Local before arrival
More than 100 years ago, Chinese sailors settled near what was then the harbor area and laid the foundation for the largest Chinatown on the European continent. Bilingual street signs, small Asian shops and restaurants, pharmacies with exotic medicinal herbs, acupuncture practices, and the colorful Buddhist temple He Hua characterize the district between Nieuwmarkt and De Wallen. The cultural highlight is Chinese New Year with its traditional lion dance and fireworks.
