Amsterdam Oost
Located in the east of Amsterdam is the ethnically diverse and lively district Amsterdam Oost (East) known to locals as simply Oost. The area itself was constructed in the 1920s when there was a huge population increase in the city. Part of the Oost was once known as Zeeburg, but as of 2010, the former district merged with the Oost. Although the Oost is comprised of Ijburg, Indische Buurt (Indies Neighborhood) and Oostelijk Havengebied (Eastern Docklands), the most traveled of them all is the Indische Buurt, where many working class people as well as recently settled immigrants live.
One of the most noticeable features of the Indische Buurt are the streets named after places in the former Dutch colony, the Dutch East Indies. For an exotic taste of Amsterdam, Oost is the place to be! Home to many people of Turkish, Moroccan and Surinamese origin, and the infamous Dappermarkt, you can expect to buy anything from Moroccan cookies to a real Turkish kebab to excite your taste buds at this huge outdoor market.
One of the popular shopping boulevard’s in the Oost is the Javastraat. Families come to this street to shop for fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. Many Turkish families have opened restaurants along the Javastraat and its neighboring streets. Local favorite dishes include the Turkish Pizza and a Kapsalon, which are readily available as fast-food options and are not to be missed on your visit. The Indische Buurt is coincidentally home to one of the top-rated Suriname restaurants in Amsterdam. Drop by Lalla Rookh for a relaxed evening meal and try their renowned Roti Kip (Chicken curry with fried flat bread) for a Surinamese culinary delight!
There are also several restaurants with a difference in this district. Perhaps the most prominent of them all is the Badhuis, one of the last standing bath houses in Amsterdam located on Javaplein. Following suite is Studio K on Timorplein, which is a theatre, gallery and cafe. For a chic night out, head over to Pompstation and have your dinner while taking in the ambience within this former industrial building. More trendy bars, cafes and restaurants can be found on the Linnaeusstraat opposite the Oosterpark.
When you have finished shopping at the Dappermarkt and exploring art, history and culture at the nearby Tropenmuseum, you might like to head to Flevopark for a dose of nature. This park is uniquely located on the eastern part of the Indische Buurt, and is the perfect place to encounter plant and animal life not found in other parks in this city. Besides endless meadows of greenery, this park boasts a number of outdoor swimming pools, from a deep 50-metre pool to a shallow pool for kids featuring a play stand, as well as a pool for toddlers. Flevopark is interestingly also the site of a Jewish cemetery that has been there since 1714 and where some 200,000 people have been laid to rest. This centuries old cemetery has not been in use since 1942 and is no longer open to the public.
In the bustling Oost district you can expect to see everything from families shopping to kids playing in the streets and if you are lucky, a food and cultural festival take place on the Javastraat or Timorplein. These events happen sporadically during the summer months. To find accommodation in the Oost that will be perfect for you during your stay please click here.
Reaching Oost is easy by train or tram. From Central Station it is a short 3-minute train ride to Amsterdam Muiderpoort Station. Alternatively take tram number 3 and 7 and get off at Dappermarkt, or tram 14 from the Dam and exit at Zeeburgerdijk.