Top Amsterdam Historical Tours

Discover Amsterdam’s WWII history and follow in the footsteps of Anne Frank on this walking tour of the Jewish Quarter. See the Jewish Historical Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue, and the Auschwitz Monument; learn about events such as the February Strike and Winter of Hunger, and end the tour outside the Anne Frank House (entrance not included).

Enjoy a wide-ranging introduction to Amsterdam’s highlights and history on this small-group walking tour. Pick between morning and afternoon start times, meet your guide right in the heart of the city, and set off on foot. You’ll see highlights like the Royal Palace and the Red Light District, will learn about the city’s origins and key moments in its history, will admire its UNESCO-listed center, and more.

Take a day trip out of the city and visit Holland’s famous windmills in the countryside around Amsterdam. On this tour you’ll see the canals and greenery of rural life in the Netherlands, and learn about the rich history of the area. Stroll around the historic village of Zaanse Schans and see the old shipyard, important here since the 17th century. In Volendam or Marken, see how wooden clogs are made!

Immerse in the world of Jewish Amsterdam during World War II on this small-group walking tour with a local guide. Exploring in a group no larger than 15, see sights from a still-operational synagogue to the Auschwitz Monument to the spots where Jewish people were sent to their fate—and learn about Anne Frank's story, her family, and how her diary became one of the bestselling books of all time.

Discover the delights and history of Zaanse Schans and the Dutch countryside on a 3-hour, small-group trip from Amsterdam. With an informative guide, admire the lush, canal-crossed Dutch landscape. Take a tour of pretty Zaanse Schans, famous for its wooden windmills and green-painted houses, and visit a cheese farm and clog-making workshop to learn about these traditional crafts. Lastly, visit a working windmill to learn how these waterside factories helped drive the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age. Numbers are limited on this tour for a small-group experience.

Get an inside peek at Amsterdam's well-known sex industry during this exclusive tour of the Bonton nightlife club. Listen to candid commentary from your guide, a real-life former sex worker, as you explore the building's lush interior, including changing rooms and even the VIP rooms.

Absorb the canal-front sights of Amsterdam on a leisurely 75-minute sightseeing cruise. Take a seat in a comfortable, glass-topped boat, and enjoy the views as you glide along the city’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed canals and listen to the informative audio commentary. Drift by top Amsterdam attractions such as the Anne Frank House and City Hall, and drink in the gabled townhouses, bridges and leafy canalsides from the peaceful vantage point of the water. A relaxing way to get to know the pretty Dutch capital for first-time visitors.

Immerse yourself in Dutch culture on this full-day tour through the countryside with round-trip transport from Amsterdam. In addition to navigating, your guide offers little-known facts and anecdotes about each stop on the itinerary, including a traditional clog shop, artisan cheese factory, rural windmills, and the village of Giethoorn. Don’t forget your camera: The day also features a boat ride through Giethoorn’s waterways with rare views of the area.

Experience three quintessential icons of the Dutch countryside — windmills, cheese and wooden clogs — on this 6.5 hour tour from Amsterdam. Journey to the North Holland towns of Zaanse Schans, Edam and Volendam, where you can view working windmills at an open-air museum on the Zaan River, visit a dairy farm or cheese weighing house, and step inside a clog factory. You’ll travel outside the city aboard a single-decker coach, allowing for a smaller group experience with your professional guide.

Enjoy an alternative sightseeing experience of Amsterdam on an exciting bike tour of the dazzling Dutch capital. Follow a professional guide through the quaint waterways and winding cobbled streets of the city and discover an eclectic selection of sights off the conventional tourist trail. Delve into the rich history and 'coffee shop' culture of the city with your knowledgeable guide and get local recommendations from your local guide.

Experience an iconic landscape of fishing villages, windmills, and craftsmen’s shops on a small-group tour from Amsterdam into the Dutch countryside. Visit a series of traditional, restored windmills in Zaanse Schans, and walk the dikes and harbor of Volendam, a pretty port lined with bright houses and sailboats. Sample locally-make cheeses and Dutch schnapps, with time to choose a restaurant for lunch, then enjoy sweeping views of the landscape during the return trip to Amsterdam.

Discover the delectable bites and cultural highlights of Amsterdam’s sophisticated Jordaan district on a culinary walking tour of the enclave. With an expert epicurean guide, visit local foodie hotspots to sample enticing delicacies like smoked sausage, creamy Gouda and pickled herring. Delve into the rich culinary culture of the Netherlands with your informative guide and enjoy an alternative experience of Amsterdam as you discover places off the conventional tourist trail. Receive personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to only 12 fellow food-lovers.

