Top Amsterdam Walking Tours - page 21

We'd already been in Amsterdam for about a week when we took this tour, so we thought we'd gotten pretty familiar with the city, but Aarre showed us a lot of really cool spots we hadn't seen yet. He took us to see fun bars, historic monuments, and interesting shops. Along the way he supplied us with a lot of historical facts that really brought the city to life. One of my favorite things about Aarre's tour was how respectfully he talked about the red light district and the girls who work there. Before we entered the areas where the girls were working, he told us the rules (no pictures, no stopping in front of windows, no harassing the girls) to ensure we didn't disrupt business. On top of keeping us all respectful, Aarre always talked about the girls in a way that centered their humanity and helped us understand why their job is so difficult but necessary. Aarre ended the tour by sharing key facts about the uncertain future of the red light district and some of the modern difficulties facing Amsterdam. This all made the city feel like much more than just a neat tourist destination; Amsterdam is a historic city that is still evolving and very much alive, and you don't really get that insight by just visiting the museums. I would recommend you take this tour — and ask for Aarre (or Pedro, who we ran into several times and was a lot of fun) — if you want to get an all-encompassing perspective on Amsterdam. And remember to tip your tour guide!

After missing tickets to the Anne Frank museum this was the next best thing and turned out to be a real treat. Our guide - Craig - was fantastic he clearly enjoyed his job and was well prepared and walked us through Amstedam and showed us many significant locations from what was the worst of times in the city. Well worth the effort and if you are able to get tickets to the musuem as well then doing this before the museum visit would significantly enhance that experience.

Highly recommend this tour - tasty food, informative guide, an easy pace, and so much fun! Our group of five allowed for excellent interaction with each other and our guide, and we learned a great deal about the Dutch culture, the people, the country, and the food. If you are looking for an immersion experience, this tour is it!