Last updated: October 2026 · By Erdal Aydın, Amsterdam Property Renting

Building in the Jordaan began in 1612, and it started out as a working-class district. Its streets follow old polder ditches, which is why they run at an angle to the canal ring next door. Many streets are named after trees and flowers. It was badly overcrowded in the 19th century; today it is a popular place to live, with about 19,400 residents, small apartments and markets on the Noordermarkt every Monday and Saturday.

Part of Amsterdam-Centrum · All Amsterdam areas

The Jordaan in short

What it is like to live in the Jordaan

Life in the Jordaan centres on canals such as the Egelantiersgracht and Bloemgracht and the markets around the Noorderkerk. Behind the facades are the hofjes, courtyards of almshouses. They are still lived in, so visitors are asked to keep their voices down.

It was a working-class district for most of its history. The February strike of 1941 started with meetings on the Noordermarkt. From the 1960s many original residents moved to Almere and Purmerend, and the urban renewal of the 1970s and 1980s filled gaps with new homes. Today 38% of residents are aged 25–45 and 19% are 65 or older.

The flip side of its popularity: in the city’s 2026 survey, 48% of Jordaan residents said they experience nuisance from tourism, against 24% in Centrum as a whole. There is no park inside the Jordaan itself; the nearest large park is the Westerpark in Amsterdam-West.

Parks, markets and places to go

• Noordermarkt – a general market on Monday morning and, on Saturday, an organic farmers’ market plus antiques and second-hand stalls around the Noorderkerk.
• Lindengracht market – the Saturday market with more than 200 stalls, first held in 1894.
• Westerstraat market – the Monday morning textile and fabric market, known as the Lapjesmarkt.
• Noorderkerk – a church from 1620–1623 by Hendrick de Keyser, still used for services and concerts.
• Westerkerk – on the Prinsengracht at the edge of the Jordaan, where Rembrandt is buried.
• The hofjes – courtyards such as the Karthuizerhof and the Sint-Andrieshof; please respect the residents.
• Johnny Jordaanplein – statues of popular Jordaan singers at the corner of the Prinsengracht and Elandsgracht.
• Gable stones – carved stone signs on many facades.

Getting around: train, metro, tram and bus

Tram

Normally trams 13 and 17 run through the Jordaan along the Rozengracht. Because of the rebuild of the Raadhuisstraat, Rozengracht and the Jordaanbrug, no trams run there until 28 February 2027, and GVB expects line 17 back on its normal route from April 2027. In the meantime, tram 5 runs along the Marnixstraat on the western edge, trams 7 and 19 stop at the Elandsgracht in the south-west, and tram 12 stops at the Marnixplein. Temporary routes change often; check gvb.nl before you travel.

Bus

Buses 18, 21 and 22 stop at the Haarlemmerplein and Buiten Brouwersstraat on the northern edge and run to Centraal Station.

Train and metro

There is no train or metro station in the Jordaan. Amsterdam Centraal lies to the north-east.

Car

Parking is scarce; check the permit rules for the address before you bring a car.

Homes in the Jordaan

Most homes are small apartments in 19th-century buildings or in the infill blocks of the 1970s and 1980s, plus older canal-side houses. With an average household of 1.5 persons, the housing stock suits singles and couples better than families. The Jordaan is one of the few Centrum areas with a large share of housing-association homes.

The whole inner city within the Singelgracht is a protected townscape, so changes to the outside of a building need a careful permit check. The city also notes that many homes in the Jordaan have a low energy label (E to G), which affects the points system.

Renting out your home in the Jordaan

For a Jordaan apartment, the main work is in getting the rent right: a small home with a low energy label can fall into the regulated or mid-rent segment under the points system, even at this address. We calculate the points before we advertise, so the rent is based on the points from the start.

Since 1 April 2026, holiday rental in the Jordaan is limited to 15 nights a year, so long-term rental is the main option for most owners. If you bought after 1 April 2022 and the WOZ value is €637,000 or less, the buy-to-let protection means you usually need a permit before you can rent out in the first four years.

Looking for a home in the Jordaan

Expect a small home and fast decisions. Ask whether the home has a lift, how you will get your bike and luggage up, and how noisy the street is at night. If the rent is in the mid-rent segment, you will need a housing permit from the city.

The Jordaan: frequently asked questions

Is the Jordaan a good place to live?

For singles and couples who want to walk everywhere, yes: markets, canals, cafés and the city centre are on the doorstep. Homes are small, and many residents experience nuisance from tourism.

Can I rent out my Jordaan apartment on Airbnb?

Only with a permit and a registration number, and since 1 April 2026 for no more than 15 nights a year. Renting to a long-term tenant needs no holiday-rental permit.

Which tram goes to the Jordaan?

Until 28 February 2027 no trams run on the Rozengracht. Tram 5 (Marnixstraat), trams 7 and 19 (Elandsgracht) and tram 12 (Marnixplein) stop on the edges. Check gvb.nl for the current diversions.

When are the markets in the Jordaan?

The Noordermarkt is on Monday morning and Saturday, the Lindengracht market on Saturday and the Westerstraat textile market on Monday morning.

Is the Jordaan suitable for families?

It can be, but most homes are small and two thirds of households are one person.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Oud-West · Amsterdam-Centrum · Amsterdam-West

Sources for the figures on this page

• Allecijfers: wijk Jordaan
• Gemeente Amsterdam: Staat van Centrum 2026
• AT5: no trams on Raadhuisstraat and Rozengracht
• GVB Jaarplan Vervoer 2026 (tram network 2026)
• Gemeenteblad 2026 nr. 151001: 15-night holiday rental areas
• Gemeenteblad 2025 nr. 552274: buy-to-let protection 2026
• I amsterdam: Noordermarkt
• I amsterdam: Lindengracht market
• Wikipedia: Jordaan