Amsterdam's Quartier Latin

Another morning strolling through the Albert Cuyp

Unique art is everywhere in De Pijp

Today I had to walk down to Karel du Jardinstraat 65 to register at the Amsterdam Municipal building. Whilst there, I picked up a few English-language brochures on the area where I now live, De Pijp. I have always had a hard time describing De Pijp to others, often comparing it to a "Bohemian village", something like "Greenwich Village" in NYC. However, it also boasts some of the highest home prices in Amsterdam, and has become one of the trendiest areas to live in the city. Again, this fails to describe De Pijp accurately though, since it is definitely not pretentious (like the Herengracht or Jordaan area can be). What makes the Pijp unique is the cultural diversity which pours out of every ounce of the neighbourhood. The Pijp boasts more than 144 nationalities, which are evidently shown in various authentic ethnic food shops and restaurants.

Graffiti adds charm and uniqueness to this area of the city

After reading through a small brochure outlinging a "Town Walk" of De Pijp, I feel that I have finally hit the nail on the head in describing this neighbourhood: Amsterdam's Latin Quarter.

The Pijp has a lively history, one riddled with cabaret shows, 1800s brothels, and an entrepreneurial spirit. In the 1800s, the area which is now Sarphati Park was supposed to house Amsterdam's Centraal Station. It wasn't until roughly 1880 that the government decided to place the station on the Ij harbor that Sarphati Park became the natural oasis that it is today. Housing prices were never very cheap in De Pijp, which caused many people to rent out homes to students, many of whom studied in Latin, giving the Pijp its name "the Latin Quarter."

This street along SarphatiPark is named "The Velvet Edge"

As I have written about before, the Albert Cuyp Market is the heart of the Oude Pijp. The market was opened in 1905, due to the broad width of the street, and its central location in the neighbourhood. Apparently the market attracts more than 40,000 people on busy Saturdays!

I hope to write more about my new neighbourhood, perhaps including "must-sees" and specific interesting tidbits of history from this area. In the meantime, I will enjoy visiting the tapas bars and tiny cafes that this area has to offer, and begin making a mental list of my favourites to share with you all :)