Anna was the perfect guide for the Anne Frank Tour. She is a researcher and writer herself, and you can really tell how deeply she cares about the subject. What made her tour so special was not just her knowledge, but the humanity and empathy she brought to every story. She has such a gentle, thoughtful way of speaking, and she manages to convey the weight of what happened without ever losing sight of the people behind the history. She doesn't just tell you what life was like in Amsterdam during World War II; she makes you reflect on what it must have felt like for the people who lived through it. There was something incredibly moving about the way she told these stories, always with sensitivity, compassion and respect. I found myself getting quite emotional at times, and I think that says a lot about the kind of guide she is. Unfortunately, I don't understand Dutch, otherwise I would definitely buy her book!
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- A walking tour from the Jewish quarter to Ann Frank's House.
Excludes
- The tour does NOT include an entrance ticket to the Anne Franks house.
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- We meet opposite the street of the Holocaust Memorial / Dutch Theatre (Hollandsche Schouwburg) on Plantage Middenlaan 24.
Return
- The tour ends on Dam Square
Itinerary
Theater used ‘Jew collection point’ before deportations
Former Jewish nursery where separated children were held before deportations.
Oldest Park of Amsterdam, site of the Auschwitz memorial.
Sephardic synagogue and site of the first razzia's. Dokworker statue remembering the worker strikes protesting the deportations
Dutch National Memorial for the Holocaust (genocide against Jews) and the Porajmos (the genocide against Roma and Sinti) in Amsterdam
Nicknamed 'the Jewish Canal', Site of the Jewish council
The demolished heart of the Jewish Quarter, now the site of the Town Hall, Opera House, and a (Jewish) flea market
Nightlife area where many street fights between different factions took place during the occupation
Former Jewish Cinema (voted most beautiful cinema in the world!) where we discuss the use of new media by the Nazi's for propaganda
A quiet place by the University library where we delve deeper into Anne Frank's daily life
Former Dutch Centraal Bank, that secretly financed the resistance.
Around the corner from Ann Franks House, where we conclude the tour.
We don't enter the house but we have pictures and models showing how the house and secret annex were used to hide Ann Frank and her family
Site of the WWII National Monument. Here we also discuss the killing of civilians that took place here during the liberation festivities
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
This was so much more than a walk in the footsteps of Anne Frank. Our guide brought the history of Amsterdam’s Jewish community to life, telling us not only what happened during the Nazi occupation, but also about the difficult questions surrounding how Dutch society responded then – and how the Netherlands has dealt with this painful history afterwards. He was a good storyteller: knowledgeable, personal and engaging, while never imposing his own political views on the story. He told the history vividly and with both sensitivity and honesty, making it feel close and real. What we particularly appreciated was how attentive he was to us as a group. He took time to answer our questions properly, listened to what caught our interest along the way, and adapted the conversation accordingly. It never felt like a standard presentation he had given a hundred times before. We were a group with different ages and interests, and he captivated all of us. It became a memorable experience of our visit to Amsterdam. Highly recommended.
The guide, Duna, was great. She was very clear and precise and told the whole story very well. Adding local knowledge and ways of life today , intermingling with ways of life during that difficult period. And the path taken was equally interesting and peaceful until we approached the center. It was emotional and touching at the same time. All in all a morning well worth spent!
Duna made the stories of Amsterdam during the occupation come alive. She is an excellent story teller and clearly is enthusiastic about Amsterdam history.
We had the most educational and interesting tour while describing a sensitive subject during WWII. Rafi was probably the best tour guide we’ve ever had!
Duna was a great guide. She was very informative and had a lot of knowlege. She was friendly, inviting and we thoroughly enjoyed our walk with her. Only wish we had a picture of our group with her.
Rafa was an incredible, knowledgeable host with the empathy and thoughtfulness that lightened a heavy subject matter. He clearly knows so much about the Jewish history of the city, and I left with so many notes and a deeper understanding of the time period. Cannot recommend more.
We took a walking tour of the Anne Frank story yesterday with Duna from GuruWalk, and it was wonderful. Duna told the story of Anne Frank's family — their circumstances and the history behind it all — brilliantly and with real heart. She also shared many fascinating facts about Amsterdam and its history, which added so much to the experience. Her enthusiasm was contagious, she kept everyone engaged throughout, and she made sure to include everybody in the group. Highly recommended!
This was a very informative tour with Duna, and rather sobering as well. I was unable to book tickets for the Anne Frank house and booked this instead, but was not disappointed!! Highly recommend, but be prepared for a few potential tears.
This was a very good walking tour. Learned a lot about the history of the jewish community during wwii
Informative walking tour through the Jewish Quarter. Our guide, Duna, was knowledgeable and approachable. This was a special and personal way to explore the terrible events that touched over 100,000 Jewish lives during World War II, including those of Anne Frank and her family. Highly recommended.
