From Amsterdam Centraal, choose the part of Jordaan you want to enter before you start walking. For the Prinsengracht / Westermarkt side, Westermarkt is about a 20-minute walk from Centraal, and the Anne Frank House entrance at Westermarkt 20gives you a precise street-level point on this side of Jordaan. Dam Square is about 10 minutes on foot from Westermarkt. Current GVB Oranje Loper works mean there are no trams at Westermarkt through 27 February 2027.
Jordaan is not a single attraction with one front gate. It is a neighborhood. That is why the first decision matters: are you entering near Westermarkt and Prinsengracht, near Noordermarkt, or closer to the western side around Marnixstraat and Lindengracht?
Start with Amsterdam Centraal, then choose an entry edge
Amsterdam Centraal is a useful starting point for visitors arriving by train. If you arrive from Schiphol, take the train to Amsterdam Centraal first. If you are already in the old centre, choose the Jordaan area you need directly rather than returning to Centraal.
Before you leave the station area, decide which part of Jordaan you actually need. Use Westermarkt / Prinsengracht for the Anne Frank House side, Noordermarkt / Lindengracht / Westerstraat for the northern-central Jordaan, and Marnixstraat or the exact street address for destinations on the western side. Do not route only to “Jordaan.”
For the Prinsengracht / Westermarkt side, aim for that eastern edge of Jordaan. This puts you near Prinsengracht and makes it easier to continue toward streets such as Westerstraat, Noordermarkt, or Lindengracht depending on your plan.
Walking from Amsterdam Centraal into Jordaan
Walking from Amsterdam Centraal is especially useful for the Prinsengracht / Westermarkt side: the Anne Frank House gives about 20 minutes on foot from Centraal to its entrance at Westermarkt 20. From Dam Square, the same Westermarkt area is about 10 minutes on foot.
Choose the walking target before you leave Centraal. Westermarkt / Prinsengracht serves the Anne Frank House side. Noordermarkt, Lindengracht and Westerstraat form a useful northern Jordaan cluster, with Lindengracht and Westerstraat immediately associated with the Noordermarkt market area.
Keep the named destination or exact address as the target instead of turning into side streets before you reach the correct part of Jordaan.
If your destination is near Anne Frank House or the Prinsengracht side, use that area as your anchor. If your destination is Noordermarkt, Lindengracht, or Westerstraat, choose that northern/middle part of Jordaan before you begin the final walk.
Be careful with tram advice around Westermarkt
Westermarkt remains a useful street-level reference for the Prinsengracht side of Jordaan, but it is not a working tram stop during the current Oranje Loper phase. GVB says there are no trams at Westermarkt through 27 February 2027. Tram 13 does not run to Amsterdam Centraal during this period, while tram 17 bypasses Westermarkt, Marnixstraat/Rozengracht, Elandsgracht and Bilderdijkstraat.
Tram 19 is also diverted until 29 January 2027 and does not serve Marnixstraat/Rozengracht during that period. Old directions that simply say “take tram 13 or 17 to Westermarkt” therefore no longer describe the current route through this part of Jordaan.
If you want to use a tram, check GVB just before departure because the temporary routes differ by line. During the current works, **tram 13 does not reach Centraal, tram 17 skips Westermarkt and Marnixstraat/Rozengracht, and tram 19 also skips Marnixstraat/Rozengracht until 29 January 2027**. Walking from Amsterdam Centraal removes those particular tram diversions from the route.
When bus or metro can help
A bus can be useful if it takes you closer to the western or northern side of Jordaan, especially if your final destination is near Marnixstraat, Lindengracht, or Noordermarkt. Check the stop name, travel direction, and final walking side before boarding.
Rokin is served by metro line 52 and can work if you are already using that line and want to continue toward Jordaan on foot. It leaves you with a longer walk west into the neighborhood.
Use Rokin when metro line 52 already fits your starting point. From Amsterdam Centraal, walking or a current GVB surface route avoids an unnecessary metro leg.
