Museumkwartier, neighborhood in Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Museumkwartier is a residential neighborhood in the southwestern part of Amsterdam, built around a large central plaza called the Museumplein. Three major museums and a concert hall face this open space, surrounded by blocks of classical apartment buildings on the adjoining streets.
The area began to take shape in the second half of the 19th century, when the city decided to place its main cultural buildings on land that was then at the edge of Amsterdam. The opening of the Rijksmuseum in the 1880s drew more construction to the area, and the surrounding streets filled with residential buildings over the following decades.
The neighborhood takes its name from the three large museums that sit at its core and draw visitors from around the world every day. Walking through the streets, you notice a constant mix of local residents going about their day and groups of tourists moving toward the museum entrances.
The neighborhood is flat and easy to walk through, with the Museumplein serving as a natural starting point for getting your bearings. Several tram lines stop nearby, and the surrounding streets have plenty of cafes if you want to take a break between visits.
Beneath the Museumplein there is a tunnel that allows cyclists to pass under the main road without crossing the square. The tunnel is also open to pedestrians, but many visitors walk past the entrance without noticing it is there.
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