Sergio was a fantastic guide. He dealt with a difficult subject in a very sympathetic way. I really enjoyed this tour and would highly recommend it
Emile was a knowledgeable and friendly guide. The tour was very engaging and taught us a lot about WW2 in Amsterdam, the culture, and the Jewish community. We would highly recommend this tour!
Emile Tour was really informative and really enjoyed the experience to learn more about the history of Anne Frank and seeing all the memorials of the different people who didn’t survive. Thank you for making this tour it was really enjoyable and loved it .
The tour was really amazing! Emile was an amazing guide who knew a lot about the topic and gave it the respect it deserves.
An excellent and deeply moving tour. Anna Eva is a fantastic guide knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about Amsterdam's history. Through the story of Anne Frank and her family, we learned so much about life in Amsterdam during WWII, the history of the Jewish community in Amsterdam, and the impact of the Holocaust on the city and its people. The 2.5 hours flew by and became one of the highlights of our visit. It was also a wonderful way to help children connect with history and reflect on the values, choices, and lessons that continue to shape our world today. Highly recommended for visitors of all ages! 🇳🇱❤️
I took the “In the Footsteps of Anne Frank: Amsterdam During World War II” tour with Sergio, and it was one of the most impactful experiences of my visit to Amsterdam. Sergio is an outstanding guide who combines historical knowledge with powerful storytelling. He brought the city and its wartime history to life, helping us understand what daily life was like under Nazi occupation and how the events of World War II affected ordinary Amsterdam residents. The tour was thoughtfully structured, with stops at important locations connected to Anne Frank, the Dutch resistance, and the Jewish community. Sergio handled these sensitive topics with great respect while keeping the tour engaging and accessible. His passion for history was evident throughout, and he was happy to answer questions and provide additional context. What stood out most was how he connected Anne Frank’s story to the broader history of Amsterdam during the war, giving a much deeper understanding of the city and its people. By the end of the tour, I felt I had gained not only historical knowledge but also a meaningful appreciation for the resilience and courage of those who lived through that period. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Amsterdam. Whether you already know a lot about Anne Frank and World War II or are learning about it for the first time, Sergio delivers an informative, moving, and memorable experience.
Our Anne Frank tour in Amsterdam was one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences of our trip, and Sergio made it truly exceptional. His deep knowledge of Anne Frank’s life, the history of World War II, and the impact of the Holocaust brought the story to life in a powerful and respectful way.
Very informative tour, important topics! free stroopwaffel😍 saw all the most beautiful places in amsterdam
Sergio was the Best. He knows a lot about the history of Amsterdam. Thank You.
Emile was an excellent and knowledgeable tourguide entertaining any questions. I wish the tour had been advertised as “pay what you wish”. We would have brought more cash. I expected a tip but not as much as I would have had I realized. All of the landmarks are interesting and a good backdrop for visiting the AF house or just the city of Amsterdam. I was expecting it to be more Anne centered (as in, she lived here before hiding, she went to school here, she would have been here/done this/ etc. ). But I was not disappointed- just differently entertained and challenged. All in all very satisfying
Although the tour was free, we still gave our guide, David, a tip to show our appreciation for his time. However, I must say that this 2.5 hour free tour was quite disappointing. David arrived late and seemed impatient, exhausted, and lacked enthusiasm and energy. David rarely engaged with the group, and while we were walking, he didn’t wait for or signal the group. We had specifically planned the tour before our visit to the Anne Frank Museum to gain additional background knowledge, but unfortunately, this was not achieved.
I couldn't recommend this tour more when visiting Amsterdam!! It was an incredibly moving and thoughtful experience that transported me into her life and this pivotal time in history. Every stop was meaningful, moving, and brought a deeper connection and respect for her experience. Emile was the most amazing, engaging tour guide. A personable experience with a good tipping system that did not take away from a great tour.
Very nice. I was very impressed. The tour is very engaging and our guide was very knowledgeable and easy to listen to. I learned so many fascinating insights about Anne Frank, Amsterdam and the Second World War. Highly recommended!
Very interesting and enjoyable tour, both the information and the key places. The guide was 10/10, very friendly and competent.
The tour was extensive; we visited several places, the information was interesting, and the guide was kind and clear.
Really good tour! Good stories in between and very pleasant entertainment. Can also answer questions well.
Great visit with Angie, who speaks impeccable French and was able to tell us the story of Anne Frank in a dynamic way! A big thank you to her.
I found the tour very good. Even if one may already know quite a bit about Anne Frank or World War II, this tour is still very worthwhile. Ramses was our guide, and he told many smaller, partly lesser-known stories about World War II in Amsterdam and the situation of the Jews and other persecuted minorities. Best regards to the two South African women, who were also very friendly.
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