My wife and I have got into the habit of doing a history-focused walking tour when we visit a new city after having a great experience with a really interesting walking tour in Vienna earlier this year. This was also an interesting walking tour with numerous stops that were individually interesting and I’m pleased we chose to book it. Additionally our guide was very personable, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the city. Our tour covered fascinating insights into the creation of the canal system, the history of the Netherlands and its struggle for independence from Spain, the role of Dutch explorers in the early development of (what later became) the United States and the experience of Amsterdamers during WW2. The missing element was a really coherent narrative about how the city grew and developed over time. The tour could benefit from telling the story of the city rather better – there was a story but also a few stops that broke up the narrative and more got in the way. I appreciate that the success of a walking tour design is partly a function of the geography of the city. You can only walk so far, which dictates what you can visit and in what order. But in this case, if it helped, I would cut out some of the stops that don’t fit so well into the story of the city, even if individually interesting, in order to make the whole a bit more coherent and engaging.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Duration 2 Hours
- Tour Guide Exclusively For You (Does NOT apply if you choose "SAVE! BOOK SEMI-PRIVATE" option)
- Tour Will Run, Rain Or Shine
- Guided Walking Tour
Excludes
- Tour Price Does NOT Include Hotel Pickup or Drop-Off (We Recommend UBER or Taxi)
- Tour Does NOT Include Gratuities (OPTIONAL)
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- By the entrance to the St. Nicholas Church - Located across from Central Station
Return
- End at one of the city’s prettiest canal corners. Visit Het Papeneiland, a brown café from 1642, said to serve the best apple pie in town.
Itinerary
Discover the history of Amsterdam’s primary Roman Catholic church. Built in the late 19th century after centuries of prohibition, its striking blend of architectural styles reflects the city's evolving religious landscape.
Visit the Schreierstoren, or Tower of Tears, a medieval structure from which women bid farewell to loved ones departing by ship.
Stroll along one of Amsterdam’s oldest streets, once a sea dike that held back the waters of the IJ. At the Kolksluis, admire one of the city’s most picturesque lock bridges.
From here, we will make our way to the lively nightspot and market square, Nieuwmarkt which is found in the old city centre. This spot has been a centre for commerce and socialising in Amsterdam since the 17th century as the square’s location just inside the old city gate made it a convenient spot for traders and shoppers looking for fresh produce.
During our time at Nieuwmarkt, we will also see what is known as “De Waag”, a 15th century building that is one of Amsterdam’s oldest remaining non-religious buildings. Originally a city gate and part of the walls of Amsterdam, the building has also served as a guildhall, museum and firestation, among other things.
See Amsterdam’s grandest 17th-century mansion, once owned by the wealthy Trip family, contrasted directly with the city’s “smallest house” built opposite.
Step into the courtyard of the Dutch East India Company’s headquarters, the birthplace of the world’s first multinational corporation.
Marvel at one of the narrowest houses in Amsterdam, a reminder of how high land taxes once encouraged tall, narrow architecture
Amsterdam’s first purpose-built Protestant church, designed by Hendrick de Keyser. Its elegant tower is one of the city’s defining landmarks.
Visit the former home and studio of Rembrandt, where the great master lived and worked for nearly 20 years.
Following, we will go to what is known as the Stopera, a building complex housing both the city hall and the Dutch National Opera and Ballet. The construction of this building was at least 60 years in the making.
A rare 17th-century canal house located at the junction of three canals, with façades facing in three directions.
Step into this peaceful medieval courtyard, once home to a community of devout women known as Beguines. Here stands one of Amsterdam’s oldest wooden houses.
The historic heart of Amsterdam, framed by the Royal Palace, the 15th-century New Church, and the National Monument to WWII victims.
Admire the “Golden Bend” of the Herengracht, lined with the city’s richest and most ornate canal mansions from the Dutch Golden Age.
Pause outside the Anne Frank House, where the young diarist hid during WWII. Next door rises the Westerkerk, with the tallest church tower in Amsterdam.
Look up to spot quirky gable stones, carved with allegories and trade emblems, decorating some of the city’s most ornate façades.
Discover the largest hofje in Amsterdam, once built as almshouses around a tranquil courtyard for the city’s poor and elderly.
A 17th-century Protestant church built for the Jordaan district. Its unusual cross-shaped floor plan reflects the new ideals of Reformation worship.
End at one of the city’s prettiest canal corners. Visit Het Papeneiland, a brown café from 1642, said to serve the best apple pie in town.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam tour with Babylon tours booked through Viator: This was the best art tour I've ever taken. Our guide, Anita L, was superb!
Our walking tour with Cecile was absolutely perfect. We had done a canal tour the night before, and walked around a bit, and were a little worried there might be lots of overlap with this tour, but nope! Cecile took us many places we had missed, others we definitely never would have found, and she told us new and interesting information about all of it. The pacing was perfect, and her enthusiasm and knowledge made all of the difference in our experience. Absolutely perfectly perfect on foot introduction to an incredible city.
Anita was very knowledgeable about Amsterdam. She was a trooper and kept us moving, as we battled the rain and wind during our tour. Despite the wet weather, we enjoyed our time with Anita and recommend this tour if you are interested in learning about Amsterdam.
Our tour was great! Our guide was knowledgeable about the city, its history and other details that made our tour worthwhile. It was a beautiful day, so we walked the city and saw incredible sights.
Diana is very knowledgeable of Amsterdam history, answering all our questions and pleasant to walk with.
Wonderful guide with information that gave us such an appreciation and understanding of Amsterdam. Highly recommend!
Great way to explore and learn a bit about Amsterdam! Janet is super friendly and knowledgeable! I recommend doing this tour at the beginning of your visit if possible.
Absolutely fantastic overview of Amsterdam and its history. Our guide Pedro was amazing and kept us captivated throughout the tour, great guide and great guy!
We enjoyed Anita’s wonderful walking tour of Amsterdam. The tour was very interesting and we were able to learn so much in our fun tour. Anita was very knowledgeable and very sensitive to our interests & questions. Definitely would recommend this tour.
Our Guide Anita Gosschalk Liemburg was wonderful! Anita was very informative & extremely nice. She showed us all the best of Amsterdam. Our pace was very relaxed & she took extra time to answer our questions as well as had us spend extra time in sight we were most interested. I highly recommend Anita Gosschalk Liemburg as well as this tour. Thank You for me, my wife & our friends!
We did the walking tour right when we got to Amsterdam. It was a great way to get San understanding of the city. Henk, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable and focused the tour on our interests. He even sent me some information after our tour that he knew I was interested in. We loved having coffee with him at the end of tour so we could ask questions and guidance for our stay.
Just in general, Henry was a great guide who did show us the highlights Amsterdam. He was informative and very friendly.
Over a period of about 6 hours we covered a massive amount of ground from the red light district to the museum district and everything in between. Our guide Lawrence had a huge knowledge of the city with some added extras. Being foodies, his experience as a restaurant cook was invaluable. Visited a kitchen shop that had ever gadget imaginable, a out of the way cheese shop and even had lunch in the restaurant he worked at where the food and service was excellent. The whole tour worked out better than expected and gave us a real in depth view of Amsterdam.
Tour was very informative and accommodating, our guide Henk, was concerned in showing us places we had an interest in and wanted to see. Great overall knowledge and a wonderful personality. Would highly recommend!!!
<p>Very nice and informative. i learned a great deal and i found it very pleasant. thank you.</p>
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