All Amsterdam neighbourhoods listed below are nice and relatively safe to live in. Compared to cities like Paris and London, Amsterdam is a very small city with only 761,000 inhabitants. It is only 13 km (9 miles) from the extreme west to the extreme east of Amsterdam. Traveling times to the city centre listed below are by bike.

City centre

The city centre consists of the historic city and the Jordaan:

• The old city centre is quite small, and suitable student rooms tend to be expensive in this area. The student residences on the Prinsengracht, Prins Hendrikkade, Plantage Muidergracht, Valckenierstraat, Sarphatistraat, Hoogte Kadijk, Westermarkt and Weesperstraat are located in the city centre.

For information on construction work around student residences at Roeterseiland, see the link below.

• The Jordaan is a very pretty area of Amsterdam with small houses, quaint little shops and bars, and a very cosy atmosphere. It has become highly gentrified in recent years, so this is not the place to look if you want cheap rent.

South (Zuid)

Amsterdam's southern area consists of the following neighbourhoods:

• Oud Zuid, the old area of the southern part of Amsterdam  is an affluent, generally quiet neighbourhood, and is not a typical student area. It is 5-10 minutes from the city centre on average.
• De Pijp was previous a relatively cheap neighbourhood, but it too is becoming increasingly trendy and gentrified. There are a lot of students living in this area and it is 5-10 minutes from the centre.
• Nieuw Zuid (New South) is an affluent and generally quiet neighbourhood, 10-20 minutes from the centre.
• Buitenveldert is 20-30 minutes from the city centre. Some of the University of Amsterdam's sports facilities are in this neighbourhood.
• Amstelveen is an affluent suburb of Amsterdam, about 30 minutes from the city centre.

East (Oost)

The Old East area is a relatively cheap neighbourhood where a lot of students live. It is 5-10 minutes from the centre and consists of the following neighbourhoods:

• Centre/east is the area near the Scheepvaartmuseum (naval museum). This is a small neighbourhood. The Bijltjespad flats are in this area and it is 5-10 minutes from the centre.
• The East Harbour was formerly used as the harbour. It is a relatively new neighbourhood. Most of the rooms available in this area are in apartments shared with the owner(s). It is 15-20 minutes from the centre.
• Watergraafsmeer is located south of  the "Old East". It is a quiet middle-class neighbourhood and is 20 minutes from the centre. 
• Diemen is located south of the Watergraafsmeer. It is a quiet middle-class neighbourhood, 30 minutes from the centre by bike, or 10 minutes by train.The student residence De Rode Kruislaan is located here.

Apart from the Dappermarkt pictured above there are many other markets in Amsterdam. Follow the link below to find out when and where they take place.

West

The western part of Amsterdam is divided into the following neighbourhoods:

• Oud-West (Old West) is a mid-price neighbourhood. There is a high percentage of students living in this area. It is 5-10 minutes from the centre.
• Bos en Lommer, though not a very exciting neighbourhood, can be a good place to find affordable rooms. It is 15-20 minutes from the centre.
• Overtoomseveld is a mixed area, with some parts are nicer than others. It is 15-20 minutes from the centre.
• Slotervaart is a quiet neighourhood. The student residence Meer en Vaart is located in this neighbourhood. It is 30 minutes from the centre.
• New student accommodation has been created next to river IJ in the Westerpark neighbourhood of Amsterdam. Students are housed in special student container buildings. There is an urban beach, Strand West, with a café and a restaurant which is open all year round.

The neighbourhoods Oud-West, Bos en Lommer, and the new student accommodation are nearby a park called Westerpark. Besides traditional park facilities such as a tennis court, this park contains industrial remains of a former gas factory, the Westergasfabriek. The factory dates back to 1885 and now houses various cultural facilities including a cinema and several cafés and restaurants. Its buildings are used as venues for parties and plays throughout the year.

South East (Zuid-Oost)

The area Zuid-Oost, also called the Bijlmer, is situated at the South East of Amsterdam. It is a multicultural neighborhood, with over 130 nationalities. The city plan in this part of Amsterdam is exceptional. The Bijlmer was developed in the late 1960's according the ideology of le Corbusier. Today, when walking through this area, one can still see the remainings of these large scale plans, which include clear cut separation of living, working and traffic, high buildings and large green areas.  

From the centre of Amsterdam it is about 30-45 minutes by bike. It is also accessible by metro.

Diemen

Although Diemen has it's own city council and mayor, it is even nearer to the city center than some other parts of Amsterdam! From Diemen it is easy to access the city, or walk along the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal to experience typical Dutch cultural landscapes.

The students residences on de Rode Kruislaan are situated in Diemen. The Bergwijkdreef is also located in this area, and accommodates 140 students in temporarily buildings. This location is meant to provide a sort of campus feeling with own facilities within the complex. There is a shop, a bar and a baseball field.

From Diemen it is only a short bike ride to the Amsterdam neighbourhoods East (Oost), Ijburg and South-East (Zuid-Oost).

In East there is a ice skating rink called the Jaap Eden baan. This outdoor skating rink is open during the winter months. A trip to the Jaap Eden baan will give you the chance to experience this popular Dutch outdoor activity. Check the website for more information:

During the summer months, you can grap your bike and go to Ijburg. This area is famous for its modern architecture and there is also a beach area called Blijburg. The Blijburg beach area was created in 2003 and was the first beach in Amsterdam. It is an excellent place for a swim in the Ijsselmeer, to sunbathe or to have a drink in one of the bars. For directions click on this link:

North (Noord)

Amsterdam Noord (North) is a short ferry ride across the IJ from Amsterdam Central Station. There are many different types of accomodation there, ranging from modern highrise buildings to country cottages. You have to cross the river IJ to get there. The student residence building Cleyndertweg is in this neighbourhood and is 20-30 minutes from the city centre, or 10 minutes by bus. You can also go by bike and free ferry.

On the northern banks of the IJ you can also find the NDSM Wharf. This former shipyard is now the center for underground culture in Amsterdam. For more information see the website: