The area The best thing about our neighborhood is enjoying great tranquillity while living literally two steps away from some of the best restaurants, shops and markets in town, and having the most popular spots (Dam Square, Canal Belt, Westerkerk, Central Station, Anne Frank's House, Red Light District, Leidseplein...) within walking distance.     De Jordaan The nicey, cozy -formerly working class- neighborhood in the western part of the historical centre, with its small boutiques, street markets and some of the best bars and restaurants in town, is just across the bridge. It features some of Amsterdam’s most photographed spots, like the iconic corner Prinsengracht/Brouwersgracht.   De Dam, Centraal Station, de 9 Straatjes, Anne Frank’s House The heart of town (and the Red Light District right behind) and the mainstream shopping streets are all within reasonable walking distance (20 to 25 minutes) or less than a handful tram stops. Centraal Station lies at pretty much the same distance, or 10 minutes by bus. De 9 Straatjes (The 9 Little Streets), Amsterdam’s most trendy shopping district, lie less than 20 minutes away! Anne Frank’s House 10 to 15 minutes walk, right next to the Westerkerk (picture).       Nightlife All main live venues, theaters and night clubs (Melkweg, Paradiso, Stadsschouwburg, DeLaMar, Bellevue, Boom Chicago, Jimmy Woo, Maloe Melo, Waterhole, De Balie, Hard Rock Café, Holland Casino...) are all in a pretty much straight line along a parallel to our street, on the other side of the water, leading to the Leidseplein, within 10 to 25 minutes walking distance or just one to three tram stops.   Museums and Vondelpark The Museumplein, with Rijksmuseum (Dutch Masters), Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum (contemporary art) and Concertgebouw (symphonic music), as well as the Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s central park, are 10 minutes by car/taxi, a few stops by tram or 25 minutes by foot, along a straight road parallel to ours.       Westerpark, Oud West, De Hallen By moving in opposite direction to the centre, you are in the most sought after area by Amsterdam residents, full of very good (non touristy) bars and restaurants and featuring two great cultural/lifestyle/culinary/nightlife hubs, de Westergasfabriek (redeveloped around a charming early 1900’s gas plant in the middle of beautiful Westerpark) and De Hallen (this time inside an old tram depot, and featuring a large and very diverse Food Hall).   Public transport Tram 3 leads you to the Museumplein and De Pijp. Tram 5 to the Leidseplein. Buses 18 or 21 to Central Station. Bus 21 in the opposite direction to P+R Bos en Lommer (the closest Park & Ride, 10 minutes away). Bus 80 to Haarlem and the coast. Also a direct bus to Schiphol Airport 15 minutes away by foot.       Parking Parking in Amsterdam is very expensive (6 euro per hour in my area and 7,50 just one block away in the Jordaan!), but there's the cheap alternative of the P+R (Park & Ride) arrangements. It costs 8 euro for the first 24 hours and then 1 euro per day if you arrive before 10:00 or just 1 euro per day if you arrive after 10:00, and you can get discounted public transport tickets to get to the final destination and back to the parking.