Netherlands · HISTORICAL TOURS

15 History Tours in the Netherlands: What to Book, What to Skip

59 tours  ·  from $9

Here is the shortlist: 15 history tours that hold up against the money, each with what it costs and the one thing to check before you commit.

Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with Tastings - Starting at 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

Spend about three and a half hours walking central Amsterdam with Roman, tasting Dutch favorites such as herring, fries, cheese, and Tom Pouce. The route links the Bloemenmarkt, Begijnhof, Torensluis, Anne Frank House area, and Jordaan, with history and humor between food stops. It is vegetarian, but not vegan or gluten free.

“Roman was excellent guide with knowledge! He was very kind and his service was impeccable. Highly recommend!”

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Rotterdam: Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage Entry Ticket - What your $25 ticket includes
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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 full day at Kinderdijk, where 19 historic windmills line the polders near Rotterdam. Your ticket includes two museum mills, the pumping station engine room, an informative film, an online audio guide, and a boat ride through the site. You explore at your own pace, with no group guide leading you around.

“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 World Forum and Peace Palace section
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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

Ride a lovingly old-fashioned Dutch tram around The Hague for one full day. You can board at 14 stops, including Central Station, Madurodam, the Peace Palace, and Scheveningen beach. A multilingual audio guide adds context in 10 languages, while friendly Dutch, English, and German staff help you find your way.

“Interesting tour of Den Haag, lots of information, easy to understand, would recommend”

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Rotterdam: Harbor Cruise on a Historic Ship - Boarding beside Erasmus Bridge
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Rotterdam: Harbor Cruise on a Historic Ship

4.Harbor Cruise on a Historic Ship

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

Board the historic Nehalennia beside Erasmus Bridge for a 90-minute cruise through Rotterdam’s working harbor. You’ll pass container ships, cranes, ferries, tugboats, ss Rotterdam, Hotel New York, Schiedam, and major bridges while an audio guide explains the sights in Dutch, English, and German. Sit in the salon or on the sun deck, with drinks and snacks sold onboard.

“The staff were friendly and made the tour comfortable and enjoyable!!”

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Amsterdam: Haunted History and Ghost Walking Tour - Starting behind the monument at Dam Square
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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

Follow an English-speaking guide through Amsterdam’s darker corners on this two-hour walk from Dam Square. Hear tales linked to the Nieuwe Kerk, Spinhuis, Begijnhof, Blood Street, and the Waag. Guides such as Sunil, Duncan, and Jan mix ghost stories with city history, architecture, and useful local advice.

“I really enjoyed the historical perspective of the tour. We popped into a few backway places which helped bring the Amsterdam story to life. Duncan is amusing and knowledgeable but he is a ghost skeptic. As this was a ghost tour, I would have like a bit more ghostly exp. experiences”

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Amsterdam High-End Dutch Food & History Tour - Up to 8 guests - Why the history adds value to the food
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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

Spend about four hours walking Amsterdam with a guide such as Rudolph, Catharina, Jan, or David. Taste apple pie, Dutch cheese, herring, eel, bitterballen, Indonesian satay, and more at family-run shops, cafés, and markets. Groups are capped at eight, with indoor plans for poor weather.

“Jan was good. The food was very good and the overall tour was very good. Jan was knowledgeable and fun.”

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Leiden: Cruise through the Historic City Center with Guide - Leaving Blauwpoortsbrug on an electric boat
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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

See Leiden from a quiet electric boat on a 50-minute guided cruise from Blauwpoortsbrug. Your skipper explains the city in Dutch and English, with an audio app available for other languages. Expect low bridges, canal views, the university, observatory, Hortus Botanicus, parks, and covered, heated sailing in poor weather.

“It’s not hard to see why this is the best rated cruise in Leiden. Really well located, friendly & knowledgeable staff a super boat & lovely route. Highly recommend !!”

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Amsterdam: Historic City Sightseeing Canal Cruise - Starting near the Anne Frank House
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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

Start near the Anne Frank House and cruise Amsterdam’s canal ring with a live captain or multilingual audio commentary. See Westerkerk, the Houseboat Museum, Brouwersgracht, Centraal Station, the IJ, the Amstel, and the Stopera. Guides such as Robert and Rolif add humor and local details, but commentary quality can vary.

“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 - Medieval lanes and the city’s Golden Age
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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

Spend two hours walking Amsterdam’s old center with a guide in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese. You’ll see Dam Square, the Royal Palace, Begijnhof, the Flower Market, the Mint Tower, major canals, and the Amstel River. Guides such as Mike, Edwin, and Sebastian are known for lively storytelling. A Dutch tasting is included, though its size can vary.

“Our tour guide Sebastian did a very nice job in sharing a lot of interesting information about Amsterdam. He not only shared info about the history and culture but also some fun facts. I recommend the tour! However, there's some room for improvement on the name of the tour, there really isn't much of a tasting”

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Anne Frank and the Jewish History of Amsterdam Private Tour - The Jewish Historical Museum and four synagogues
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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

Start at the Portuguese Synagogue and walk through Amsterdam’s former Jewish Quarter, the Plantage, Wertheimpark, Dam Square, and Westerkerk. Guides such as Chris, Kayleigh, Inbal, and Guido add context about wartime Amsterdam and Anne Frank. Anne Frank House entry depends on availability, with a virtual reality alternative if tickets are sold out.

