Prinseneiland, Amsterdam

Prinseneiland, a set on Flickr.

Prinseneiland is one of the ‘Westelijke Eilanden’ (Western Islands) but dont be fooled by the name. Within 10 minutes walk you can reach Central Station and also the very popular Jordaan and Haarlemmerstraat area. This beautiful neighbourhood has only been inhabited since just after the 2nd world war; before that it comprised hundreds of warehouses for the merchants who used this part of Amsterdam to bring in and take out their goods.
Come the 21st century and the Prinseneiland has many converted warehouses which are now exclusive apartments.
Prinseneiland is 100% Amsterdam with one exception – this is a quiet area with no tourists and very little traffic.
Living here it is very difficult to believe that within a few minutes walk in any direction you can reach the bustling centre, the traditional old style restaurants and cobbled streets or the docklands areas now hip with culture.
Parking in the area can of course be difficult if you don’t know who to ask, but actually there are parking spots available for rent in the open air parking areas which dot this scenic group of islands.

The Nassaukade Area

Nassaukade Area, a set on Flickr.

The Nassaukade is located on the banks of the Singel canal between the Nassauplein and the Overtoom and is part of the Amsterdam inner ring. It was named in 1879 after the Oranje-Nassau dynasty and along here can be found the streets Stadhouderskade, Hugo de Grootstraat, De Clercqstraat, Kinkerstraat and the Bosboom Toussaintstraat. Also nice areas to live off the Nassaukade include the Jacob van Lennepkade, Da Costakade and the Potgieterstraat.
The Nassaukade also provides great access to the Jordaan area of Amsterdam, which of course is highly sought-after for expats looking for the real Amsterdam experience. Just across the Singel canal from the Nassaukade are the Westerstraat and it’s fantastic market, the Noordermarkt by the Noorderkerk, and the whole of that beautiful area including and leading off from the Brouwersgracht and Haarlemmerstraat.
The Nassaukade includes some great modernised apartments, usually but not always quite small, so very suitable for singles and couples attracted also by the accessible transport links to the West and South of the city.

The scenic town of Loosdrecht

Loosdrecht, a set on Flickr.

Loosdrecht consists of two small villages, Nieuw- (new) and Oud- (old) Loosdrecht, which consists mainly of lakeside villas. Loosdrecht is known for its beautiful lakes, the Loosdrechtse Plassen, which thousands of tourists visit every year. The lakes are a hotspot for the well-to-do, with several exclusive yachting clubs and restaurants lining the shores. Smaller boats can visit the Vuntus and other quieter lakes on the northern side of Loosdrecht, connected to the main lakes through a small underpass. This area is often missed by expats looking for a rental home near to Amsterdam, but the transport links make it a very realistic alternative.

Krom Boomssloot, Amsterdam

Krom Boomssloot, a set on Flickr.

This canal in the oldest part of the city was in 2007 voted one of the most beautiful streets in Amsterdam. The canal is around 500 years old and was named after the 16th-century mayor and shipbuilder Cornelis Pietersz Boom.
Famous buildings in this area include the Schottenburch (a warehouse visible on the map in 1595), the Armenian Apostolic Church which dates from 1714, and the monuments "De Oude Jumbo" and "De Branderij".

The Van Baerlestraat

Van Baerlestraat, a set on Flickr.

The Van Baerlestraat lies between the Vondel Bridge and Roelof Hartplein in Amsterdam South. Around here are found the concert hall and Museumplein (Museum Square). The street originates from 1875 and has been extended since several times. This is a great place to be especially in summer and on Queens Day when great parties are held and the Museumplein is always full of people enjoying the sunshine with a picnic, skating or checking out the Van Gogh, Stedelijk or Rijksmuseum.

P.C. Hooftstraat

P.C. Hooftstraat, a set on Flickr.

The P.C. Hooftstraat is Amsterdam’s most exclusive shopping street. Think London’s Bond Street set amongst a typically Amsterdam backdrop. The street is named after Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, one of the major lights of the Golden Age, and was founded in 1876 as part of the urban expansion which also saw the creation of the Vondelpark.The architect Pierre Cuypers, of the Rijksmuseum fame, designed the first of the buildings in the street.
Close to the museums, the Concerthall and the Vondelpark, one hundred years ago this was a normal street populated with artisans, grocers, bookstores and the like, but since the 1980s this Old South thoroughfare has become one of the most fashionable areas in the world. The likes of Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, Valentino, Louis Vutton and Gucci all have shops here, and for the expat visiting or even better living on this street it can be either a paradise or a wallet-busting hell of temptation! For those needing the occasional more earthy treat there is also the sanctuary of the hot dog stand tucked away halfway down the street
You can find some gorgeous apartments here, usually above exclusive shops of course. The central location is very popular with expats but don’t hope to be able to park there regularly! You can get a permit immediately and evenings there is usually a spot, or you can usually park in a street nearby.

The Nine Streets

The Nine Streets, a set on Flickr.

‘De 9 straatjes’ lies in the heart of Amsterdam’s canal district. Just two minutes walk from the Royal Palace in the Dam Square these picturesque streets straddle the 17th Century canals from the Singel to the Prinsengracht. Spend a fabulous day wandering from one to the next exploring the designer boutiques, art galleries, jewellers, gift shops, fashion shops, specialist businesses and there are plenty of great bars, cafes and restaurants to refresh you along the way.