means city or place.

The Jewish people named every city Mokum and they connected it with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet , Amsterdam was Mokum Alef, city A. Rotterdam, Mokum Resh, city R. Later on only Amsterdam was called Mokum because Jewish people felt at ease in Amsterdam. It is said that the Jews saw Amsterdam as the second city after Jeruzalem , because of feeling at home.. From the end of the fifteenth century Sephardi Jews from Spain and Portugal fled to Amsterdam because of the inquisition. From 1600 Ashkenazi Jews from Central and Eastern Europe fled to Amsterdam as well.- A lively Jewish community arose at the east side of the city, since that part of the city was located in the direction of Jeruzalem.. The guide is taking you along historical spots,monuments of the Holocaust, the Portuguese and Ashkenazi Synagogues, the latter synagogue is now known as the Jewish Historical Museum.

Spaarndammer area Amsterdam School

Posted on 22/08/2012 by wieskedam

The walk starts at the Haarlempoort. The guide is taking you through the Western Parc into the Spaarndammer area which has become famous because of Amsterdam School architecture. Michel de Klerk was a well-known Amsterdam School architect who designed three blocks of houses including a school, post office and shops at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The area was traditionally populated by rail and port workers- For this neighbourhood De Klerk and others designed the so called working class palaces. They provided the blocks of houses with inner court yards and they added public gardens to the area which were quite progressive initiatives for those days, it has maintained its identity for long , due to the fact that this area was separated from the city centre by the railway. Its masterly architecture attracts people from all over the world and it 's a great pleasure to stroll through the area at closer quarters..

Walk Eastern Harbour area

Posted on 22/08/2012 by wieskedam

The Eastern Docklands of Amsterdam- a walk through- the Java- and KNSM Islands, Sporenburg and Borneo along the IJ.

Amsterdam started thinking about rebuilding the former harbour area at the end of the eighties of the previous century. Architect Sjoerd Soeters came up with the masterplan for the Java Island and Jo Coenen came up with the masterplan for the KNSM Island. On the Java Island arose the so called new Amsterdam canal houses which were designed by many architects. Continue reading →

City Walk Docklands

Posted on 22/08/2012 by wieskedam

The walk starts at the Haarlempoort. The guide is taking you through the Western Parc into the Spaarndammer area which has become famous because of Amsterdam School architecture. Here you will discover famous Amsterdam School blocks which include designed by Michel de Klerk at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The area was traditionally populated by rail- and dockers and these people were called workers' palaces built with an emphasis on light and air. Besides residential blocks was also thought to green spaces in the area and were blocks with courtyards and gardens. This part of Amsterdam, by its position, cut from the center by the construction of the railroad always maintains its own identity. Its masterly architecture attracts people from all over the world and it 's a great pleasure to stroll through the area at closer quarters..

Amsterdam North and Nieuwendam

Posted on 21/08/2012 by wieskedam

A part of the city located at the northern site of the water the IJ which wasn't that favourite over the years. Nowadays it has become a place where companies, artists and inhabitants are keen on living and working.