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GuruWalk Original
Free tour

Amsterdam THEN 🌷 Amsterdam NOW 🇳🇱

Duration: 2h
Languages: English
Quality Verified Registered on October 27, 2022

Hi everyone ! My name is Fernando, born in Portugal but living in Amsterdam for the last seven years. I’m a history lover, backpacker and a food enthusiast! I’ve been working as a guide all around The Netherlands and Belgium for the last three years, and I have an extended experience traveling with large groups of people from all over the world. In a few words I describe myself as: charismatic, caring, a bit crazy and a knowledgeable story teller.

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GuruWalk Original

GW Originals free walking tours are chosen by our staff among the best and are unique tours that you will only find on GuruWalk.

  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
  • Accepts electronic payment
    This tour allows payment by electronic means or credit card

Tour description

Welcome to Amsterdam!

Are you ready to explore one of the most fascinating cities in the world, with its beautiful canals and rich history? Then join me for a two-hour tour that will take you through some of the city's best-kept secrets and most famous landmarks. 🇳🇱 🌷

During this tour, you’ll discover how Amsterdam became the most multicultural city in the world, as well as cover main topics and highlights, such as:

  • Origins of Amsterdam and the Netherlands. 
  • The constant struggle with water.
  • Dutch golden age and war of independence.
  • VOC  (Dutch East India Company)
  • Red Light District
  • Amstedam UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Chinatown- Drugs & tolerance
  • WW2 and the Hunger Winter
  • Dutch food, art and modern culture. 

The tour will be also full of humorous facts and personal stories, beautiful sightseeing and cover everything you need to know about Amsterdam: history, modern life, culture, art and insightful recommendations for your holidays.

Duration: 2 hours
Meeting point: Rokin 11 next to Cara de Mujer statue (map ⬇️)  🔴 UMBRELLA
End point: Flower Market ( Itinerary ⬇️)


Remember to arrive at least 10 minutes early, as we don't want to leave anyone behind!

Please note that our free tours are designed for individuals and small groups of up to 5 persons. If you have a larger group, please contact me to discuss a separate tour to accommodate you.

Look forward to meeting you! 

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Rokin 11, 1012 KK Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Rokin 11, 1012 KK Amsterdam, Netherlands
    View on map

    Rokin 11 next to the statue Cara de Mujer (RED 🔴 UMBRELLA- VIEW MAP BELOW)

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Royal Palace Amsterdam

    In the middle of the capital stands the Royal Palace Amsterdam, King Willem-Alexander’s official reception palace. The Palace is the largest and most prestigious building from the Golden Age, making it one of the Netherlands’ most important monuments. It was originally built, not as a palace, but as Amsterdam’s town hall. Architect Jan van Campen designed a building which would reflect the power and wealth of Amsterdam in the 17th century.

  • 2
    Outside visit
    Beursplein

    The Beurs van Berlage, the Beursplein and the Bijenkorf are in line with each other in the former river bed of the Amstel. The square was built at the end of the 19th century, after the damping (in 1845 and in 1883) of a part of the Damrak, near the Dam.

  • 3
    Outside visit
    Oude Kerk

    The Oude Kerk (English: Old Church) is Amsterdam’s oldest building and newest art institute (since 2012). The building was founded about 1213 and consecrated in 1306 by the bishop of Utrecht with Saint Nicolas as its patron saint. After the Reformation in 1578, it became a Calvinist church, which it remains today. It stands in De Wallen, now Amsterdam's main red-light district.

  • 4
    Outside visit
    Chinatown

    The Amsterdam Chinatown area consists of a number of city blocks crammed with Asian markets, restaurants and shops. The most important tourist sight within Amsterdam's Chinatown is without doubt the Zeedijk Buddhist temple, known as Fo Guang Shan He Hua. This impressive building, with its brightly coloured walls and distinctive Chinese roof, is the largest Chinese style Buddhist temple in Europe and has stood here since 2000.

