3 Best Sights in Oud-West, Amsterdam

This former gas factory from 1885 is now an arts and cultural center comprising 13 monumental buildings of various shapes and sizes, which house media companies, art exhibitions, food markets, and assorted festivals. There are also bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and a cinema.

Westergasfabriek was formerly a gas factory that, in 2003, was refurbished into a cultural hot spot and is also the home of many festivals throughout the year. A handful of venues are located along the promenade running parallel to the spacious Westerpark, including restaurants (Bar Kantoor, Raïnaraï, De Bakkerswinkel), a movie theater (Het Ketelhuis), an old-school arcade bar (Ton Ton Club), and even a small petting zoo. Springtime visitors, don’t miss the sakura cherry blossoms when they take over Westerpark.

Right behind Westerpark is the unique Spaarndammerbuurt neighborhood made up of noteworthy monumental brick architecture designed by Michel de Klerk as a prime example of what social housing could be in the 1920s. For a glimpse further inside, guided tours bring visitors into one of the refurbished historic apartments, usually taking place in English at 3 pm daily.