It lies south of the Haarlemmertrekvaart canal and west of the Singelgracht canal route, which includes the local portions Kattensloot [nl] and Kostverlorenvaart [nl].
The part closest to the Singelgracht was already within Amsterdam's borders and was a neighborhood with many windmills just outside the city limits.
The Kostverlorenvaart served as the vital traffic artery that opened up the area.
The canal connecting Amsterdam to Haarlem, the Haarlemmervaart [nl], was and remains the northern boundary of the neighborhood.
After the annexation, the Staatsliedenbuurt was developed, with streets named after Dutch statesmen from the 18th and 19th centuries.