Plantage guide
Plantage, Amsterdam
Plantage is one of Amsterdam's most overlooked tourist hotspots, with a range of activities for families and history-lovers alike. The area is home to the city's largest Jewish community, a number of gardens and parks, and the famous Artis Zoo, providing many great afternoons out on an Amsterdam holiday.
The district is a popular recreation area for locals as well as tourists, many of the residential plots that were once here have been replaced with gardens and parks, while the villas that remain stand elegantly among the open spaces and monuments. Explore the cafés and boutiques along the tree-lined boulevards, or discover Amsterdam's rich history and culture in the heart of the city.
- Find out more about where to Stay in Amsterdam
What's so great about Plantage anyway?
- Plenty of outdoor activities make it the ideal location for romantic breaks or holidays with the kids, as you'll find less crowding and lots of wide open spaces.
- The atmosphere in Plantage is friendly and laid-back, with a growing café culture and a number of quiet bars and restaurants; however, it may not be ideal for those seeking the city's lively party atmosphere.
Hotels in Plantage
- As well as being a fantasticly historic hotel, the Hotel Arena Amsterdam is also home to an award winning night spot popular with the locals.
What can I do there?
Artis Zoo
Open since 1838, Artis Zoo was one of Europe's first continental zoos and one of Amsterdam's biggest family attractions. The zoo is home to over 900 different species, including gorillas and elephants, as well as a wide range of marine life and reptiles.
Walk through the shady tree canopies and see the diversity of wildlife, discover the zoo's heritage and conservation work, and learn about all of the different animals you can see in a friendly and educational environment.
Attend a zookeeper talk and watch the seals being fed, or walk through the butterfly pavillion, for a truly magical experience. Artis Zoo also houses a planetarium, for stargazers of all ages, and a number of historical buildings and gardens, creating a fantastic day of exploration for the whole family.
Hortus Botanicus
Hortus Botanicus is a small, perfectly formed botanical garden, housing over 8,000 different species of plants, trees and flowers. Explore the garden to find rock and herb gardens, ornamental ponds, and numerous glasshouses containing countless tropical plants.
Several of the trees planted here have since become endangered species, while many of the individual plants in the collection, including a coffee plant and two small potted palms, have parented entire swathes of growth for consumption across the continents. One of the oldest of its kind it the world, the garden makes for a fantastic afternoon out in the sun, and promises a wide range of sights and scents to be enjoyed.
Jewish Historical Museum
The Jewish community has lain down roots in Plantage, and the Jewish History Museum looks at their experience in great detail, both pre- and post-war.
Exploring Jewish spirituality, culture and history, the museum showcases an incredible amount of artefacts. The building itself is made using restored materials from Jewish temples, while exhibitions include everything from 16th-century pieces to more recent works by Jewish artists and scholars.
The museum has a special children's exhibit, and also holds street tours to the home of the famous Jewish diarist Anne Frank in the Western Canal Ring.