It passes Amsterdam Central Station, intersects the Damrak at the mouth of the Amstel river, and forms the southern end of the IJtunnel across the IJ bay.

The Prins Hendrikkade runs roughly northwest to southeast, from the northern end of Singel canal to Kattenburgerplein square.

Car traffic is banned from the part of the street directly in front of Amsterdam Central Station, between Martelaarsgracht and Damrak.

Tram lines 4 and 14 traverse part of Prins Hendrikkade between Amsterdam Central Station and Dam Square, but do not stop on the street itself.

The Prins Hendrikkade originally formed the Open Havenfront, the northern edge and outer harbour of the city, along the IJ waterfront.

This lasted until the 19th century, when Amsterdam Central Station was built on artificial islands north of Prins Hendrikkade.

The westernmost section, between Haarlemmersluis (at the northern end of the Singel canal) and Martelaarsgracht, was originally known as Haringpakkerij because the area was used for the local herring industry.

After the artificial islands for Amsterdam Central Station were constructed in 1872–1879, the Tesselse Kade was broadened and renamed Prins Hendrikkade.

[4] The city government has announced plans to modernise the eastern part of Prins Hendrikkade in order to make the area safer for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.