Amsterdam/West

Due to a strong population increase in the second half of the 19th century, Amsterdam needed to expand in a westwards direction from the city center. The first street that was built was the Vondelstraat in an area now known as the Vondelbuurt. It was designed by the architect Pierre Cuypers. It is an affluent street with stately mansions bordering the Vondelpark. The horse tram ran through this street from 1877 till 1903, but was then superseded by electric tram line 1 along the Overtoom just north of it (still going strong). Together with the Kinkerstraat, these streets are the oldest of the area and thus known as Oud-West ("Old West").
In 1921, Amsterdam absorbed the former municipality of Sloten. A year later, the Plan West was launched that proposed the construction of 6000 new houses in the neighborhood now known as De Baarsjes. They were to be built in the Amsterdam School style, an Expressionist style that was critical of the Neo-Renaissance style in which many buildings were designed before. Construction of the neighborhood took place between 1925 and 1927, and some areas were built in the contrasting New Objectivity style, such as the Mercatorplein by H. P. Berlage. The best examples of the Amsterdam School style can be found in the Spaarndammerbuurt, for example 'Het Schip' by Michel de Klerk in the Zaanstraat and Oostzaanstraat, which now houses a museum dedicated to the style.
The Westerpark was constructed in 1890 at the site of the city's former gasworks. It's a cultural hotspot for artists and students with hip cafes, eateries, galleries, clubs and an art house cinema. The Houthavens east of the park has some remarkable architecture: the Silodam, basically a giant horizontal Jenga tower on water, surrounded by the historical Graansilo and Stenen Silo, old grain silos built in the late 19th century. Sloterdijk is a booming business center and Intercity station with connections to Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Central Station. You can find excellent hotels here for affordable prices, but views will consist entirely of modern office blocks.
After 1950, construction works began on a large residential area west of the motorway A10. These were initially known as the Westelijke Tuinsteden, but are now administratively part of the borough of Nieuw-West ("New West") and usually called out by that name.

By train

The line between Amsterdam Centraal, Amsterdam's main train station in the heart of its city centre, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol runs through the middle of Amsterdam-West. There are two stations on that line - Amsterdam Lelylaan and Amsterdam Sloterdijk. All trains between Schiphol and Centraal stop at both of them. Sloterdijk is a major interchange, situated on a railway crossing between the north-south line (serving all of North Holland north of Amsterdam and connecting to South Holland via Schiphol) and the east-west line between Amsterdam and Haarlem. Trains running to Sloterdijk through Amsterdam Centraal connect the station to much of the rest of the country, with some stopping at Lelylaan as well.

By metro

Both Sloterdijk and Lelylaan are also metro stations on line 50. Apart from them, there are 7 other station in the district, including the terminus at Isolatorweg. While line 50 serves West, and especially Nieuw-West, very well, it doesn't go to the city centre but rather to the Zuid and Zuidoost. You can change to other metro lines at Station Zuid or all stations further south to go to other districts, including the centre.

By tram

Amsterdam's extensive tram network has many lines extending from the city centre towards terminii in the West. Those are your best bets for getting to and from the city centre.

• Line 1 goes from Amsterdam Centraal through Leidseplein and Vondelbuurt in Oud-West, and then through Station Lelylaan to Osdorp de Aker in the far west
• Line 2 diverts from the 1 at Leidseplein towards Rijksmuseum, passes the Vondelpark on the southern side, runs through Nieuw-West perpendicular to the metro (meeting it at Heemsteedestraat) and terminates at Nieuw Sloten in the south-west.
• Line 13 runs from Amsterdam Centraal through Jordaan and northern Oud West, then stops at the north end of Rembrandtpark, metro station Jan van Galen-Straat and terminates in Geuzenveld
• Line 17 runs from Amsterdam Centraal through Jordaan as well, but traverses Oud West further south and stops by Lelylaan station to terminate at Osdorp Dirkgrafplein
• Lines 7 and 14 start at Sloterpark terminus over the Slotermeer and travel through metro station De Vlugtlaan, with line 14 then running alongside line 13, and line 7 joining line 17. Both do not go to Amsterdam Centraal - line 14 goes through the very centre stopping at Dam and Spui, and line 7 takes a big loop along the canal ring, stopping in. al. at Leidseplein
• Line 12 is the only tram line serving Sloterdijk station, making a big loop through Oud-West, Museumkwartier and De Pijp to Amstelstation
• Line 3 is a branch of Line 12 going to Zoutkeestgracht instead of Sloterdijk and station Muiderpoort instead of Amstel

By bus

• Line 18 runs regularly from Slotervaart via Mercatorplein, de Markthallen, Frederik hendrikbuurt and Haarlemmerplein to Amsterdam Centraal station
• Line 21 runs regularly from Geuzenveld via Slotermeer, Bos en Lommerplein, Staatsliedenbuurt, (the beautiful) Frederik hendrikplantsoen and Haarlemmer Houttuinen to Amsterdam Centraal station

Museums

• Museum Het SchipA museum about the Amsterdam School architectural style, housed in a building that is probably the city's best example of that style. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11AM to 5PM, entrance €7.50, includes 20 min. guided tour.

