The Netherlands · HISTORICAL TOURS

15 Historical Tours in the Netherlands Worth Booking

79 tours  ·  from $9

The 15 best historical tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with Tastings - Starting near Vijzelstraat and the Bloemenmarkt
Amsterdam Tours, Food, Food & Drink, Food Tours in Amsterdam, Historical Tours, History Tours in Amsterdam, Tour Reviews, Tours

Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with Tastings

1.Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,442 reviews · from $91Our pick

Roman leads a small group through central Amsterdam, pairing Tom Pouce, fries, herring, cheese, and other Dutch tastes with stories about the monarchy, crooked houses, the Anne Frank House area, and local customs. The walk starts near Vijzelstraat and ends by Noordermarkt.

“This was a fabulous tour all round. Like the title said… take this tour! You will not be disappointed. It’s not just about the food (all of which was absolutely delicious… we tried at least five, maybe six, foods from the TopTen list of Dutch foods) but it’s about learning about a place where someone who loves where they live is willing to share that with you. Roman, our guide, did exactly that. He was friendly and approachable, yet still professional. Also funny and very, very knowledgeable about not just great food and places to get it, but the city and it’s history. We always try to take a food…”

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Rotterdam: Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage Entry Ticket - Starting the visit at the entrance exhibition
Historical Tours, Kinderdijk Windmill Tours, South Holland Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Rotterdam: Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage Entry Ticket

2.Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,477 reviews · 1 day · from $25

Spend a flexible day at Kinderdijk, walking beside 19 working windmills, entering two museum mills, visiting a pumping station, and riding the included boat through the polders. You guide yourself with an online audio tour, films, and exhibits in several languages.

“This is a self guided tour! Once you have bought a ticket, make your way there and start walking! Or you can catch the charming little boat that takes you to the small distance stop off points where you can actually go into two of the 19 operating windmills - the oldest from 1635 I think...do get chatting to your boat hosts and the fellows running the windmills and do watch the vidoes on the boats (only 9 minutes)”

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The Hague: Hop-on Hop-off Old-Fashioned Heritage Tram Tour - The city center stops: Gravenstraat, Centrum, and Kerkplein
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The Hague: Hop-on Hop-off Old-Fashioned Heritage Tram Tour

3.Hop-on Hop-off Old-Fashioned Heritage Tram Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,083 reviews · from $18

See The Hague from a historic 65-year-old tram, using unlimited rides for one day. Hop off near Parliament, the Peace Palace, Madurodam, or Scheveningen beach, then continue with an audio guide in 10 languages. The route runs every 30 minutes, though narrow doors and steps limit wheelchair access.

“It was Fun and perfect way to letting know the city better 🎉🎉🎉”

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Rotterdam: Harbor Cruise on a Historic Ship - Erasmus Bridge, Veerhaven, and Parkhaven
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Rotterdam: Harbor Cruise on a Historic Ship

4.Harbor Cruise on a Historic Ship

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 812 reviews · from $20

Join the historic Nehalennia beside Rotterdam’s Erasmus Bridge for a 1.5-hour cruise through the Maas and working harbor. Choose the cozy salon or sun deck, listen to Dutch, English, or German commentary, and watch cranes, ferries, tugboats, and cargo ships from the water.

“this is a very nice experience. you can sit down comfortably at the table, both inside the boat and outside, and watch the passing-by landscape while enjoying refreshing drinks. the tour guide offers interesting pieces of information all throughout the trip. the boat isn’t going too fast, so you have a lot of time to appreciate the view and take pictures.”

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Amsterdam: Haunted History and Ghost Walking Tour - Spinhuis: Punishment, Fear, and Women’s Stories
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Amsterdam: Haunted History and Ghost Walking Tour

5.Haunted History and Ghost Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 488 reviews · 2 hours · from $30

Walk through Amsterdam’s darker past with an English-speaking storyteller. Expect royal crypts, witch trials, a former women’s prison, a haunted nun at Begijnhof, Blood Street, and the Waag. Guides such as Sunil, Duncan, Jan, and others blend ghost stories with city history, architecture, and local tips.

“We had a wonderful time on our tour with guide Duncan. He was very knowledgeable on the history of Amsterdam, while sharing some excellent stories about it’s haunted past. Highly recommend!”

