Zeedijk (sea dike).
This street borders the Red Light District & is home of our favorite pizza place in Amsterdam (Il Mare) as well as being the small China Town of the city. It is also known to be a "shady" or "seedy" area, though it seems to have improved beyond its reputation.

This street was built as a barrier to high tides & storms of the Zuider Zee. From the earliest days as a port, the area catered for sailors who came ashore in need of alcohol & female company.

Notice in the back of this photo is De Waag. This is only a couple of blocks from where we live, which seems like a completely different section of the city.