From Schiphol Airport to Jordaan
From Schiphol Airport, take the train to Amsterdam Centraal. The airport rail journey is normally about 14–17 minutes, after which the Jordaan route depends on whether your destination is around Westermarkt / Prinsengracht, Noordermarkt / Lindengracht, or farther west toward Marnixstraat.
Once you reach Amsterdam Centraal, remember that Westermarkt tram service is suspended during the current works. First decide where in Jordaan you are going, then choose:
Walk from Amsterdam Centraal if your destination is within walking distance from Centraal.
Use the current GVB journey planner for a tram or bus option to your exact destination.
Take a taxi if you have heavy luggage or a precise address.
If you are staying in Jordaan, use your exact hotel or apartment address, not just the neighborhood name.
The final walk into Jordaan
Use a named destination or exact address for the final walk into Jordaan.
Use Westermarkt 20 for the Anne Frank House / Prinsengracht side, Noordermarkt for the northern market area, Lindengracht or Westerstraat for the adjoining northern streets, and Marnixstraat or your exact address for destinations farther west. These points prevent “Jordaan” from becoming an unnecessarily broad final destination in your map.
Taxi and ride-hailing
A taxi or ride-hailing option is sensible if you have luggage, rain, a late arrival, or a hotel deep inside Jordaan.
Use a specific address. Do not ask for “Jordaan” as if it were a single entrance. Give the driver your hotel, restaurant, canal, or street name.
Route comparison
| Route | Best for | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Centraal → Westermarkt 20 / Prinsengracht on foot | Visitors entering from the eastern or northern side | No tram dependence during Westermarkt works |
| Schiphol → Amsterdam Centraal → walk | Airport arrivals | Train first, then continue to your exact Jordaan destination |
| Live-planner tram or bus → short walk | Visitors who want less walking | Check current GVB diversions before leaving |
| Metro to Rokin → walk | Visitors already using metro 52 | Final walk west into Jordaan required |
| Taxi to exact address | Luggage, rain, late arrival | Use a precise street or hotel name |
FAQ
Can I still take a tram to Westermarkt?
No. During the current Oranje Loper works, no trams serve Westermarkt through 27 February 2027. Tram 13 does not run to Amsterdam Centraal, tram 17 bypasses Westermarkt and Marnixstraat/Rozengracht, and tram 19 also bypasses Marnixstraat/Rozengracht until 29 January 2027. Check the current GVB route if you plan to use surface transport instead of walking.
Is walking from Amsterdam Centraal a good idea?
Yes. Walking from Amsterdam Centraal avoids relying on the suspended Westermarkt tram stop and works well for destinations on the eastern or northern side of Jordaan.
Is Rokin a good station for Jordaan?
Rokin is served by metro line 52 and can work if you are already using that line. From Rokin, you still need to walk west toward Jordaan.
What is the biggest mistake people make?
They treat Jordaan like one address. Choose an entry edge first: Prinsengracht/Westermarkt, Noordermarkt, Lindengracht, Westerstraat, or your exact destination.
SOURCES CHECKED
GVB Amsterdam – confirmed current Oranje Loper works, including that trams 13 and 17 do not run between Dam and Rozengracht/Marnixstraat and there are no trams at Westermarkt through 27 February 2027 – https://www.gvb.nl/en/oranje-loper
I amsterdam – confirmed Amsterdam transport and Jordaan neighborhood information – https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/travel-stay/getting-around/tram
Schiphol Airport – confirmed frequent train service between Schiphol and Amsterdam Centraal, with a typical journey of about 17 minutes – https://www.schiphol.nl/en/from-to-schiphol/by-public-transport/train/
NS – confirmed the Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station rail connection and 17-minute journey context – https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/special-routes/taking-the-train-to-the-airport.html
GVB Amsterdam – confirmed official stops and timetable search for current tram, bus, and metro route availability – https://www.gvb.nl/en/travel-information/stops-and-timetable
