We work with amazing private guides in Amsterdam.
We like to add a genuine and unique touch to your stay in Amsterdam and the rest of The Netherlands and Belgium.
All of them are extremely knowledgeable and fun to spend time with. They understand hospitality at its best to make your visit to the Dutch capital and the rest of the Low Countries an unforgettable journey!
Some ideas for Amsterdam private walking tours.
Amsterdam highlights
If it’s your first time visiting Amsterdam and you want to learn how to navigate the city and see its most famous locations with a local insider, this is the private tour for you! During this Amsterdam walking tour, we will take you to the most important locations in the ancient city center. You will get to see impressive buildings like the Royal Palace, but also other spectacular locations which are hidden to the rushed tourist like ancient courtyards and secret churches. You will understand why the canal houses are so famous and you will be amazed by the history and beauty of the Canal Ring -a World Heritage site recognized by UNESCO-. You don’t need to be a big shopper to get thrilled by the nicest boutique shops of the Nine Streets. (suggested tour time 3 hours).
Jordaan
It’s a residential area with beautiful old houses, cute canals and fairytale-like bridges. During this private tours, we will go off the beaten track when we enter Prinsen island and Bickers island, this is an ancient ship wharf area. It is nowadays a residence miracle, and extreme peaceful, despite being beautifully restored and centrally located. A ferry will take us to the north of the city, where the most vibrant new projects are taking place. We will visit the NDSM, an art hub located in an old wharf surrounded by cool cafes and restaurants. We will pick one of them to have a well-deserved drink while enjoying the view over the city.
Photo Safari
The Amsterdam Photo Safari will take you to the tourist highlights of the Dutch capital as well as the less well known hidden gems. During this private tour you will learn how to make great pictures of the city and the locals with the professional travel photographer Tom van der Leij.
De Wallen
This is a very old area in Amsterdam filled with narrow canals and alleys, but better known because of the “Red Light windows” and coffee shops. During your private tour, we will give you a lot of insight into the history, culture and the best kept secrets of this interesting part of Amsterdam while walking alongside beautiful monumental buildings such as the Old Church and De Waag.
Jewish Walking tour
Amsterdam is the city that has the largest diversity in the world when it comes to communities, ethnic groups and religions! Immigrants from all over built this successful and liberal city. Jews have been part of this process since the early days. Around 1650 a group of prominent Sephardic Jews started building a synagogue at the Daniel Meijerplein near the former Jewish quarter of Amsterdam; at the time it was the largest synagogue in the world. Opposite this stunning temple sits a complex of three synagogues built by Ashkenazi Jews. It now houses the Amsterdam Jewish Historical Museum. During our Jewish history walking tour you will go through the Jewish old town with a local insider, get to know about the people that inhabited this place and how they played an important role in the history of Amsterdam.
Private Museum Tours, churches and houses
There are over 70 museums to explore in Amsterdam, here is a list of the most important museums, canal houses, churches and art galleries in Amsterdam! Below we will list some museum but these are only part of the list!
Major ones are Rijks and Van Gogh. Please make sure we will book it advance to avoid lines.
A visit to the Rijksmuseum will drive you through the Dutch history and you will get to know Amsterdam’s cultural Heritage in depth. You will see the most famous paintings from the Golden Age (Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals) and some other impressive items such as amazingly detailed doll houses and an unbelievable library. You will look carefully at the paintings and discover the meaning and techniques behind them.
The Van Gogh Museum has the most important collection from arguably the most famous Dutch artist. You will get close to his paintings and get to know about the materials, techniques, use of colors, sources of inspiration and influences in his work.
Hermitage Amsterdam, The Hermitage collection in Amsterdam displays rotating selections of works and artifacts from the Hermitage collection in Russia. These include paintings, graphic works, sculptures, applied art and archaeological discoveries.
Stedelijk Museum, The Stedelijk Museum’s collection contains ca. 90,000 artworks and objects, dating from 1870 to the present. A visit to the Stedelijk Museum takes you on a journey through the last 150 years of art, presenting the best of modern art in Amsterdam. Iconic works by Karel Appel, Marlene Dumas, Kandinsky, Edward Kienholz, Koons, Malevich, Matisse, Mondrian, Picasso, Pollock, Gerrit Rietveld, Warhol and many others are on show.
MOCO Museum, The Moco Museum (Modern Contemporary) aims to reach out to a wide, international audience in Amsterdam by featuring works created by the ‘rock stars’ of the art world, such as Banksy, Warhol and Basquiat. It is a private initiative, and the pieces on exhibition are made available thanks to individual loans.
EYE Film Institute, this institution is admired by film fans, as EYE showcases the very best of cinematic history. Alongside the classics, it also screens new independent releases and hosts special evenings dedicated to experimental film and other genres. Not just an architecturally exciting film spot, the EYE’s café and restaurant is a beautiful waterside location for relaxing. In summertime, when the weather is nice, few places in the city enjoy more direct sunlight, from morning till sunset.
