Top Amsterdam Historical Tours

Amsterdam's World War II history is woven through the Jewish Quarter, but the sites give little away without someone to explain what happened there. This small-group walking tour traces that history on foot, stopping at the Jewish Historical Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue, and the Auschwitz Monument, and covers events including the February Strike and the Winter of Hunger. It ends outside the Anne Frank House (entrance not included).

Don’t settle for crowded museums that rush you through history, elbow-to-elbow with the masses. This intimate walking tour follows Anne Frank's journey through the streets of Amsterdam, each lesser-known site offering profound insights into this era—and proving the enduring need for empathy to this day. Your tour wraps up at the iconic Secret Annex, leaving you with a deeper understanding that standard tours simply can't provide.

Experience the Rijksmuseum's treasures on a semi-private tour led by a licensed guide. Delve into the Golden Age of Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt and Vermeer. Explore iconic artworks and immerse yourself in Dutch art history in just 90 minutes. Your tour includes a museum ticket with skip-the-line admission so you can avoid waiting in long lines. Note that this tour is not wheelchair accessible and has a moderate level of difficulty.

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.

See some of Vincent Van Gogh's most famous works with a guide to lead the way on this walking tour of Amsterdam's famed Van Gogh Museum. Listen to live commentary about the celebrated Dutch painter and his life and inspiration while taking time to examine some of his most iconic works.

This walking tour is the perfect way to enjoy an introduction to Amsterdam. Choose between a private or small group touring option, and head off on your route. Orient yourself to the city's center as you explore its complex history. Follow your guide through Old Town, the Red Light District, the Jordaan neighborhood and more on this jam-packed itinerary.

Get a fresh perspective on Amsterdam's Red Light District (De Wallen) on this small-group walking tour of the area. Delve into the city's history with the help of your guide and learn about what life is like for sex workers there, plus the laws surrounding the profession. As you explore, find out about local coffeeshops culture and other ways of life than make central Amsterdam unique.

Discover the charms of Bruges on this 12-hour excursion from Amsterdam. As you travel by bus, learn about the history of Belgium. Explore the city of Bruges, visiting the Market Square, Town Hall, and other historic sights. See one of Michelangelo’s masterpieces in the Church of Our Lady and enjoy a bit of free time before your return to the Netherlands.

Avoid waiting in a long line with fast-track access to Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, then unwind after a busy day’s sightseeing on a canal cruise. Take advantage of the combined deal to save money and tick off 2 popular city attractions. Learn about Holland’s history and culture as you explore the national museum, and benefit from audio commentary for insight into landmarks as you cruise the iconic canals.

Learn about Anne Frank and Amsterdam's Jewish community on this small-group walking tour of the city's Jewish quarter. As you stroll, hear stories about Anne Frank's family, her life in hiding, and more. See sights from ancient synagogues to the Auschwitz Monument, from the sites of deportations to a museum of the resistance.

You’ve seen the canals—now it’s time to get on the water. During this 1-hour cruise, you pass all of the Dutch capital's waterfront highlights. As you listen to stories from your guide or an audio guide, you float past islands, beautiful bridges, Centraal Station, historic warehouses, churches, and more, leaving with a deeper appreciation of this historic city than you'd get if you tried sightseeing alone.

Spend less time wandering and more time admiring the masterpieces of the Rijksmuseum on a small-group guided tour. Designed with time-pressed travelers in mind, this tour takes you straight to the highlights to admire paintings by European masters such as Rembrandt and Hals, and offers insight into European art history that you’re unlikely to find in the guidebooks. Plus, a small group means that you have plenty of opportunities to ask your guide questions.

Explore Zaanse Schans and the Dutch countryside this tour 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 about the role of windmills in the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age.

Learn more about the Dutch Golden Age on a private tour of the Rijksmuseum. Deepen your appreciation of the exhibits as your guide provides historical and cultural insights into masterpieces from artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh. Explore at your own pace and enjoy the undivided attention of your private guide.

Visit one of Amsterdam’s most important historical landmarks. Located on the Prinsengracht canal in the city center, the museum is the former hiding place where Anne Frank, her family, and four other people lived in secret during World War II. It is here that Anne wrote her world-famous diary, which has since become one of the most powerful and widely read personal accounts of the Holocaust. During your visit, you will enter the original building and walk through the preserved rooms of the Secret Annex, carefully maintained to reflect the conditions in which the residents lived in hiding. The museum also features personal belongings, photographs, historical documents, and multimedia displays that provide deeper context about Anne Frank’s life, the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, and the broader history of World War II. This experience offers a meaningful and reflective visit at your own pace, allowing you to fully absorb the history and significance of the location.

Get to know Amsterdam like a local on a private, fully personalized experience. Starting from your accommodation or chosen meeting point, explore the city in a way that reflects your interests—whether that's wandering the charming Nine Streets, uncovering hidden courtyards, sampling Dutch delicacies at a street market, or soaking in canal-side views. With a local host by your side, you’ll skip the tourist trail and dive into authentic Amsterdam.

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; admire the experimental architecture of Rotterdam; and watch how blue-and-white Delft pottery is made. This tour gives you longer in each place than most other excursions, so you can explore at a more relaxed pace.

Visit three of the Netherlands’ most interesting cities in one day on this small-group tour from Amsterdam. Led by a local expert, this full-day tour of The Hague, Delft, and Rotterdam offers travelers a fascinating overview of each city and select attractions. Highlights include Binnenhof & Ridderzaal—a 13th-century Gothic castle still used as a parliament building—Delft Markt, and the 14th-century Old Harbour in Rotterdam. Hotel pickup is included.

See a side of the Netherlands that many visitors miss on an e-bike tour that promises an authentic Dutch experience. Swap the busy streets of Amsterdam for open fields, canals, windmills, and picture-perfect medieval villages as you follow a comfortable 25-mile (40-kilometer) route that's made easier with an electric bike. Upgrade to visit a family-run cheese and clog farm and see locals making Gouda cheese and wooden clogs by hand.

Take advantage of the close proximity of European countries on a day trip to Bruges from Amsterdam. Ideal for travelers who want to see more of Europe in less time, this tour saves you the hassle of planning by taking care of transport. A guided walking tour of Bruges' UNESCO-listed Old Town will give you a good overview so you can later explore the city independently at your own pace.

Discover the stories behind Amsterdam's infamous Red Light District during a visit to the Museum of Prostitution. Prebook your tickets for seamless logistics, and explore at your own pace thanks to the provided audio guide. Once inside, learn more about the history of the area, sit at a window where sex workers once advertised their services, and learn the secrets of the world’s oldest profession through the real-life anecdotes of those involved.

Experience a 2-hour walking tour of Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter and immerse yourself in the moving history of the 2nd century. World War I. You will start at the famous Anne Frank statue, around the corner from the Anne Frank House and follow its exciting tracks. Let yourself be carried away by passages from Anne's diary and dive deep into Jewish history before and after the Second World War on an informative tour together with a passionate guide. World War I entered Amsterdam. Pass the Anne Frank House, the Portuguese Synagogue and look at stumbling blocks and monuments that recall the courageous resistance in the Third Reich. Discover how the Jewish community lives in multicultural Amsterdam today. Explore the Jewish Quarter of the Dutch capital on this tour and enjoy an unforgettable experience. Note : The Anne Frank House is visited from the outside on this tour, but not visited.

Explore the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam with a small-group tour. Meet your guide at a departure point and climb aboard a minivan for a full-day tour to Rotterdam, Delft, and the Hague. Skip the hassle of rental cars or public transportation and admire views during the drive. See the experimental architecture of Rotterdam, check out important government buildings in the Hague, and discover the old town of Delft, home to blue-and-white Delft pottery.