Amsterdam Noord used to be the part of the city that nobody visited unless they lived there. That has changed dramatically. Across the IJ river from Centraal Station, Noord has become Amsterdam’s most interesting neighborhood for art, food, and nightlife.
What to See
Eye Film Museum is the standout — a striking white angular building on the waterfront designed by Delugan Meissl. It houses the Netherlands national film collection with rotating exhibitions, a cinema, and a bar-restaurant with one of the best waterfront views in Amsterdam.
ADAM Tower next door has a rooftop observation deck (ADAM Lookout) with 360-degree views. There is also a swing — “Over the Edge” — that swings you off the side of the building 100 meters up. Terrifying. About 7 euros on top of the observation deck entry (14.50 euros).
NDSM Wharf is a 15-minute ferry ride further along the north bank. The former shipyard is now a sprawling creative hub — artist studios, a monthly flea market (IJ-Hallen, the biggest in Europe), street art, and event spaces.
For nightlife, Shelter (basement club in ADAM Tower) and Tolhuistuin are the main draws. See our nightlife guide for details.
Getting There
Free ferries run from behind Centraal Station every few minutes. The Buiksloterweg ferry takes you to the Eye/ADAM area in about 5 minutes. The NDSM ferry takes about 15 minutes. Both run until about 3am on weekends.