Jordaan
/ˌjɔrˈdaːn/noun
A historic neighborhood in Amsterdam, Netherlands, known for its canals, narrow streets, and former working-class character.
Did you know?The neighborhood’s name is disputed: it may derive from French jardin, meaning “garden,” or from the biblical Jordan, a river associated with crossing into a promised land.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
יַרְדֵּן (Yardēn)
“The Jordan River; traditionally connected with the idea of descending or flowing downward.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἰορδάνης (Iordánēs)
“The Jordan River, as recorded in Greek biblical and geographical writing.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Iordanis
“The Jordan River; the Latin form used in Christian texts and personal names.”
Medieval Period
Dutch
Jordane
“A Dutch form associated with the Jordan, though its connection to Amsterdam’s district is uncertain.”
17th Century
Dutch
Jordaan
“The name of the developing Amsterdam neighborhood west of the canal belt; competing explanations connect it with jardin, “garden,” or Jordan.”
Modern Dutch
Dutch
Jordaan
“The historic Amsterdam district famous for canals, cafés, galleries, and densely built residential streets.”