Top Amsterdam City Tours - page 3

Even though it was a very rainy and windy day we enjoyed our tour with Apostle. He was engaging and allowed flexibility in our time visiting and exploring. Disappointed we couldn’t walk the various villages but Mother Nature had something else in mind.

Our guide, Ben was very good! A bit irreverent and funny, he toured us around some of the more unusual spots of Amsterdam and filled us in on obscure but interesting historical biographies and architectural sight info. Very fun and the haring was a treat😁

If you want to know more about Amsterdam, and the history in an active setting this tour is for you! Brian was engaging, and knowledgeable on all things Amsterdam. He gave us an overview of our afternoon, safety talk and then the fun began! Brian has found the perfect outlet for his knowledge of Amsterdam history; we were introduced to different neighborhoods, and areas of interest…and not to be missed spots, even restaurants. Ask for Brian when you do this tour!

This was the perfect way to experience Netherlands countryside. We were so fortunate to have Rinse as our guide: knowledgeable and passionate about his work, he is also funny and kind. He kept us all safe navigating the roads and even took pictures for us throughout the tour. Definitely my favourite part of the family tour to the Netherlands and a must-do again for next time.

I took this tour solo and there were 19 people on board the van. It was comfortable though the pass through lane between rows of seating was quite narrow. There are single seats (5 or 6 maybe?) on one side of the van, air con vents above and (importantly!) USB ports above also to charge devices. We had time to stop at the “fruit stand” which is really a large, locally owned fruit, cheese, and gourmet foods market (it’s called Vink Fruitboerderij) which is really fantastic! I bought a couple of bins of strawberries, some candied fruit, a couple hunks of cheese and their dipping sauces, fresh fruit juices, etc. They take cards and restrooms are available, too. It’s quite impressive (apparently they have “pick your own fruit” train dates in summer and fall, too). Jay did a nice job of providing some interesting facts and could “read the room” and adjust his narration accordingly. I think the driver is Davide? Both did a great job. Anyway, once we got to Gierthoorn the boat tour was excellent (be sure to bring some euros to tip the boat captain if you enjoyed it!). The boat captain is local and grew up in Gierthoorn. I love that the boat gives you the option to raise your own plate glass window (next to your seat) which is much better for picture taking along the scenic canal route! I would suggest sitting on the right side of the boat if you can. We were lucky to have cool, cloudy weather…the sun came out a bit more towards the end of our visit also. The cruise disembarked at the Grand Canal, giving a couple of hours to wander about the narrow footpaths, filled with other tourists and locals. Two hours seems like just the right amount of time to see the area and grab lunch or a snack. There is an ATM pretty close to where the boat let’s you out, if needed. I suggest avoiding the Euronet one (due to high fees) if you can walk a little further. Most restaurants take cards but I needed an ATM for tipping on the tour. I chose to get a late lunch alongside the Grand Canal at Grand Cafe Henri Willig (mustard soup, Bitterballen, and a brownie). There were two ladies who weren’t on the bus at departure time. We waited over 15 minutes and Jay was trying to reach them. After about 20 minutes we reluctantly pulled away but both Jay and I saw them flagging down the van so we stopped so they could both board the return journey to Amsterdam (otherwise it would have been a very expensive trip for those ladies to have gotten back!). Most drivers & guides wouldn’t have waited that long for them so I think it says a lot about this duo. Don’t hesitate to book this day trip!

Giethoorn was lovely and we enjoyed our time there. Regarding this particular tour, that morning public transportation workers were striking, so there was a lot of traffic and our driver was a little late. They were EXCELLENT in communicating his arrival time, giving us more time to get ready in our room (which we really appreciated, because mornings are hard) instead of waiting in front of the hotel.

This was not on our initial itinerary and was a last minute booking on our part, and I am so happy we booked it. It gave us such a deeper understanding of this area, dispelled myths, etc. Eden was our guide and had so much knowledge about this district, from its beginnings to current state of affairs. We would definitely recommend this tour.

The gardens at keukenhoff are amazing. This trip was better than I expected. We were fortunate enough to still get to see gardens. I think it was going to be closing for season middle of May. Absolutely breathtaking! Enjoyed Zaase Schwann walking around wind mills and cheese samples, demonstration of wooden shoes was great, family operation for many generations. Highly recommend this tour!