amsterdam-noord (amsterdam)

Even though I’m living in Amsterdam for a substantial amount of time (my masters programme is a year and a half), I still feel like I’m only here temporarily, like a lot of my friends here who are exchange students. But I felt this way in Montreal too, and took every opportunity to explore everything the city had to offer. So on Tuesday last week, a group and I took a free ferry from Central Station to the NDSM wharf, up north.

You can find the ferry behind Central Station, look for the one that leaves to “NDSM-werf.” Click here for the ferry times (from Central Station to NDSM-werf and from NDSM-werf to Central Station). The 14-minute ferry ride is an adventure in itself, with great views of the IJ river and the architecture built around it.

A former shipyard on the northern banks of the IJ and larger than 10 football fields, the NDSM wharf is now a center for underground culture in Amsterdam. Read more about the history of the NDSM wharf here.

I had come across this article, “The Noord District’s Hip Rebirth” by Joel Weickgenant of the Wall Street Journal this summer, and it inspired me to visit Amsterdam North. Unfortunately we went on a Tuesday and most of the art galleries (listed in the article) were closed.

After exploring the area, we stopped for lunch and drinks at Cafe Noorderlicht (T.T. Neveritaweg 33)…

According to Weickgenant, this is one of Amsterdam’s hidden gems, “a neon-decked Quonset hut-like structure on the waterfront, where bands and DJs perform on a stage set between the harbor and a large, open fireplace.” The next event will take place on Friday, September 30 at 21.30, called “Dicht op het Vuur” or “close to the fire.”

From there we explored some more…

A few weeks ago I mentioned the IJ-Hallen market (September 17-18), a large indoor/outdoor flea market of 500+ stalls that took place in Amsterdam North. There’s another one coming up! Be sure to check it out October 7th & 8th from 9am to 4pm at T.T. Neveritaweg 15. You might have just missed HAVENsafari, an exclusive boat trip through the undiscovered areas of the Port of Amsterdam, it’s last tour was this past weekend, but be sure to check it out next year. Other events can be found here.

There’s so much to do in the north of Amsterdam, can’t wait to go back and explore some more. Click here for more Amsterdam Insights, published every Wednesday.