The Best Rated Walking Tour in Amsterdam | La Vacanza Travel

The Best Rated Walking Tour in Amsterdam

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Destination: Netherlands, Noord-Holland, Amsterdam
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  • 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Amsterdam
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

Discover the fascinating history of the most liberal city in the world with FreeDam Tours. On this unique tip-based* storytelling tour, you will discover how freedom and tolerance shaped the city and its people throughout the ages.

Your super-local guide will combine beautiful sightseeing with exciting storytelling, and with the clever use of pictures and maps, you will learn everything you need to know about Amsterdam in one tour: history, modern life, culture, art, fun facts, and personal stories for a unique insider’s perspective on life in Amsterdam.

Be prepared to challenge all your preconceived ideas about this city because after this tour you will never look and think of Amsterdam the same way!

* Tip-based means you only pay a small booking/marketing fee to the platform and then you can tip your guide directly what you think the tour was worth. That motivates us to give the best possible tour and you always get the best value for your money!

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Beurs van Berlage, Damrak 243 Next to the Bijenkorf, 1012 Amsterdam The Netherlands

In front of the stock- and commodities exchange buildings, built where the Amtel river used to flow, we discuss the origins of Amsterdam and how water and finance influenced the city.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Damrak, Damrak, Amsterdam, North Holland Province

In the old harbor, we discuss the origins of the Red Light District, the role of the Church, and how the holy and the profane have found surprising ways to work and profit from each other over time & the state of prostitution in the 20th and 21st Century: how and why prostitution became a legal profession, how the neighbourhood has changed over time and the current challenges facing the most infamous neighbourhood of Amsterdam.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Our Lord in the Attic Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38-40, 1012 GD Amsterdam The Netherlands

Here we discuss how (Religious) tolerance worked in practice once Catholicism became illegal in the 17th Century but was 'tolerated' under some very peculiar conditions. Form the underlying principles we draw parallels to how tolerance works today, in the 21st Century.
(note: we don't actually enter the hidden church, but we see it form the outside and have pictures of it's interior)

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Chinatown, Chinatown, Amsterdam, North Holland Province

Dutch drug policies explained. Find out how this area became an absolute no go area in the 1970's and how this sparked the beginning of the infamous ‘Coffeeshops’ dedicated to the selling of Marjauana.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: In de Waag, 4 Nieuwmarkt, 1012 CR Amsterdam The Netherlands

Discovering where Rembrandt painted his first major work ...and how it revolutionised the art of portrait making. We have a copy of the painting to show you all the details!

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Oostindisch Huis, Oude Hoogstraat 24, 1012 CE Amsterdam The Netherlands

In a stunning 17th Century Courtyard hidden inside this building (only accessible during week-days) you will learn how Amsterdam was able to become the center of a global trading empire, making Amsterdam the richest city on the planet in the17th century (aka 'The Golden Age), and how this place, the Headquarters of the first and biggest corporation in human history, kickstarted modern-day capitalism. We discuss the good, but definitely don't shy away from darker legacy of this period.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Waterlooplein Market, Waterlooplein 2, 1011 Amsterdam The Netherlands

The Oldest Market of Amsterdam located in the (former) Jewish Quarter, that was almost completely destroyed at the end of the Second World War - but not why who you think! Find out about the disastrous consequences of the Nazi occupation, that decimated the Jewish populations of what once was a safe haven for persecuted jews from all over Europe, and what the Amsterdammers had to do to survive the last 'hunger-winter' of the war.


Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: The Amstel, Amsterdam The Netherlands

Here, or (depending on weather / guide) at another canal we discuss why Amsterdam has canals, and the architecture of the famous canal houses: why are they so skinny, why do they lean in all kinds of directions (some of it is on purpose), why do all the houses have a hook, and why do Dutch people keep their curtains open at ALL times. Everything will be revealed!

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Oudemanhuispoort, 1012 CN Amsterdam The Netherlands

In this beautiful, hard to find former monastery, turned into hospital and now part of the University of Amsterdam we discuss the unique Dutch Bike Culture: find out why there are more bikes than people and why in the most famous, proud cycling city on the planet most of the bikes look so....ugly.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Royal Palace Amsterdam, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147, 1012 RJ Amsterdam The Netherlands

Learn about the very peculiar history of our Royal Palace, why and how we made the transition from a Republic to a Monarchy. Meet our current Royal Family (we have pictures), and get up to speed with the latest juicy Royal gossip! Dam square is also where the tour ends.

Duration: 15 minutes

Inclusions
  • Snacks - On the tour you will be treated to typical Dutch Cookie
  • Our guides support their tours with pictures, paintings and maps that help bring history back to life!
  • Super Local Guides who are are also happy to share share their (restaurant) recommendations with you
  • A unique souvenir

Exclusions
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Infants must sit on laps
    • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
    • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    Departure Point

    Beursplein 5, 1012 JW Amsterdam, Netherlands


    Return Details

    Dam Square, Dam, 1012 Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Voucher info

    You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

    Duration

    2 hours 30 minutes


    User's Reviews

    guillaumec501

    28 Mar, 2024

    Very interesting tour ! Our guide, Nina, gave us very good explanation and fun fact about the city to understand more the spirit of the city, the archtecture, history points, ... Thank you !

    CJM525

    28 Mar, 2024

    Fun and informative tour by Alexander. We really enjoyed it. Loved learning about the City’s history and appreciated him asking us if we had questions at each stop.

    TomPurcell

    27 Mar, 2024

    David was an excellent guide. He knows his city and combines his local knowledge with a warm and keen sense of humour. Thoroughly recommend.

    Resort780294

    27 Mar, 2024

    Thank you Sebastian Great tour lots of information and hits a lot of the main things We all enjoyed it thank you again 🥳🥳🥳🥳

    983sallyannm

    26 Mar, 2024

    Sebastian was our tour guide and he was fantastic, very passionate about his city also very knowledgeable with the right mix of fun and comedy. I liked the fact that it wasn't a history lesson but more anecdotal but still gave a great view of the cities history. This is a long tour and it is done at a reasonable pace but we had plenty of time at each of the stops for my liking. Our group size was limited to 15 and Sebastian stuck to that rigidly as we had some late comers who were turned away. When we booked this tour we weren't advised that it is a tip based tour so thought that although there would be a tip at the end we had covered the ticket price. The evening before we received an email advising us it was a tip based tour. Whilst this didn't take away from the tour we then paid a larger tip than expected however this was ultimately our choice. Comment is made about this at the start of the tour and a comparison made to the cost of private tours. I would recommend this tour but it definitely isn't free!

    User's Picture Gallery

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    Fun tour!

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    Take the Tour!!

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    Excellent Tour

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    Great way to explore Amsterdam

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    Tour with Dani

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    Book it

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    Walking Tour Amsterdam

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    Dani the best tour guide ever

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    Enjoyable, informative tour

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    Awesome Tour Guide

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    Highly recommend (especially Jaap!)

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    Jaap is an outstanding walking tour guide

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    Highly recommend

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    Informative walking tour

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    Daan is your man - very informative and great sense of humour

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    Enjoyed the walking tour

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    Amstel dam info talk

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    Enjoyable Tour of Amsterdam

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    Best 2 1/2 hours

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    Insightful Walking Tour

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    Beautiful Amsterdam

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    Walking tour, a memorable experience!

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    Good tour, great guide.

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    A must-do activity.

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