De 9 Straatjes: A Visitor's Guide

The name refers literally to nine short streets that run perpendicular to Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht and Herengracht, connecting them like rungs on a ladder. Because it sits between the Jordaan to the west and the wider Canal Ring, it is easy to combine with either in a single outing; see our broader Amsterdam neighbourhoods guide for how the areas fit together.

It is a shopping and browsing district first, and a sightseeing one second: there is no single headline attraction, and that is largely the point.

What the grid actually is

The nine streets are Reestraat, Hartenstraat, Gasthuismolensteeg, Wolvenstraat, Oude Spiegelstraat, Runstraat, Huidenstraat, Berenstraat and Wijde Heisteeg. Individually they are short and easy to overlook on a map, but together they form a compact rectangle roughly bounded by Raadhuisstraat to the north and Leidsegracht to the south.

How to walk it

There is no single correct route. A practical approach is to walk each of the three canals in one direction, then use two or three of the connecting streets to zigzag back, rather than trying to cover all nine methodically. This keeps you closer to the water, where the views are best, and stops the visit from feeling like a checklist.

1. Start at the Raadhuisstraat end near Prinsengracht.
2. Walk south along Prinsengracht, cutting into Reestraat and Hartenstraat to browse.
3. Cross to Keizersgracht and work your way down through Wolvenstraat and Runstraat.
4. Finish along Herengracht and Huidenstraat towards Leidsegracht.

Independent shops and vintage

This is the main reason people come. The streets are dense with small, independent boutiques covering fashion, vintage clothing, design objects, books, cheese, chocolate and specialist items you would struggle to find chain equivalents of elsewhere in the city. Runstraat and Berenstraat lean more towards fashion and vintage, while Reestraat and Hartenstraat have a good mix of homeware and gift shops.

• Vintage and second-hand clothing shops are concentrated on Runstraat and Wolvenstraat.
• Specialist food shops, including cheese and chocolate, cluster near Hartenstraat.
• Small galleries and design shops are scattered throughout rather than grouped in one street.

Cafés and lunch spots

The area is well stocked with small cafés suited to a coffee break between shops rather than a destination dinner. Expect specialty coffee bars, a handful of lunch rooms serving sandwiches and soups, and a few longer-standing spots with canal-side seating that fill up quickly on sunny afternoons. Prices sit a little above average for Amsterdam, reflecting the location, though rarely at the extreme end seen right on Dam Square.

Canal-crossing photo spots

Because the nine streets cross three major canals in quick succession, a short walk here gives you several classic Amsterdam views without needing to plan a longer canal walk. The bridges over Herengracht and Keizersgracht at the ends of Huidenstraat and Runstraat are popular for photos, especially in the late afternoon light, and are noticeably quieter than the most-photographed bridges further along the ring.

Best times to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest time to browse without crowds. Saturday afternoons are the busiest, as both visitors and Amsterdam residents come to shop, so if you want a relaxed pace, aim for a weekday or an early Sunday, being aware that some shops open late or stay closed on Sundays.

How it connects to the Jordaan and the Canal Ring

Geographically, De 9 Straatjes sits at the join between the Jordaan and the UNESCO-listed Canal Ring, which is why guidebooks sometimes group it with one or the other. In practice, it is easy to combine all three in a single walk: start in the Jordaan for its quieter courtyards and brown cafés, pass through the nine streets for shopping, and continue along the wider canal ring towards the Anne Frank House or Dam Square.

Budget expectations and getting there

There is no entry cost to walking the area itself; your spend here is entirely a function of how much shopping and eating you do. A coffee and pastry typically costs a little more than in outer neighbourhoods, while vintage and design items vary widely in price. It is a 10 to 15 minute walk from Centraal Station, or a short tram ride to the edge of the area; see our tram guide and travel cards guide for ticketing options.