Get a flavor of Amsterdam’s famous alternative culture on a walking tour with a local guide. Stroll through Amsterdam's narrow lanes and squares and dip into smart shops to enjoy the laid-back atmosphere, savor delicious local snacks (own expense), and learn about the history and culture of the city. Upgrade to include more stops, food tastings, and neighborhoods.

Bypass the lines at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and admire van Gogh’s works with your very own private guide. Gain priority access and explore the highlights of the museum, home to the world’s biggest Vincent van Gogh art collection. Let your guide introduce you to sublime masterpieces such as ‘Sunflowers,’ learn the significance of some lesser-known paintings, and see pieces by artists who influenced his style, such as Gauguin and Monet. A perfect introduction to the museum and the great artist’s life and work.

Pedal your way around historic Amsterdam and see the city like a local on this 3-hour guided bike tour. Cycle along Amsterdam’s scenic canal ways, landmark bridges and historic streets, and see the famous Red Light District, the bustling New Market and the lively Jordaan district. Stop along the way to admire the city’s quirky architecture and snap photos of attractions like the Old Church, the Royal Palace and the Western Church. This small-group tour has a maximum of 15 people and is suitable for all abilities.

Start this tour in front of the Park Plaza Victoria hotel of Amsterdam. From here you will walk to the famous Amsterdam Red Light District. First part of the tour leads through the old town area and Amsterdam's Chinatown. Here you get a insight of the history of Amsterdam and the area.  Then walk to the center of the Red Light District where the guide will tell you everything about the prostitution, coffeeshop culture and history of the Amsterdam Red Light District. Your guide will tell you how it is working as a prostitute in the Red Light District, the liberal laws and tell you many interesting facts. Your guide will also tell you about the coffeeshop culture of Amsterdam. Learn where the name “coffeeshop” comes from and some of the weird laws we have on the consumption and production of soft-drugs.

Finished touring Amsterdam and want to see more of Holland? Don’t miss this full-day tour featuring the highlight attractions of the Netherlands. Visit The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government, and watch how the blue-and-white Delft pottery is made. Admire the experimental architecture of Rotterdam, get on board on a Rotterdam Cruise for stunning city views and explore the miniature park of Madurodam.

Spend less time waiting and more time admiring the masterpieces of the Rijksmuseum on a skip-the-line tour. Designed with time-pressed travelers in mind, this tour takes you right to the heart of paintings by European masters such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Hals, and offers insight into European art history that you’re unlikely to find in the guidebooks. Plus, a maximum of 14 travelers means that you’ll plenty of opportunities to ask you guide questions.

Escape the bustling city and discover the car-free village of Giethoorn on a day trip from Amsterdam. Gain insight into the wetland from your guide as you drive past polders and dams, then board a cruise vessel to admire Giethoorn’s farmhouses, canals, and bridges from a traditional perspective. Enjoy hassle-free transfer to the outlying location with round-trip transport from central Amsterdam.

Get acquainted with the artistic masterworks inside Amsterdam's iconic Rijksmuseum on this guided tour that includes skip-the-line access. Sail past long lines outside of the museum with your priority-access pass and begin discovering the magnificent oeuvres displayed within. Delve into the history of Holland’s artistic heritage with your expert guide and see collections by world-famous painters like Van Gogh, Vermeer, and Rembrandt during your enriching tour.  

Explore one of Belgium’s most incredible cities on this Bruges day trip from Amsterdam. Journey in the comfort of a coach bus and relax as you listen to information about the city’s sights from your guide. Have ample time to explore the churches, canals, and shops on your own, snap photos of the iconic windmills, and sample famous Belgian chocolates on this tour that showcases the best of Bruges.

Cycle through the countryside without the worry of being left behind with this small-group bike tour from Amsterdam. In a group that’s capped at just 12 people, you’ll enjoy a more intimate way to discover the landscapes beyond the city. Follow a guide at a leisurely pace, and see farms, fishing villages, and, as always in Holland, a lot of cows. As an extra perk, apple pie is supplied en route.

Gain an overview of the rural Holland region on this full-day tour to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken, with hassle-free round-trip transfer from central Amsterdam. See the Zaanse Schans windmills up close, visit an Edam cheese maker, and sample fresh fish in Volendam, with historical insights and real-time commentary provided by your guide.

Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter is a significant city landmark with a unique past, but fully appreciating its World War 2 history can be difficult on a self-led tour. Gain insight into the experience of Anne Frank and other Jewish residents on a walking tour, and benefit from included admission to the Jewish Historical Museum and National Holocaust Museum for a deeper understanding of the city’s Jewish heritage.