The Pijp is the best known of the working-class quarters built in the late 19th century. Harsh economic times necessitated a plan of long, narrow streets, leading to its apt nickname, 'the Pipe'. High rents forced tenants to sublet rooms to students and artists, lending the area its bohemian character. Today, the Pijp is home to a mix of halal butchers, Surinamese, Spanish and Turkish delicatessens, and restaurants offering authentic Syrian, Moroccan, Thai, Pakistani, Chinese and Indian cuisine. This makes the Pijp one of the best spots in town to buy quality snacking treats, the many ingredients for which are almost always bought fresh from the single largest daily market anywhere in the Netherlands: Albert Cuypmarkt. Against all the gentrification odds, the Pijp has managed to remain a wonderful melting pot of many cultures and nationalities, which is keenly reflected in its shops and restaurants including the aptly-named Bazar.