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Amsterdam High-End Dutch Food & History Tour - Up to 8 guests - Saturday: market food, farmhouse cheese, and Dutch wine
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Amsterdam High-End Dutch Food & History Tour – Up to 8 guests

6.Amsterdam High-End Dutch Food & History Tour – Up to 8 guests

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 482 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $157

Walk Amsterdam with a guide such as Rudolph, Catharina, Jan, or David, stopping at brown cafés, markets, delis, fish shops, and historic places for Dutch cheese, apple pie, satay, herring, wine, and bitterballen. The four-hour tour takes up to eight people and varies by day.

“We are a group of four joining another two couples from the states. The eight of us are visiting Amsterdam. I communicated with Thijs, the founder of the operator, as I intended to give a fair review base on facts. Firstly, it would be unfair to give a one star review given all the good efforts and care our guide Mark, the operating company and the owners of places we visited had put in, therefore two stars. We have enjoyed our time with Mark our guide, the places we visited as well as friendly gestures of other guests. The culprit who left us a really bad taste with this tour…”

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Leiden: Cruise through the Historic City Center with Guide - Boarding at Blauwpoortsbrug
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Leiden: Cruise through the Historic City Center with Guide

7.Cruise through the Historic City Center with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 445 reviews · 50 min · from $15Best value

Cruise Leiden’s canals for 50 minutes in a quiet electric boat with a Dutch and English-speaking skipper. You’ll pass bridges, parks, terraces, the observatory, university, and Hortus Botanicus. Guides such as Tom and Alexander add humor and local stories, while a cover and heater keep the ride comfortable in poor weather.

“It was great fun and Tom, our guide, had a good sense of humour.”

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Amsterdam: Historic City Sightseeing Canal Cruise - Westerkerk, houseboats, and the Jordaan edge
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Amsterdam: Historic City Sightseeing Canal Cruise

8.Historic City Sightseeing Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 444 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $18

Cruise Amsterdam’s historic canal ring with Amsterdam Circle Line from the Anne Frank House. Expect an approximately one-hour route past Westerkerk, houseboats, Centraal Station, the IJ, the Amstel, and Stopera, with English commentary that may be live or recorded depending on the boat and crew.

“The canal tour showed Amsterdam off to its best. The captain was informative and friendly and provided interesting tidbits about the city. I thoroughly recommend this tour.”

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Amsterdam: Historical Highlights Walking Tour with Tasting - Canals, bridges, and the city built on trade
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Amsterdam: Historical Highlights Walking Tour with Tasting

9.Historical Highlights Walking Tour with Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 381 reviews · 2 hours · from $34

Walk from Dam Square through Amsterdam’s medieval and Golden Age center with a guide in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese. Expect the Royal Palace, canals, Begijnhof, Flower Market, Amstel River, lively stories, and a Dutch food tasting, though the tasting may be modest.

“Edwin was wonderful. He even made sure we knew how to get back to the city center. He was very knowledgeable and told us very interesting things about the history of of Amsterdam.”

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Anne Frank and the Jewish History of Amsterdam Private Tour - Starting at the Portuguese Synagogue
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Anne Frank and the Jewish History of Amsterdam Private Tour

10.Anne Frank and the Jewish History of Amsterdam Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 307 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $95

Spend three hours walking from the Portuguese Synagogue through Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter, Plantage, WWII memorials, Dam Square, and Westerkerk. Guides such as Chris, Kaleigh, Guido, and Inbal bring the history to life. Anne Frank House entry is included when tickets are available, with virtual reality as the backup.

“Chris was amazing! He certainly knows his history which was so awesome! Turned us on to some really cool spots - places and things we never would have discovered on our own! 10 out of 10!!!”

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Amsterdam: 3-Course Meal in Historic 1st Class Waiting Rooms - Finding the restaurant inside Amsterdam Central Station
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Amsterdam: 3-Course Meal in Historic 1st Class Waiting Rooms

11.3-Course Meal in Historic 1st Class Waiting Rooms

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 292 reviews · from $61

Enjoy a three-course lunch or dinner in Amsterdam Central Station’s former first-class waiting rooms, designed by Pierre Cuypers in 1885. Choose from meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes, admire the restored interior, and look toward Damrak Avenue. Drinks cost extra, and window seats are not guaranteed.

