Amsterdam is often thought of as a tourist trap, but don’t be fooled. This quirky city has many hidden treasures that are just waiting to be discovered, including the awesome graffiti that is scattered across the city. After arranging your Schiphol airport transfer, explore Amsterdam off the beaten track and uncover the cool street art that has been popping up on murals and building walls since the 1970s.
Guided and Self-Guided Tours
For an authentic feel of Amsterdam’s urban landscape, you should consider joining a guided tour of the city’s graffiti. Several small group trails are led by enthusiastic locals. You can explore the inner city and its lesser known sights, giving you insight into Amsterdam’s squatting movement and its relationship with the street art scene.
Alternatively, you can explore the city’s outskirts and walk around the Zuidoost H-Buurt district. Located 10km from the centre, the guide will take you on a route that allows you to admire a dozen impressive murals that decorate several high-rise buildings.
Memorable Graffiti Spots Around the City
There are many parts of Amsterdam that are renowned for their large murals, while other areas are worth strolling through to spot the smaller but equally creative pieces. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few suggestions:
•Spuistraat
This quarter was once the go-to place for street artists. Though its ongoing renovations have sadly led to the destruction of much graffiti, you can still see the well-known yellow squatter building with its famous snake painting. Peer down the side streets too for a glimpse of the colourful artworks that were once abundant.
•NDSM-Werf
Though originally a massive industrial shipyard, this area has since been transformed into a cultural hotspot. Keep your eyes peeled for the street art that is scattered around the area or join in one of the many ateliers and give it a go yourself.
•De Wallen
You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled in this area but there are many small artworks scattered around this block. Go for a stroll down De Wallen’s alleys or follow the canal to explore the hidden creative gems in the area.
•De Jordaan
Combining both extensive and eccentric street art with smaller works, de Jordaan boasts a giant mural created by the London Police, as well as an entire building covered by Piet Parra.
Insider tip: Don’t forget to bring your camera and document these exceptional out-of-museum works of art.
How to Get There
Amsterdam is the ideal location for a short city break. Just an hour’s flight from London, you can be exploring the capital of the Netherlands and its street art scene in no time. It is a very popular destination served by many airlines, including easyJet, Vueling, FlyBE, KLM, Iberia and British Airways all offering regular and low-cost flights to Schiphol Airport (AMS).
You can then pre-book a Schiphol airport transfer to get to the city centre, which is only a half-hour drive away. After a stress-free ride you can be free to hit the pavements and snap some street art!
Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for an affordable Schiphol airport transfer Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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