The Plantage
The Plantage is a leafy neighborhood in the center of Amsterdam, most popular for its Zoo and botanical gardens.
Get Around
By Tram
Walking to Plantage can take 30 minutes, and most visitors would want to take the tram there. From Central Station, trams 9 and 14 go right through the middle past the Zoo. The stops Plantage Kerklaan, Plantage Badlaan and Alexanderplein are the most important ones.
By Metro
The metro is the fastest way to get into the district, but the locations of its stops are not convenient for travellers. The only stop inside Plantage is Weesperplein and all metro lines from Central Station stop there (lines 51, 53 and 54). You might want to exit one station earlier though, at Waterloo Square (”Waterlooplein”), as it is closer to most of the sights. It is still quite a walk to Plantage from there, however.
Things to See & Do
Artis Zoo
Plantage Kerklaan
38 +31 20 523 34 00
An entry ticket for Artis also provides admission to the Planetarium, the Geological Museum, the Aquarium and the Zoological Museum. Artis is also a botanical garden, with plants and trees gathered from all over the world, just like the animal species. Don’t miss the Artis ZOOmeravonden [https://www.artis.nl/nl/]. Tickets €18,50 seniors €17 children (3-9years).
Hermitage
Nieuwe Herengracht
14 +31 20 5308751
Hermitage Amsterdam is a dependency of the Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg on the Amstel river in Amsterdam.
Hortus Botanicus
Plantage Middenlaan
2 +31 20 625 90 21
http://www.dehortus.nl/index.asp
The ‘Hortus’ as it is called by locals, was formerly the Botanical Garden of the University of Amsterdam. Monday to Friday 9AM to 5PM, Saturday and Sunday 10AM to 5PM, open until 11PM in July and August, admission € 6.
Verzetsmuseum
Dutch Resistance Museum Plantage Kerklaan 61D
+31 20 620 25 35
http://www.verzetsmuseum.org/museum/en/museum
Award-winning museum showing what Amsterdam and Holland were like during Nazi occupation.
Wertheimpark
Opposite the Hortus Botanicus A small park with a World War II memorial located at one of the nicest canals in Amsterdam.
Eat
Mid-range
Koffiehuis van den Volksbond Kadijksplein 4 Former coffeehouse for harbour labourers. Now a small atmospheric restaurant in the east of the city centre. Mainly visited by locals. Different menu every evening, ranging from €10 to €15 for a main course. Not possible to make reservations and you may have to share a table with other guests.
Splurge
De Bamboeseur Plantage Parklaan 10 +31 20 625 47 21 Daily 11AM-1AM Fabulous little bar in the traditional “brown cafe” style in a fairly residential district near Artis Zoo. All the food is homemade daily; you really can’t go wrong with any part of the menu. No reservations necessary, but seating is limited to a small bar and 8 tables of varying sizes upstairs. Great place to spend an evening. Open for lunch and dinner.
Drink
The IJ Brewery
Funenkade
7 +31 20 622 83 25
W-Su 3PM-8PM Its label with an ostrich egg is a visual pun, as IJ and ‘ei’ – the word for egg – sound the same in Dutch. East of the centre, close to Artis Zoo, in a former bath house beside a windmill. A small scale brewery where delicious beer in several varieties and strengths is brewed and sold – at a bar – on the premises. The beer is available at some specialist beer shops, and of high quality and, in some cases, alcohol content. Internationally renowned!
Sleep
Mid-Range
Eden Lancaster Hotel Plantage Middenlaan 48 Opposite Artis Zoo +31 20 535 6888 http://www.lancasteramsterdamhotel.com Recently renovated, quaint 3-star hotel with 91 rooms and bags of character. Friendly and helpful English-speaking staff, quiet area and very good value for money.
Splurge
InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam Professor Tulpplein 1 +31 20 622 60 60 http://www.amsterdam.intercontinental.com Historic 5-star hotel located on banks of Amstel River, near financial, shopping and theater districts. Voted the Netherlands’ best in 2008 by Condé Nast Traveller. 19th-century palace, 79 guestrooms and suites, indoor swimming pool, spa facilities including a Turkish bath.
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