Amsterdam - Plantage, Eastern Islands, Eastern Docklands & Oosterpark (Chapter)

This is the Plantage, Eastern Islands, Eastern Docklands, Oosterpark & South Amsterdam chapters from Lonely Planet’s Amsterdam guidebook.

Once a district of parks and gardens, the Plantage now hosts the city’s sprawling zoo, as well as a beery windmill. It segues into the Eastern Islands and Eastern Docklands, old warehouse hubs that have morphed into the cutting edge of Dutch - and indeed European - architecture.

The Oost is another culturally diverse ’hood, with Moroccan and Turkish enclaves. South Amsterdam extends well beyond, offering wild art, lush greenery and goats in the forest.

• experience live classical music or jazz at the acoustically - and visually - stunning Muziekgebouw Aan ‘t Ij
• put yourself in the shoes of courageous WWII Dutch Resistance fighters at the sobering yet inspiring Verzetsmuseum
• imagine a time when the Dutch East India Trading company ruled the seas at the atmospheric Entrepotdok
• spend the afternoon yodelling, sitting in a yurt and checking out Dutch colonial booty at the Tropenmuseum
• maps
• take a trip through the big, bold, avant-garde paintings of Karel Appel and friends at the Cobra Museum
• transport
• restaurants & bars
• sniff out the Turkish pide stall amid multipack sock vendors at the lively Dappermarkt

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment and Sleeping.