In short
Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk form a continuous shopping route from the Singel side towards Haarlemmerplein. Independent shops, food stops, the towers of the Posthoornkerk and the neighbourhood cinema make this an appealing walk beyond the main retail streets. Look at the changing shopfronts as well as the older façades above them.
Works update, checked 22 October 2026: Liander and Waternet plan phased pipe replacement on Haarlemmerdijk from 26 October 2026. Pavement or road sections may be unavailable. Check the current phase and follow signed pedestrian access rather than expecting an uninterrupted shopping walk.
Browse the two adjoining streets at your own pace.
Notice Posthoornkerk on Haarlemmerstraat.
Check the programme at The Movies on Haarlemmerdijk.
Use the Korte Prinsengracht crossing to understand the change in street name.
Allow extra time for the planned utility works.
☰ Table of content
A neighbourhood shopping walk with food and film stops
Pick a few shops or a food stop and make the route as long as you like. You can walk from the central end towards Haarlemmerplein, or start in the west and work back towards the station area. During the works, choose your starting point around the businesses you want to reach and use the signed access routes.
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Recommended stop time 45–90 min
For browsing and pauses; add time for films, meals, guided activities and any diversions.
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Local customs
Respect cycle traffic, shop entrances and temporary work-zone barriers. Follow signed access rather than crossing an active work area.
What to notice on Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk
The street changes gradually rather than at a grand gateway: retail windows, historic upper floors, the canal crossing and local landmarks give it its rhythm. Church and cinema visits have their own access arrangements. Looking from the street does not mean an interior is open for general sightseeing.
Specialist shops Must see
Browse smaller fashion, design, food and other specialist businesses according to your interests.
Posthoornkerk
Notice the Cuypers church on Haarlemmerstraat; check openings or events before planning an interior visit.
Korte Prinsengracht crossing
Recognise the point where Haarlemmerstraat continues as Haarlemmerdijk.
The Movies
Check the current film programme at Haarlemmerdijk 161; a screening needs its own ticket.
Haarlemmerplein approach
Continue towards the western end when current work-zone access permits.
Quick summary of a visit
Walking and window-shopping are free. Purchases, meals, films and booked activities cost separately. Give yourself time to browse, and check the current work phase before planning a continuous route from one end to the other.
Best moment
Daylight and individual shop hours
Crowd
A busy local shopping and cycling route
Kid friendly
Short stages; watch traffic and works
Unmissable
Independent shops and local landmarks
Type of experience
Shopping, food and urban history
What to expect
Phased utility works from late October 2026
Wine tastings and food walks linked to the streets
Three verified options connect directly with these streets. The Dutch wine tasting takes place at Haarlemmerdijk 129, through the Design & Wijn store. The Eating Amsterdam food walk lists Haarlemmerdijk tasting stops as part of a wider route. The Grand Dutch Food & History Tour lists its finish at Café Nieuw Amsterdam, Haarlemmerstraat 75.
These are different experiences, not three entrance tickets to the shopping street. The food walks start elsewhere: check the confirmation instead of going straight to a tasting stop or finish address. Menus and stops may change, particularly during street works. Confirm dietary suitability, age conditions and venue access before booking; the wine listing says it is not wheelchair accessible.
Dutch Winetasting - Amsterdam City Centre
Eating Amsterdam: Jordaan Food Tour with Dutch Tastings
Grand Dutch Food & History Tour of Amsterdam
Good to know
Works from 26 October 2026: the project moves in phases. Recheck access close to your visit.
Shops and restaurants set individual opening hours.
Posthoornkerk is also an event venue; interior access depends on the programme and openings.
A wine tasting, cinema ticket or food tour does not include general shopping purchases.
Practical tips
Choose the shops you most want to reach before setting out during the works.
Keep clear of cycle traffic and follow temporary barriers and signed pedestrian routes.
Book a film or tasting separately and check its precise entrance.
Allow time for a canal-side detour, but use current signs where routes are affected.
How to reach Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk
The eastern Haarlemmerstraat end is within walking distance of Amsterdam Centraal and the Singel. For the western end, plan towards Haarlemmerplein. The streets meet at Korte Prinsengracht. Check the current transport planner and work-zone access before choosing the most convenient approach.
Walk towards the Singel and eastern Haarlemmerstraat entrance. Allow roughly 10–15 minutes to reach that end, depending on your station exit.
Use the current journey planner for a connection near the western end. Check work-zone access before deciding where to begin.
Allow roughly 20–25 minutes for a direct walk along both streets when access permits. Browsing and temporary diversions need additional time.
Haarlemmerstraat Haarlemmerdijk, Amsterdam
Official Transport in Barcelona
Two street names and successive city expansions
The two names preserve successive stages of Amsterdam’s growth. In 1593, the section towards Korte Prinsengracht was brought inside the city and became Haarlemmerstraat. The next section entered the city in 1612 but kept the name Haarlemmerdijk. Both names recall the direction towards Haarlem.
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The route’s older connections remain visible in its alignment towards Haarlemmerplein and the former city-gate setting. Today, the different street names can feel like one shopping corridor, but the canal crossing marks a useful historical distinction.
Posthoornkerk adds a nineteenth-century landmark. Designed by Pierre Cuypers and built in phases between 1861 and 1889, it rose within a densely built setting. After closure and threats of demolition, preservation and reuse gave the building another life. Its present events should be distinguished from a conventional daily church visit.
Farther west, The Movies began in 1912 as Bioscoop Tavenu. The current name and much of its familiar art-deco character came later. That combination of old buildings and changing uses is part of the streets’ appeal: the present neighbourhood is more than a preserved shopping scene from one moment in history.
Details that give the route its character
One walk, two names: the 1593 and 1612 city expansions explain the distinction.
The Posthoornkerk’s towers make a strong landmark within the narrow shopping frontage.
The Movies has a cinema history going back to 1912, with a later name and interior identity.
Specialist shops make browsing worthwhile even when you are not looking for a major attraction.
Canal history tickets and Amsterdam food experiences
Find your stay near Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk
A stay near Haarlemmerstraat, Haarlemmerdijk or the adjoining canals can suit visitors who want smaller shops and food stops close by. Check the exact entrance, stairs, cycle traffic, nearby evening venues and current construction disturbance. The map is centred on Haarlemmerstraat in Amsterdam and can be used to compare the wider area.
Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk visiting questions
Are these streets free to visit?
Yes. Walking and window-shopping have no entrance charge. Meals, purchases, films and experiences cost separately.
Why does the street name change?
The sections were incorporated into Amsterdam at different stages of expansion: Haarlemmerstraat in 1593 and Haarlemmerdijk in 1612.
Are works planned?
Yes. Checked on 22 October 2026, Liander lists phased pipe works from 26 October. The plan is indicative; check the current stage and pedestrian access before visiting.
Can I visit inside Posthoornkerk at any time?
No. Check its current openings or event programme. The building is used for events and is not automatically open for general sightseeing.
What is The Movies?
It is a cinema at Haarlemmerdijk 161 with a history dating to 1912. Check the film programme and buy a separate screening ticket.
Do the food walks start at their Haarlemmerstraat stops?
Do not assume so. The listed food walks have other meeting points; one finishes at Haarlemmerstraat 75. Follow your booking confirmation.
Where is the Dutch wine tasting?
The listing gives Haarlemmerdijk 129, with entry through Design & Wijn. Check current access, age conditions and dietary suitability before booking.
How long should I allow?
Around 45–90 minutes suits a shopping walk with pauses. Add time for a film, meal, guided activity or temporary diversions.
