What to Do in De Pijp: A Guide to Amsterdam’s Coolest Neighbourhood

“Laid-back, creative and undeniably cool, De Pijp is Amsterdam’s latest hipster hangout with artisanal coffee shops, boutiques and some of the best dining in the city. The slow pace of life here means many lazy hours slip by while you relax on benches outside bars, people watching and sipping local craft ales. You’re also within easy reach of the city centre attractions, although you may not want to leave with this list of the best things to do in De Pijp.

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Eat Stroopwafels at Albert Cuypmarkt
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People travel from all over Amsterdam to enjoy the lively atmosphere and bargains at Albert Cuypmarkt, which runs between Ferdinand Bolstraat and Van Woustraat in central De Pijp. There’s a tremendous array of stalls to explore with everything from fruit and veg to flowers, stockings and souvenirs.

You’ll meet plenty of enthusiastic stallholders touting their wares, and those selling foods will likely tempt you into trying all sorts of snacks, like raw-herring sandwiches, cheese or frites (fries). For a sweet treat while you browse, seek out the traditional stall with freshly made caramel-filled stroopwafels.

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Taste Local Craft Beers at Brouwerij Troost
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As the home of the original Heineken brewery – now the multimedia Heineken Experience – De Pijp has ongoing historical connections with beer brewing. At Brouwerij Troost you can try authentic local craft ale in a working brewery that still regularly produces new flavours.

This former monastery now has a brew-pub with wooden benches overlooking copper vats of brewing beers to watch while you drink. If you get a taste for craft beers while you’re there, De Pijp has plenty of other bars to try too – Helst, for example, has around 30 craft beers on draft at any one time.

Enjoy a Picnic in Sarphatipark
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Take a walk to the centre of De Pijp to visit Sarphatipark, one of Amsterdam’s prettiest parks and a tranquil haven for locals and visitors alike. The design is reminiscent of an English-style park with a large pond running alongside leafy pathways and a memorial to Samuel Sarphati, a Dutch urban innovator, in the middle.

It’s smaller than other parks in the city, but even on sunny days there’s a peaceful atmosphere and usually enough space for you to stretch out on the grass and relax – perfect for a picnic with the takeaway treats you bought earlier at the market.

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Have Brunch at a Gourmet Café
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De Pijp is the go-to place in Amsterdam if you like to eat and drink well, and you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to brunch. The streets here are lined with artisanal coffee shops and cafes serving creative dishes with multi-cultural influences meaning you’ll find cuisines from around the world – like Sir Hummus, an Israeli café dedicated to hummus, and a New Zealand-Brazil hybrid, Bakers & Roasters.

For a local favourite, head to De Wasserette to eat gourmet open sandwiches or if you fancy a hipster classic try The Avocado Show, where fresh avocados are in every dish.

Explore Intimate Contemporary Art Galleries
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As well as creative eateries, De Pijp’s burgeoning artsy vibe has attracted a small but charming independent art scene that’s worth a look while you’re there. Start at GRIMM, a 300 square metre gallery on Frans Halsstraat with temporary exhibitions of work by emerging artists and links with their venues in both New York and London.

Just around the corner, stop by the bench at the When I’m Famous street-art-wall for a photo opportunity, before heading to Tiller Galerie – another intimate gallery space with a variety of prints to buy.

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Browse the Independent Boutique Shops
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There’s some excellent – and sometimes quirky – boutique shopping to explore among De Pijp’s narrow streets. A lot of it centres around the Albert Cuyp Market area, so it works well to explore them both as part of a day spent wandering with your wallet in hand.

You’ll find affordable clothing and bags by independent designers as well as unique gifts to take home, like hand-glazed pottery, retro vinyl and metal tableware. The area is compact enough to see it all in a day, and as your feet begin to tire, there are plenty of trendy coffee shops around to stop at on your way.

Watch an Art-House Film at Rialto Cinema
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A traditional film theatre with an antique-style billboard displaying the week’s listings and a lovely café to have a drink in while you wait. The Rialto Cinema is a place to see art-house films and world cinema rather than big blockbusters, and there are often festivals showcasing some of the best directors in the industry.

The films here are shown with Dutch subtitles, so English-speakers will need to pick an English-Language film or look out for the expat specials with English subtitles.

Planning a trip to Amsterdam? Stay in the coolest neighbourhood with our pick of hotels near De Pijp, Amsterdam.”