Parks

• RembrandtparkNot too far west of the Vondelpark, but much quieter and larger in size.

• WesterparkNewly expanded park, at the western edge of the centre, with cultural activities in a former gas factory. Access from Haarlemmerweg.

Windmills

Scattered over the district are plenty of windmills, however, none of them are open to the public (but they do look good on pictures).

• De 1100 Roe (1674)In the Ookmeer sports fields along Ma Braunpad.

• De 1200 Roe (1632)

  address: Haarlemmerweg 701
  Near Seineweg.

• De Bloem (1878)

  address: Haarlemmerweg 465
  at Nieuwpoortkade.

• De Otter (1631)A restored and functioning sawmill, opposite Buyskade, west of the Jordaan.

• Molen van Sloten

  phone: +31 20 669 0412
  address: Akersluis 10
  In Zuid, the only one open for visitors

• Ten Katemarkt

  address: Ten Katestraat 97-99
  Third largest in Amsterdam with food, households, flowers and clothing.

• Dosa

  phone: +31 20 6164 838
  address: Overtoom 146
  They specialise in traditional Southern Indian cuisine, especially the eponymous 'Dosa' (a rice and lentil pancake with a variety of fillings). The food is outstanding and well worth hunting out. The dosas are exceptional and a treat worthy of a visit by themselves.

• TonTon Club West

  phone: +31 6 13300314
  address: Polonceaukade 27
  TonTon Club is an excellent place for a good night out. The place has a unique atmosphere with Japan as its inspiration. Upstairs there are arcades and button bashers, downstairs there's room for drinks and board games. You can also order Japanese snacks. Be early as tables are often reserved.

Nightclubs

• Club 8

  address: Admiraal de Ruijterweg 56b
  A large alternative place with lots of art on its walls. There's ping pong, a very local and fairly young crowd.

• Flex Bar

  phone: +31 20 486 21 23
  address: Pazzanistraat 1
  Flex Bar is known for its innovative musical program and their open minded approach towards music as well as their public. Expect electro, techno, house, dubstep, hiphop, indie, funk and soul.

Budget

• Hotel ABBA

  phone: +31 20 618 3058
  address: Overtoom 118-122
  Cheap but clean hotel, close to the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum.

• MissOrtelia

  phone: +31 616 111 349
  address: Orteliuskade 51-I
  Free bikes - Wi-fi free - breakfast included.

• Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam - Sloterdijk Station

  address: Zaventemweg 3
  This new HIExpress is right in the midst of the web of tracks extending around Sloterdijk station, making it very convenient for travel to just about any point in Amsterdam. That said, the actual area around the hotel is a sombre office park and a huge "transferium", so it is best to only come there to sleep and have (free) breakfast.

• MEININGER Hotel Amsterdam City West

  address: Orlyplein 1-67
  The MEININGER chain's properties sit somewhere between budget hotels and hostels, with available multi-person rooms with bunk beds and on-site laundrette. The hotel is relatively new and visually attractive if rather basic inside. Again, staying in the midst of Sloterdijk is great for transit possibilities and rather unexciting regarding everything else.

• Stayokay Vondelpark

  phone: +31 20 589 8996
  address: Zandpad 5
  Fairly large youth hostel, very clean and professional, operated by the Dutch affiliate of Hostelling International. Next to the pleasant Vondelpark, puts you on the south-western side of the city center and just a few blocks from the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. The breakfast is filling and has a social atmosphere. This location is popular with school groups. Bring a padlock for your locker, or purchase one at the desk.

Mid-range

• Bastion Hotel Amsterdam Zuidwest

  phone: +31 20 669 1621
  address: Nachtwachtlaan 11

• Ramada Apollo Amsterdam Centre

  address: Staalmeesterslaan 410
  The Ramada is a solid, recently remodelled property, but calling it "Amsterdam Centre" was not even close to reality, as the hotel is at the remote of Rembrandtpark, close to the A10 ringroad running across Amsterdam-West. That said, you will find getting to the city quite easy thanks to them tram 13 stop at the hotel's back and the park provides a tranquil environment. The best rooms have great views of Amsterdam over the park, the less fortunate guests will have to enjoy residential blocks of Slotervaart. The good news is that the hotel has a top-floor restaurant, bar and terrace for everybody to enjoy the best views.

• Roemer Hotel

  phone: +31 20 612 01 20
  address: Roemer Visscherstraat 10
  Trendy boutique hotel.

Splurge

• Amsterdam Marriott Hotel

  address: Stadhouderskade 12
  At the border of Oud-West and the Canal District, this old-fashioned Marriott can offer a relatively attractive rate and still has a convenient location for exploring the city centre.

• Park Plaza Amsterdam Airport

  phone: +31 20 6580 580
  address: Melbournestraat 1, Lijnden
  The hotel has 19 meeting rooms as well as 6 business suites. The hotel provides free shuttle service from and to the airport as well as free wi-fi in public areas.