De 9 Straatjes = 3×3 picturesque shoppingstreets and 4 canals.
With >250 special shops, eateries, hotels, galleries and museums
In the middle of Amsterdam World Heritage Canal Belt!

World Heritage & Hip

The Nine Streets stands for 3 × 3 picturesque shopping alleyways and 4 canals (Prinsen-, Keizers-, Herengracht en Singel). In the hart of Unesco World Heritage Amsterdam, between Raadhuisstraat and Leidsegracht. With over 250 special shops, eateries, hotels and museuums. And: a great overview of monuments and canal palaces. Even after 400 years it is very lively with trade, craft and culture.
Nevertheless, it got its special name when during the nineties entrepreneurs in parts of the districts ‘Felix Meritis’ and ‘Leidsegracht Noord’ decided to work together. They came up with the name De 9 Straatjes and putted this new shopping on the map.
Since then De 9 Straatjes became known as Amsterdam’s best shopping spot. Why? This special and unique part of the Canal Belt goes from mishmash to chic and from ethnic to antique, vintage and contemporary. It’s places like this that really make you feel comfortable in Amsterdam, so they say!

The Canal Belt

All the world is built around Amsterdam, wrote the famous Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel in the 17th century. During that golden age the old city within the Singel bursted out of its seams. So a ring of canals was dug, the Heren-, Keizers- and Prinsengracht.
They called the design of the city expansion the Canal Belt, Grachtengordel in Dutch. It took attention from New York and Paris and made Amsterdam soon into a famous city. Small side streets connected the four main canals and provided the needs of the rich trading families at the canal palaces. The area also housed the first theater and concerthall of Amsterdam and was always bursting with liveliness. The names of the sidestreets are connected tot the old skin industry and trading. As Huiden-, Ree-, Beren- en Wolvenstraat stands for Skins-, Deer-, Bears- and Wolvesstreet!

The 9 Streets In The Press

‘For that true taste of A’dam. Nine little streets that are big on personality.’ (National Geographic)

‘It’s areas like this that really make you feel comfortable in Amsterdam.’ (Lonely Planet)

‘A must if you want to hang out where the locals do.’ (Thomas Cook Travel Magazine)

‘In the mood for some retail therapy? Visit De 9 Straatjes. It is charming and delightful.’ (Vanity Fairs)

‘Easily Amsterdam’s best shopping hub; a charming mixture of designer boutiques, art galleries, vintage clothing stores, gift shops and places to eat and drink.’ (The New York Times)