  • 5
    Outside visit
    Nieuwmarkt

    The New Market Square (Nieuwmarkt) has been an Amsterdam market since the 17th Century, when farmers would come here to sell produce from their plots at the square just inside St. Anthony's Gate. Over the centuries, the layout of the city has changed such that Nieuwmarket is no longer at the edge of the city limits. St. Anthony’s Gate has also changed a lot, with the gatehouse, the picturesque building known as De Waag, being previously a weight house, medical college and now a restaurant.

  • 6
    Outside visit
    Salon de Thé (The Smallest House in Amsterdam)

    Built around 1600 at Oude Hoogstraat. It stands at a minuscule 2.02 metres wide and only 5 metres deep, with just one small room on each floor, which must have made living in it extremely impractical. Today, the house is open to the public as ‘the smallest tea room in Amsterdam’.

  • 7
    Outside visit
    VOC dutch east indie Compangie

    The Oost-Indisch Huis (Dutch for "East India House") is an early 17th-century building in the centre of Amsterdam. It was the headquarters of the Amsterdam chamber of the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC). It is a listed Dutch national heritage site (rijksmonument).

  • 8
    Outside visit
    Rembrandtplein

    Rembrandtplein is one of the busiest squares in the city of Amsterdam. At least when it comes to nightlife and clubbing. In the Middle Ages the site held a gateway into the city. By the 17th century, it was known as The Butter Market because farmers would sell thair dairy and poultry products here.

  • 9
    Outside visit
    Tuschinski Theater

    The theater was founded by Abraham Tuschinski, together with his brothers-in-law Hermann Gerschtanowitz and Hermann Ehrlich. Tuschinski at the time already operated four theaters in Rotterdam and wanted to open a theater in Amsterdam of worldclass. Construction started on 18 June 1919, the theater was built in Art Deco, Jugendstil and the Amsterdams School style

  • 10
    Outside visit
    Muntplein

    Originally park of the city wall, this tower was rebuild in 1620 and features a carillon with bells. End stop

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

508 ratings
4.9
By category
Professionalism
4.92
Fun
4.8
Expression
4.85
Quality
4.88
Route
4.76
Generic
5 stars
467
4 stars
30
3 stars
4
2 stars
1
1 star
6
Dorota 19 Apr 2024
Kalisz

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Apr 2024
A brilliant walk around the most important places in Amsterdam. Professionalism, humor and the ability to convey extremely interesting information by our guru. It was a perfect introduction to exploring this exciting city. I highly recommend it :-)
Andrea 19 Apr 2024
Forte dei Marmi

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Apr 2024
Fernando is a really good guide, and you're rinding this from a girl that did soooo many free tour all around Europe. I had the chance to do one in Amsterdam some years ago, and let me tell you this was way better. The english was really good, and everyone could understand him. He also looked interested in his clients and everyone felt comfortable with the tour. A lot of history, but in the best way possible. I'll totally recommend his tour, us (the italians) loved it.
Margarita 19 Apr 2024
Saint Petersburg

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Apr 2024
Thank you, Fernando! That was amazing tour! So much interesting facts, history, and a very good sense of humor! 😀Absolutely loved it. Highly recommend the guide!
Unnur 18 Apr 2024
San Francisco

Verified booking
Travelled in family - Apr 2024
We've done a number of free tours around the world, and this was one of the best we've done so far. The content was interesting and amusing, but also included some quality history. It was raining during our tour, so I wasn't paying as much attention to the sights themselves, but the tour guide and the info he provided were excellent - highly recommended.
Jack 14 Apr 2024
Boston

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Apr 2024
Fernando was excellent and very informative. We learned interesting things about Amsterdam’s past and how it has shaped the present country.
Show 508 reviews

Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Does not accept large group reservations.
Pets
Not suitable for pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
A minimum of 5 people is required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Electronic or credit card payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
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