Downtown Amsterdam
Troughout 2006 

Rembrandt is without a doubt the most famous artist Amsterdam has produced in the course of the centuries. His name is inextricably linked with Holland’s ‘Golden Age’. In the 17th century Amsterdam quickly developed into the richest city in the world and it attracted numerous artists. The Amsterdam of Rembrandt has been preserved surprisingly well. The Rembrandt walking route acquaints visitors with the many places which played an important role in Rembrandt's life. These include the Oude Kerk (Old Church), the Waag (Weighing House), the Palace on Dam Square – the then town hall - , the Westerkerk and, of course, the Rembrandt house, where he lived and worked for well over twenty years.

Turbulent times
The turbulent times in which Rembrandt lived are a fascinating background to this walk. Within half a century Amsterdam had to grow from a city with 60,000 inhabitants to one with 200,000 people. Nearly three-quarters of the people living in Amsterdam in those days were born elsewhere. To accommodate all these newcomers the city expanded at the beginning of the 17th century to include the well-known area within the concentric canals. For the less prominent immigrants, new residential areas were developed in the north-western part of the city (the 'Jordaan') and in the east (such as the 'Nieuwmarkt quarter'). Rembrandt lived in both quarters

The walking route can be obtained at the local Tourist Office.