Just down from Nieuwmarkt, along the Klovenierbergwal Canal, is the Literary Cafe - a cosy little oasis where one can ponder the existential nature of being and nothingness whilst gazing out the enormous windows at the front onto the canal below and the watery life therein.

On Sundays, the walls of the long, narrow, smoke encrusted room, reverberate to some of the best jazz in town. But on a lazy afternoon, it's a fine place to come and contemplate, catch up on the news, or just breathe in the flavour of urbane Amsterdam.

Literary Café
Kloveniersburwal 59