Around the Central Station

Most recent developments in Amsterdam can be found along the waterfront. When the Central Station was built in the late 19th century, the old town was cut off from the harbour. For nearly a century, the waterfront remained a harbour area, until a rediscovery started in the 1990s. Over the last years, the Central Station has been extended with a new retail area, bus station and second main entrance on the waterside. East and west of it lie Oosterdokseiland and Westerdokseiland, which have been transformed into high-density city quarters. The latest addition is artificial peninsula IJdock, with the new Palace of Justice, a hotel, housing, offices and a marina. Now the development continues on the opposite side of the water, just a short ferry ride away, with the EYE Film Institute and the conversion of the former Shell highrise, topped by a spectacular viewing platform.

This tour offers insights into a once-industrial riverfront now reimagined as a dynamic part of the city. We’ll show you the area around the station, including new residential developments as well as iconic public buildings.

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Tour Highlights: Around the Central Station

> Oosterdokseiland: peninsula with high-density mixed-use buildings (masterplan by Erick van Egeraat) Music School (Frits van Dongen, 2007) Public Library (Jo Coenen, 2007)

> Headquarters of Booking.com (UNStudio, 2022)

> Amsterdam Central Station (Pierre Cuypers, 1889; Benthem Crouwel, Wiel Arets, Powerhouse Company, 2015)

> EYE Film Institute: iconic museum building on the waterfront (Delugan Meissl, 2012)

> Adam Tower (Arthur Staal, 1967 / Claus en Van Wageningen, 2016)

Former Shell office building transformed into a mixed-use development with a public observation deck

> Westerdokseiland with housing projects by a.o. MVRDV (2007–2010)

> Artificial peninsula IJdock 

Compact development integrating a courthouse, hotel, offices, residential buildings, and a leisure harbor within a cohesive layout

More Tours in Amsterdam

All tours can be combined into full-day or multi-day programmes