Converted warehouses along the IJhaven at sunset, a barge at the quay

Kleon3 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Where to stay in Eastern Islands

The Eastern Islands are the old maritime quarter east of Centraal Station, where warehouses have been turned into contemporary venues and the water is never out of sight. NEMO, the National Maritime Museum, the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Arcam, Pakhuis de Zwijger and the bars and breweries of the Marineterrein are all here. It is modern Amsterdam rather than the postcard one, and it is quieter and cheaper for it.

Price level · Mid-range

Amsterdam

Area scorecard

Scored 0–10 by Where Stay Guide. No overall total: every traveller weights these differently.

Sightseeing: 7.6
Walkability: 7.8
Transport: 7.0
Food: 7.2
Nightlife: 6.8
Quietness: 7.4
Families: 8.6
Value: 7.8
Airport / station: 7.8
First trip: 6.8

Best for

Families — NEMO and the Maritime Museum are here
Modern architecture and the waterfront
Live music, especially jazz and contemporary
Travellers who want space and quiet near the centre
Better value than the canal belt

Choose elsewhere if

This is your first trip to Amsterdam
You want to walk out into cafés and shops
You want the 17th-century canal setting