Jordaan

The Jordaan (Dutch pronunciation: [jɔrˈdaːn]) is a neighbourhood of the city of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

[1] The area is bordered by the Singelgracht canal and the neighbourhood of Frederik Hendrikbuurt to the west; the Prinsengracht to the east; the Brouwersgracht to the north and the Leidsegracht to the south.

[citation needed] The Jordaan has a high concentration of hofjes (inner courtyards), many of them with restored houses and peaceful gardens.

For example, a butcher displayed a pig, and a tailor a pair of scissors, carved in stone above the entry.

The streets and canals were built according to the old ditches and paths, which explains its unusual orientation compared to the rest of the city.

Starting in the 1960s, many of the neighbourhood's original working-class residents moved out of the city to more affordable locations, mainly to Almere and Purmerend.

Example of what the houses looked like in the 17th century. The three buildings Bloemgracht 87, 89 and 91 have been restored to their original state
The Bloemstraat in 1902 with the Westertoren