Travelnut

My husband wants to see the 'modern' part of Amsterdam and I can't really place where that might be. I think he may have seen some modern architecture (lots of glass, taller buildings) in the background of a show on TV, maybe even on a past 'Amazing Race' episode...

Is there such an area within Amsterdam?

henneth

National Centre for Science and Technology by Renzo Piano, probably Amsterdam's most famous and accessible modern building.

KT

There are several modern areas on the periphery, but perhaps he's thinking of the Eastern Docklands, which have recently been redeveloped and are more or less a showpiece of modern architecture. They're basically across just across the water from the Central Station area. I'm sure if you do a web search, you can find a lot about them, as they've been the subject of much attention among city planners and architectural critics.

WillTravel

The Stedelijk Museum (contemporary art) and the Nemo (science center). They're close together. I guess they are in the Eastern Docklands.

PalQ

The best way to see modern Amsterdam, and most of the town outside the old center is ultra-modern, being one of Europe's business capitals, is to take the Ring Railway around town. Start at Centraal Station and take a train to Duivendrecht, change there for the WTC World Trade Center station, from where you can take a tram back to centraal station, passing thru a neat part of town built around the 1920s - a very unique Amsterdammer architecture very different from the neat centuries old centrum. On the Ring Railway you'll pass by many gleaming modern office buildings - the World Trade Center is one such sparkling complex you may want to poke around.
another area of new architecture was mentioned in an above post - the newly redeveloped eastern docks area - for the best view of this take the new Ijs Tram from Centraal Station to its end - it just opened and i took it in December - it goes by lots of new residential areas that are novel - some look like a new Venice - islands with tiny canals and humped iron bridges - the tram goes under and over the Ijs - the body of water that is Amsterdam's seafront by tunnel and bridge to a completely new city at its terminus being built on filled in lands. On the Ijs Tram route you'll also pass by, near Centraal Station redevloped old warehouses and Amsterdam's spanking new Cruise Ship terminal
so ring railway and Ijs Tram are what you're looking for. Buy a Stripkaart for cheapest tickets at GVB booth opposite central station.
Centraal Station itself is being rebuilt - its classical facade being left in tact but amazing new development on back side facing the Ijs water - there is an exhibition center in the eastern part of Centraal Station that describes the whole project as well as the new areas the Ijs Tram goes thru.

PalQ

You can also take a free commuter boat from the rear of Centraal Station to the new Ijs developments - i took one to a long sliver of land in the Ijs that once had port facilities on it and this is where the Venice-like developments are - very novel - new ultra modern houses with an old feel.
And speaking of the Modern Art Museum as someone did above, it has temporarily been relocated to the very top of a highrise building right next to Centraal Station and the cafe on the top floor offers a sweeping vista over Amsterdam and the port area - you can easily see in the distance the ring of ultra-modern big buildings that ring Amsterdam. The museum is due to be relocated back to its Museumplein location sometime but think it's still in temporary digs next to the main train station (Centraal Station).

Travelnut

Thanks to all above for some specific information. PalQ, what would be the outermost 'zone' on your route (for the tram portion)?

PalQ

which tram Ijs Tram or tram from WTC back to Centrum? WTC tram requires two zones i believe, Ijs Tram all the way three i believe, on a Stripkaart ticket.
Not sure of your question. When in Amsterdam hit the GWB (?) Amsterdam public transport office/kiosk just opposite Centraal Station and pick up their free transport map that clearly indicates all lines and zones.

PatrickLondon

You can check their maps online at: http://www.gvb.nl/english/

Travelnut

I will do that! Thanks to all... printing this for further use.

PalQ

Also can take the metro from Centraal Station to its end in the new city Biljmeer (sp?) area - this follows the ring railway to Duivendrecht and then along the main Amsterdam-Utrecht rail line a few miles further until it goes off and runs thru the new city with many modern glitzy buildings you're looking for - it also goes by AJAX football team's futuristic new stadium and one of Amsterdam's most acclaimed new buildings - the headquarters of some bank whose name eludes me - but you can see it all from the metro line - including the highrise apartment building that the EL Al jet crashed into and partially demolished some years ago.