“Wow. Stunning restaurant with a nice calm and vibrant buzz to it. My wife and I had the 3 course offer and it did not disappoint. The food was delicious and the service 1st class. Highly recommended. Many thanks”

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Amsterdam: Highlights & History Walking Tour - Starting near Amsterdam Central Station
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Amsterdam: Highlights & History Walking Tour

12.Highlights & History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 266 reviews · 2 hours · from $32

Spend two hours walking Amsterdam’s old center with a local guide such as Aaron, James, Robin, or Aarre. Expect stories about trade, canals, Dutch culture, prostitution, crooked houses, hidden churches, and the city’s narrowest street. Groups are limited to eight, with English, German, and Spanish tours available.

“Lukas was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and entertaining. He is passionate about his city and its history. A true professional guide who knows his craft.”

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Anne Frank and Amsterdam Jewish History Walking Tour - Singelgracht and Willem Arondeus
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Anne Frank and Amsterdam Jewish History Walking Tour

13.Anne Frank and Amsterdam Jewish History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 259 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $29

Follow Anne Frank’s story through central Amsterdam, from Dam Square and a wartime hiding place to Willem Arondeus’s memorial stone and the Anne Frank House. Guides such as Iris, Stein, Tristan, and Gee bring the period to life in English. The two-hour walk does not include house admission.

“Amazing tour despite the rain. Our guide was super knowledgeable, told the story in an explosive way and was very friendly.”

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Amsterdam: Jewish Quarter and History Guided Tour - Beginning beside the Amstel River
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Amsterdam: Jewish Quarter and History Guided Tour

14.Jewish Quarter and History Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 210 reviews · 2 hours · from $23

Spend two hours walking Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter with a live English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Visit the Portuguese Synagogue, Jewish Historical Museum, Jewish Council headquarters, Dokwerker, and Auschwitz Monument, then finish near Anne Frank House. Private and small-group options are available.

“Our guide was terrific. I'm struggling to recall his name, but he is a history major and a reservoir of interesting perspectives on the Jewish Quarter and events of Nazi occupation. He calibrated his talking points to our small group and generously responded to questions along the way. Our group consisted of four Jewish people and all commented that they learned a great deal. Thank you for making this tour and tour guide available.”

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Gouda: Historical Canal Cruise - Riding the Jan Salie or Jan Kordaat
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Gouda: Historical Canal Cruise

15.Historical Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 158 reviews · 1h 15m · from $18

Spend 75 minutes aboard the Jan Salie or Jan Kordaat, two historic Dutch tow barges, as your skipper guides you through Gouda’s canals and Museum Harbour. Tours run in Dutch or English and include a covered deck, sun deck, toilet, and minibar. Check the departure point and time carefully before booking.

“Niet in het donker varen, want dan zie je niks. De opstapplek en de aanvangstijd waren foutief gecommuniceerd.”

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New in Historical Tours

★ 4.5Utrecht Historic City: a Self-Guided Augmented Reality TourFrom $127 reviews
★ 4.0Private Walking Tour: Delft’s Royal History and PotteryFrom $1955 reviews
★ 5.0Photographic Tour in Delft Historical CenterFrom $5911 reviews
★ 5.0Historical The Hague: Private Tour with Local Guide6 reviews
★ 5.0Discover Historical Delft with an Audio GuideFrom $223 reviews
★ 4.5Drive it yourself electric History and Castle GPS audio tour35 reviews
★ 5.0Rotterdam Must Do Tour: Highlights, History, WW2 and ArchitectureFrom $2920 reviews
★ 4.5MUST DO: Rotterdam highlights & history with a local guideFrom $3357 reviews
★ 5.0Maastricht Highlights, Architecture & Heritage Tour7 reviews
★ 5.0Maastricht Heritage and Nature Tour6 reviews
★ 5.0Discover Maastricht with a Smile! Culture, History and People16 reviews
★ 5.0Historical Private Tour of Delft and Leiden including TransferFrom $2604 reviews
★ 5.0Historical Leiden: Private Tour with Local Guide3 reviews
★ 3.5Cultural and Historical Audio guided walking tour Tour of HaarlemFrom $1513 reviews
★ 5.0Haarlem Self-Guided Taste, Culture & History WalkFrom $547 reviews

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