Boroughs of Amsterdam

Stadsdeelkantoor (district office) of the borough of Amsterdam Zuidoost

Refuse collection by the borough of Amsterdam-Centrum

Until 2014, the Amsterdam boroughs had the status of submunicipalities (deelgemeenten), a form of government which existed only in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The borough of Westpoort, however, was governed by the central municipal authorities and therefore not a submunicipality. The submunicipalities were recognised under the Dutch Municipalities Act and enjoyed far-going autonomy, with the central municipal authorities abiding to the "submunicipalities decide, unless" principle.[2] The submunicipalities were governed by a directly elected district council (deelraad) as well as a separate district executive board, the members of which were appointed and controlled by the council. The central municipal authorities retained some power, especially in the areas of public order (police), budget, public transport and social security.

In 2013, the States General of the Netherlands adopted a revision of the Municipalities Act abolishing submunicipalities as a form of government.[3] Since the 2014 municipal elections, therefore, the Amsterdam district councils have ceased to exist. Under a municipal ordinance, however, they were replaced by smaller, but still directly elected district committees (bestuurscommissies).[4] All Dutch nationals, all EU nationals, as well as non-EU nationals who have lived in the Netherlands for at least three consecutive years, are eligible to vote for the district committee of the Amsterdam borough in which they live according to the city's civil register.[5] Each district committee elects three of its members to form an executive committee (dagelijks bestuur).

The district committees' jurisdiction is determined by the central municipal council. Responsibilities delegated to the 2018-2022 district committees include parks and recreation, streets and squares, refuse collection, permits and events, preparation of zoning plans, passports and drivers licenses, and welfare work.[6] As the new district committees depend on powers being delegated by the central municipal council, their position is far less autonomous than their predecessors. Instead, the district committees are considered to be the local 'eyes and ears' of the central municipal authorities, carrying out their delegated powers within the frameworks determined by the municipal council and the college van burgemeester en wethouders.[7]

Since 2010, there are eight boroughs.[8][9]

Borough	Area	Population	Population density	Location (in green)	Neighbourhoods
Centrum (Centre)	8.04 km²	86,422	13,748/km²		Binnenstad, Grachtengordel, Haarlemmerbuurt, Jodenbuurt, Jordaan, Kadijken, Lastage, Oosterdokseiland, Oostelijke Eilanden, Plantage, Rapenburg, Uilenburg, Westelijke Eilanden, Weteringschans
Noord (North)	49.01 km²	94,766	2,269/km²		Banne Buiksloot, Buiksloot, Buikslotermeer, Floradorp, Kadoelen, Molenwijk, Nieuwendam, Nieuwendammerdijk en Buiksloterdijk, Oostzanerwerf, Overhoeks, Tuindorp Nieuwendam, Tuindorp Oostzaan
Nieuw-West (New West)	32.38 km²	151,677	4,478/km²		Geuzenveld, Nieuw Sloten, Oostoever, Osdorp, Overtoomse Veld, Sloten, Slotermeer, Slotervaart
Oost (East)	30.56 km²	135,767	7,635/km²		IJburg, Indische Buurt, Eastern Docklands, Oud-Oost, Watergraafsmeer
West	9.89 km²	143,842	15,252/km²		Frederik Hendrikbuurt, Houthaven, Spaarndammerbuurt, Staatsliedenbuurt, Zeeheldenbuurt, Westerpark, Kinkerbuurt, Overtoombuurt, De Baarsjes, Bos en Lommer, Kolenkitbuurt, Landlust, Sloterdijk
Westpoort (West Gateway)	10 km²	192	10/km²		Westpoort
Zuid (South)	17.41 km²	144,432	9,349/km²		Apollobuurt, Buitenveldert, Hoofddorppleinbuurt, Museumkwartier, De Pijp, Prinses Irenebuurt, Rivierenbuurt, Schinkelbuurt, Stadionbuurt, Vondelpark, Willemspark, Zuidas
Zuidoost (Southeast)	22.08 km²	87,854	4,391/km²		Bijlmermeer, Venserpolder, Gaasperdam, Driemond