The Jordaan was originally a working-class neighbourhood in Amsterdam, but now it’s one of the most expensive areas in the city. You’ll find many inner courtyards here, which are the unique setting for ‘Hofjesconcerten’ (courtyard concerts) during the summer.
Keep an eye out for the stone tablets on the houses in the Jordaan, because they indicate the profession or the family sign of the people that used to live there. For example, the tablets display a pig for a butcher or a pair of scissors for a tailor. These tablets were fist made in the 16th century.
Another important characteristic of the Jordaan is its music. During the 20th century, popular musicians such as Johnny Jordaan and Tante Leen made a unique kind of folk music. There is a festival, called the Jordaan Festival, still being organized anually to celebrate the music tradition.