The name comes from the former hamlet De Baarsjes (The Little Perches) that was formed in the 17th century, which in turn derived its name from an inn called De Drie Baarsjes (The Three Little Perches) situated on the eastern border of the present-day district.

[1][2] Built during the first half of the 20th century along a tram line that brought commuters to the city centre, De Baarsjes was formulated by the architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage who designed the main square Mercatorplein.

Facades were cleaned, suspicious bars and bordellos were closed and ambitious plans to deal with crime and safety were undertaken.

The boundaries of De Baarsjes are Jan van Galenstraat in the north, Westerlijk Marktkanaal and Kostverlorenvaart in the east, Surinamestraat and Surinameplein in the south, and Rembrandtpark, Jan Evertsenstraat, and the A10 motorway in the west.

The area contains the four neighbourhoods (Dutch: buurten): Trompbuurt in the north, Admiralenbuurt or Mercatorbuurt in the west, Chassébuurt in the east, and Postjesbuurt or Westindische buurt in the south.