One of my favourite things to do in Amsterdam, is to people watch. The hundreds of cafés and restaurants that have outdoor seating make it easy to sit and watch the world go by. Street photography in Amsterdam is also therefore a dream. This buzzing city is full of locals going about their business, tourists searching for the next activity or place to eat, and infinite photography opportunities.
Street Photography Leidseplein
One of my favourite Cafés in Amsterdam is Café Het Hok, on the corner of Lange Leidsedwarsstraat and Leidsekruisstraat in the Leidseplein area. On this pedestrianised crossroads you can watch endless streams of people make a critical decision about which direction to go, or what restaurant to choose. Who knows if they made the right choice?
I often choose black and white when photographing street scenes. It concentrates the eye and strips away some of the melee of crowded streets. These images were shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF Lens 50mm 1:1.8 STM. I dub this my ‘handbag camera’ – it is lightweight, versatile and relatively small (for a DSLR).
Get your tickets to Amsterdam’s fabulous FOAM Photography Museum here!
Summer evenings in Amsterdam
Dusk light. It is magical in any city, but summer in Amsterdam is particularly pretty! Young lovers sitting along the canal, and couples enjoying dinner in the cafés that spill out onto the cobbled streets. Flowers bloom and canal boats hum past.
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Bicycle Beauty
I have Amsterdam to thank for my renewed love of photography. Having worked as a pro-photographer, I had lost what it meant to take photos for the love of it. Then, on a trip to Amsterdam, I rediscovered the joy of abstraction, of heavy depth-of-field, and repetitive form. I discovered the utter beauty of stacks of bicycles.
Where to stay in Amsterdam
My favourite area of Amsterdam to stay is the Museum Quarter. It is easily walkable to Leidseplein and many other great street photography locations. The NH Museum Quarter is one of our favourites – this 4-star hotel has views out over the canal, and is near the funky area of de Pijp too. For a bit of luxury, try M-Square, right on the Museumplein. For a budget option right behind the Opera House, try the Budget Trianon Hotel.
Street Photography Amsterdam – A Photo Essay
If you like people-watching as much as I do, you must get to Amsterdam in the summer. The rows of bicycles, the buzz of humanity, and the glorious architecture make for excellent street photography. Amsterdam is humming and alive at any time of the year, so grab your camera and get to this vibrant, photogenic city!
Check out my stock photography here on Shutterstock!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF Lens 50mm 1:1.8 STM.
I am loving your street photography here especially the black and white photos. i am a bit like you, capturing moments on the street and making the boring items to standing out (like bikes parked up)..he he. keep taking amazing photos hannah. 🙂
I was actually wondering about the Canon DSLR camera that is not that large. Yours sounds like a perfect choice for the city photo stroll.
Love your photos, you really do capture moments in bustling surroundings such as amsterdam. They bear a bit of romance of the city.
This is great. I will have to save this. I have yet to get to amsterdam, but hope to soon. you took some really nice photos. my favorite is the one with everyone at the table. the lighting is pretty.
Loving your street photography especially the magic you have created with the bikes. Indeed the black &White photos focus the eye. glad you feel like you got your “photography mojo” back. You are truly talented, hannah!
Thanks so much Rosemary!
These photos truly represent and show the beauty of Amsterdam! I love the black and white photos the most! xo – Kam
Amsterdam has been forever on my bucket list and your photos just made me want to visit it even more. it’s such a spectacular city, full of colour and energy. Also, love the B&W images. just beautiful!
Glad to read you have rediscovered the joy of taking photos for the love of it. It is my joy and pleasure to see the wonderful photos you have taken. Thanks!
They do love their bikes in Amsterdam, you’ve got some great shots of them. I definitely need to improve my photography skills. Ah I miss Amsterdam.
I love people watching too especially in a city like Amsterdam. Nice tip about shooting in b&w, I’ll have to try to do that more often.
Love the moods you created with these photos. My present photography efforts feel so zzzzz… I’ve been playing around a bit with lightroom lately (hoping that might jazz things up), but I’m inclined to think the art of photography is in the initial composition as opposed to editing. You’ve inspired me to tackle a good old fashion day in the streets and seE what I can come up with. Can’t make it to amsterdam at the moment, but maybe one day!
Thank you so much Vanessa! Get out there and see if street photography can inspire you!
Wow great photos shared by after see this post now this place is calling me to explore this in real restaurants and street weather thanks for sharing