Houthaven, often called the Houthavens, is a new waterside neighbourhood in Amsterdam-West, about 2 kilometres west of Centraal Station, where the city is building a climate-neutral district of about 2,700 homes on the site of its old timber harbour.
It sits between the Spaarndammerbuurt and the IJ river, and more than 1,900 of those homes are already finished.
This guide covers the history, the development, the landmark Pontsteiger building, what to do and how to get there.
Where the Houthaven is
The new district joins onto the northern part of the Spaarndammerbuurt, with the IJ along its northern side.
The municipality gives its edges as the Pontsteiger, Tasmanstraat, Spaarndammerdijk, Archangelweg and Haparandaweg.
The wider harbour has four parts, from east to west: the Oude Houthaven, the Houthaven, the Nieuwe Houthaven and the Minervahaven.
History: Amsterdam’s timber harbour
Houthaven means timber harbour, and that was exactly its job.
It was dug in 1876, together with the North Sea Canal, and was the first harbour in Amsterdam to be dug out of land rather than made from existing water.
Timber was unloaded and stored here until 1945.
As wood moved to road transport, parts of the harbour were filled with sand in 1945 to be used for other purposes, and the remaining water was used mainly by inland barges.
The new district
The City of Amsterdam is developing the Houthaven with a large group of developers and builders as a climate-neutral residential district.
The plan is about 2,700 homes plus facilities and business space.
More than 1,900 homes are complete, and facilities such as a health centre and cafés and restaurants keep arriving.
The remaining work includes digging canals and laying out the public space, and the municipality says that if everything goes to plan the Houthaven will be finished in 2026.
The homes stand on new islands, with names such as Karlskrona-eiland, Libau-eiland and Memeleiland.
Since 2018 eight new canals have been dug, named after Baltic ports that traded with Amsterdam, among them the Lübeckgracht and the Stralsundgracht.
The municipality keeps residents up to date through its project page and a dedicated Houthaven app for Android and iOS.
The Spaarndammertunnel and Houthavenpark
The busy road between the old and new neighbourhoods now runs underground.
The Spaarndammertunnel opened on 5 February 2018; it is 800 metres long including the ramps, 470 metres of it covered, and it carries about 80 percent of through traffic below the streets.
On top of the tunnel the city laid out the Houthavenpark, which links the Houthaven with the Spaarndammerbuurt.
Pontsteiger
The Pontsteiger is the landmark you will see from the water.
Designed by Arons en Gelauff and completed in 2019, it stands at the end of a 200-metre dam into the IJ.
Two 60-metre towers are joined at the top by a block spanning 48 metres, rising to 90 metres above the city and framing the view of the river.
Its facade uses glazed bricks in six colours, so it changes with the light, and the apartments range from 65 to 410 square metres.
Things to do in the Houthaven
Since July 2026 our What’s On calendar has listed about a dozen events at Houthavens venues, from board game nights and an international evening for the over-40s at Moxy to English stand-up comedy and open mics at the Breugem brewery and live concerts.
Breugem brewery
Breugem Meeting Point, at Nieuwe Hemweg 2, is a working brewery and tasting hall where you can drink its own Amsterdam-brewed beer with lunch or dinner.
It is open Tuesday to Thursday from 11:00 to 23:00, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to midnight and Sunday from 12:00 to 21:00, with Mondays by request.
It also runs brewery tours, and it describes itself as a social business that gives work to people who need a fresh start.
For background on what you are drinking, see our guide to Dutch beer and drink culture.
Moxy and Residence Inn
On the Danzigerkade, overlooking the IJ, stand a Moxy hotel of 120 rooms and a Residence Inn of 60 rooms, built by the developer Heren2 with Cycas Hospitality and Marriott.
Vessel at The July Boat and Co
The July Amsterdam Boat and Co, at Revaleiland 500, is an aparthotel on the IJ whose brasserie, Vessel, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a large terrace on the water.
Getting to the Houthaven
By bus: GVB bus 48 runs from Centraal Station to the Houthaven, with its last stop at the Koivistokade, and bus 22 stops nearby on the Spaarndammerstraat.
By ferry: the F7 Houthavenveer links the Pontsteiger at the Tasmanstraat with the NDSM wharf in Amsterdam-Noord.
Since 1 September 2026 it sails every ten minutes on weekdays between about 07:00 and 20:00, and every twenty minutes early in the morning and after 20:00.
Like all IJ ferries it is free for pedestrians and cyclists.
Our bus and tram guide explains tickets and check-in.
Living in the Houthaven
The Houthaven is a district of new-build homes on the water, and the Spaarndammertunnel keeps most through traffic away from them.
With building due to finish in 2026, expect some construction work around the remaining canals and public spaces for now.
If you are looking for a place, our Amsterdam housing guide explains how the rental market works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it Houthaven or Houthavens?
Both are used: the municipality’s project is called Houthaven, while local businesses such as Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens use the plural, Houthavens.
Where is the Houthaven in Amsterdam?
In Amsterdam-West, about 2 kilometres west of Centraal Station, between the Spaarndammerbuurt and the IJ.
How many homes are in the Houthaven?
About 2,700 are planned, and more than 1,900 are already finished.
How do I get to the Houthaven by public transport?
Take bus 48 from Centraal Station to the Koivistokade, or take the free F7 ferry from the NDSM wharf in Noord to the Pontsteiger.
Why is it called the Houthaven?
Houthaven means timber harbour: it was dug in 1876 to unload and store wood, which it did until 1945.
Sources
- Gemeente Amsterdam: Houthaven project
- Houthaven
- Spaarndammertunnel
- Brick Development Association: Pontsteiger
- Breugem Meeting Point
- Rodi: IJ ferry timetable from 1 September 2026
Photo: The Pontsteiger building in the Houthaven, Amsterdam by Choinowski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
