The Netherlands · HISTORY TOURS IN AMSTERDAM

15 History Tours in Amsterdam Worth Booking

47 tours  ·  from $9

Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 history tours in Amsterdam justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.

Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with Tastings - Starting near Vijzelstraat and the Bloemenmarkt
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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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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

2.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

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

4.Historic City Sightseeing Canal Cruise

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

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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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

5.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

6.3-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

7.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

8.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

9.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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LGBTQI+ History Tour of Amsterdam - Along the canals and Amsterdam’s planned center
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LGBTQI+ History Tour of Amsterdam

10.LGBTQI+ History Tour of Amsterdam

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 123 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $42

Join Henk for a two-hour LGBTQI+ history walk through central Amsterdam. Hear personal stories and Dutch history at the Gay Monument, Dam Square, the red light district, Chinatown, and Café ’t Mandje. Straight allies are welcome, and groups are limited to 15 people.

“A highly recommend tour the guide is very nice person with plenty of knowledge of history and open to”

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Amsterdam: Ghost Walking Tour and Dark History - Starting beneath the towers of Nieuwe Kerk
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Amsterdam: Ghost Walking Tour and Dark History

11.Ghost Walking Tour and Dark History

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 118 reviews · 2 hours · from $29

Join an English-speaking guide such as Maria, Marie, or Pilar for a two-hour walk from Nieuwe Kerk to the Weeping Tower. You’ll hear ghost stories, unsolved crimes, and grim Amsterdam history while visiting Dam Square, Begijnhof, Bloedstraat, Spooksteeg, and shadowy canal streets.

“Our guide, Maria, was outstanding. She brought the material to life in a very enjoyable tour that blended a walking tour of Amsterdam with ghost stories and dark history. We loved the mix of general and dark history!”

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REDKULT: Red Light District & Historical City Center - Walking Through the Historic City Center
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REDKULT: Red Light District & Historical City Center

12.REDKULT: Red Light District & Historical City Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 102 reviews · from $32

Walk Amsterdam’s Red Light District, historic center, and Grachtengordel with a German-speaking guide. Guides such as Anne and Natascha bring humor, local tips, and clear context to the city’s contrasts. The group is limited to eight, with a central start and return at Beursplein.

“Es war ein echtes Erlebnis - vielen Dank! Natascha hat mir so viele Kleinigkeiten zu Amsterdam und so viele Neuigkeiten näher gebracht - es war sensationell. Ich hatte allerdings auch das Glück, alleine "geführt" zu werden, da aufgrund des schlechten Wetters an diesem Tag die anderen Interessenten abgesagt hatten. Vielen Dank nochmals für ein unvergessliches Erlebnis, Claus”

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Zen Amsterdam Tour : Alternative History and High Experiences - Dam Square and the Royal Palace
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Zen Amsterdam Tour : Alternative History and High Experiences

13.Zen Amsterdam Tour : Alternative History and High Experiences

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 102 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $42

Walk central Amsterdam with a small group and an English-speaking guide such as Eric, Pedro, Ben, or Caleb. Learn about coffeeshop culture and city history while visiting Begijnhof, Dam Square, the floating flower market, and selected shops. Longer options add time and neighborhoods.

“Our guide Erik made this tour very special, with humor, interesting information and nice interaction with all the participants of this tour. Thank you Erik!”

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Amsterdam: Anna Frank and World War II History Walking Tour - A name memorial for Amsterdam’s murdered communities
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Amsterdam: Anna Frank and World War II History Walking Tour

14.Anna Frank and World War II History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 86 reviews · from $28

Follow Amsterdam’s wartime story from the H’ART Museum to the former Jewish district and Anne Frank’s neighborhood. An Italian-speaking guide, including Ginevra on some departures, explains Jewish life, Nazi occupation, deportation, and Anne Frank’s family. The Anne Frank House ticket is separate.

“Molto interessante, coinvolgente, ho scoperto cose che non conoscevo”

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Private Boat Tour Amsterdam - 90 Min incl. welcome drink on historic saloon boat - What you see during the nine passing points
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Private Boat Tour Amsterdam – 90 Min incl. welcome drink on historic saloon boat

15.Private Boat Tour Amsterdam – 90 Min incl. welcome drink on historic saloon boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $265

You’ll cruise Amsterdam’s canals for 90 minutes aboard a private historic saloon boat, with a welcome drink, coffee, tea, and bottled water included. Your guide may include Robert, Robertino, or Carl, and can shape the commentary around your group’s interests. Extra drinks are available from the minibar.

“The guide was extremely pleasant and provided great information. We loved the historic boat and the feeling of being catered to. There was enough space for the eight of us to move around and be comfortable. A cozy, intimate and unique tour on a cold November afternoon.”

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