Rembrandt House Museum, The Rembrandt House Museum has been restored to its 17th-century majesty and offers a glimpse into the everyday life of Rembrandt in Amsterdam. You can visit the studio where the artist created many of his most famous paintings, in addition to his living quarters. The house also contains dozens of his etchings along with several items recovered during a recent archaeological survey of the grounds.
FOAM Photography Museum, Foam is an internationally renowned Amsterdam museum that exhibits all genres of photography in a beautiful canal-side setting. The museum has showcased some of the biggest names in the field, including Diane Arbus, Helen Levitt, Anton Corbijn, Alex Prager and Cy Twombly.
Scheepvaart (Maritime) Museum; The National Maritime Museum invites visitors to discover how the sea has shaped Dutch culture. In this freshly modernized museum, stimulating, interactive exhibitions let visitors explore 500 years of maritime history.
Dutch Resistance Museum; The Dutch Resistance Museum, known to locals as the Verzetsmuseum, details the history of the Dutch resistance in World War II during the country’s occupation by Germany from May 1940 to May 1945.
Allard Pierson Museum; Located in the heart of Amsterdam, this archaeological museum was inspired by the career of its namesake, Professor Allard Pierson. Here you’ll find artefacts from around the world, spanning thousands of years of human civilization.
Amsterdam’s Tropenmuseum (Museum of the Tropics) is a museum about people, housed in an impressive listed building overlooking Amsterdam’s Oosterpark. The extensive permanent display and regularly changing exhibitions feature objects that all have a story to tell about humankind.
Jewish Historical Museum; The Jewish Historical Museum is located at the heart of Amsterdam’s former Jewish quarter. Although not as famous as the bigger art museums, it is in fact one of the city’s most acclaimed museums due to its incisive programming. Housed in four former Ashkenazi synagogues dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, its permanent exhibition reflects the versatility of Judaism in the past and present. It also has its own dedicated children’s museum with exceptional educational facilities.
National Holocaust Museum; The National Holocaust Museum presents a range of exhibitions and events that introduce visitors to the multitude of stories about the Holocaust. These stories are told in an artistic form, illustrated by authentic objects and based on personal accounts. The museum is still in development and will pass through several stages over the coming years.
With kids
Jewish Historical Museum for kids; The Children’s Museum is home to the Hollanders, a Dutch Jewish family. The various rooms in the house reflect the family’s concerns and key elements in Jewish tradition: that each person has a responsibility for the world in which they live and that everyone can contribute in their own way. Younger visitors can explore everyday subjects such as food, study, memories and music.
Artis Royal Zoo; Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo was the first zoo to be established in the Netherlands, and it’s located right in the center of Amsterdam. It is home to 750 species of animals, including zebras, giraffes, elephants and chimpanzees, making it an immensely popular attraction for kids and animal lovers.
Micropia; Making the invisible visible: Amsterdam’s Micropia is an innovative museum dedicated to the imperceptible world of microorganisms. Micropia is part of ARTIS and is recommended for ages 8 and upwards.
NEMO Science Museum; At NEMO’s children can playfully experience science and technology all day long. The museum is situated in an unmistakable, sloping green building, set amidst the city’s Eastern Docklands. Its five floors are filled with continuously updated exhibitions, theatre performances, films, workshops and demonstrations, making it a favorite of kids in Amsterdam.
Churches/temples
Nieuwe Kerk; Located opposite to the Amsterdam Royal Palace on Dam Square, this 15th-century church has hosted countless events over the years. In addition to being used for the wedding and investiture of Willem-Alexander, the current King of the Netherlands, it serves as an exhibition space.
Oude Kerk; The Oude Kerk (Old Church) is both the oldest church and the oldest building in Amsterdam. It dates back to about 1250 and is incongruously located in the red light district.
Portuguese Synagogue; Dating back to 1675, the Portuguese Synagogue is one the world’s largest synagogues. Its architect, Elias Bouwman, was supposedly inspired by the Temple of Solomon.
Houses
Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder; This hidden church dates from 1663, when it was prohibited for Catholics to celebrate mass. Explore the narrow corridors of this uniquely preserved seventeenth-century house and climb the stairs to discover living rooms, kitchens and bedsteads furnished in Dutch Golden Age style, leading up to the literal highpoint of the museum: an entire church in the attic.
Museum van Loon; The former house of the regent Van Loon family, is situated in the heart of the Amsterdam Canals. The first inhabitant of the house was Ferdinand Bol, a student of the famous painter Rembrandt. In the rooms one finds beautiful portraits, impressive pieces of furniture and silver and porcelain from different centuries. Behind the house lays a beautiful garden.
Houseboat Museum; The Houseboat Museum gives you the unique opportunity to experience what life is like on board a houseboat in an Amsterdam canal.
Others
Museum of bags & purses; Travel through time, history and fashion as you explore the impressive collection of handbags and accessories at the Museum of Bags and Purses. As the world’s only museum with such an extensive and specialized collection, it tells the story of the humble handbag from the late Middle Ages to the present day.