“My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour with our guide, Inbal. She made the history walk interactive and informative. It was a lesson in the Jewish history that we were mostly unaware of. We wanted to dedicate part of our stay in Amsterdam to honor those from the past that perished as well as getting a more in depth understanding of their immigration story. We also appreciated the various statues and memorials honoring those that challenge the norm. Our Anne Frank “house” tickets were delivered the morning of the walk and we gained access without issue.”

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Amsterdam: 3-Course Meal in Historic 1st Class Waiting Rooms - The three-course menu, from soup to dessert
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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 inside Amsterdam Central Station’s former first-class waiting rooms, designed by Pierre Cuypers in 1885. Choose from soup, caprese, carpaccio, beef, duck, salmon, or vegetarian curry, then finish with tiramisu or dame blanche. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, though accessible facilities are on the platform.

“Signage in the station. I was in a wheelchair and finding a route to the restaurant was a nightmare. When we eventually found the place we were faced with “ticket barriers” and no information about how to o get through them. The QR Codes were also ignored. Very confusing. BUT THE FOOD ITSELF WAS SUPERB. As was the wonderful service.”

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Amsterdam: Highlights & History Walking Tour - Starting at the Park Plaza Victoria Hotel
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Amsterdam: Highlights & History Walking Tour

12.Highlights & History Walking Tour

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

Walk Amsterdam’s old center with a local guide in a group capped at eight. Expect stories about crooked houses, hidden churches, the Red Light District, Dutch trade, Dam Square, Begijnhof, the canals, and the Flower Market. Guides may include Aaron, James, Robin, Aarre, Andrea, or other members of the team. The walk ends at Dam Square.

“Kevin was our guide in Amsterdam. He was very knowledgeable and provided the information in an enjoyable manner. We left wanting more and feeling like we had more knowledge of the local area. It was really good value for money and entertaining.”

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Anne Frank and Amsterdam Jewish History Walking Tour - Kattengat and the story behind a bar
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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

Walk from Dam Square to the Anne Frank House with a local English-speaking guide. Along the way, connect wartime Amsterdam to sites such as Kattengat, where 16 people hid during the Nazi occupation, and Willem Arondeus’s former street. The tour ends outside the house, and admission is not included.

“Very knowledgeable tour guide! Ghee did a great job. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Amsterdam!”

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Amsterdam: Jewish Quarter and History Guided Tour - The Portuguese Synagogue and the Jewish institutions
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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

Walk through Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide such as James, Aaron, or Jyry. In two hours, connect the Portuguese Synagogue, Jewish Council headquarters, Dokwerker, Auschwitz Monument, and Anne Frank House with the daily reality of Nazi occupation. Choose a private or small-group tour for more time to ask questions.

“Tour was really good. Guide was friendly and very knowledgeable and approachable with questions. I would highly recommend this tour.”

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Gouda: Historical Canal Cruise - Along the Monumental City Center
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Gouda: Historical Canal Cruise

15.Historical Canal Cruise

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

Spend 75 minutes on Gouda’s historic waterways aboard the Jan Salie or Jan Kordaat, authentic Dutch tow barges with a covered deck, sun deck, minibar, and toilet. Your skipper guides you through the monumental center, explains the old trade route, and points out the Museum Harbour. Commentary is in Dutch and English.

“Fijn om op deze manier de stad te ontdekken, onze gids deed heel erg haar best om ons een en ander bij te brengen. Het was niet zo evident om het allemaal goed te volgen omdat je in de boot zelf weinig zag van de omgeving. Dus als ze verwees naar een gebouw bijvoorbeeld aan de rechterzijde, dan kon je dat niet zien, vonden we toch een beetje jammer.”

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New in Historical Tours

★ 5.0Amsterdam Private Historical Walking TourFrom $15675 reviews
★ 5.0Private Guided Historic Amsterdam Canal Cruise in a Salon Boat21 reviews
★ 5.0History, Culture & Highlights tourFrom $307 reviews
★ 5.0History & culture tour in Amsterdam with a localFrom $3013 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam Haunted History and Ghost Walking TourFrom $7247 reviews
★ 5.0Financial History Tour16 reviews
★ 5.0Historical tour of Amsterdam with Italian guideFrom $2810 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam Highlights and History Walking Tour (MUST DO)From $2629 reviews
★ 4.5Amsterdam Historic Tour On Classic Saloon BoatFrom $2853 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam City Center & History – Exclusive Guided Walking TourFrom $6213 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam 2 Hour History Walking TourFrom $3031 reviews
★ 5.0Private World War Two History Walking Tour4 reviews
★ 4.8Drive-it-Yourself History and Castle Audio TourFrom $529 reviews
★ 4.72.5-Hour Historic Private Walking Tour13 reviews
★ 4.9Personalized Private tour Highlights & HistoryFrom $5613 reviews

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Where to go in the Netherlands

Pick a canal, a gallery or a polder.

On the water

Canal CruisesBoat TripsDinner CruisesAmsterdam BoatsBoat Rentals

Galleries

Van GoghRijksmuseumMocoMuseumsDutch Masters

Out of town

Zaanse SchansKeukenhofGiethoornVolendam & MarkenKinderdijk

Eat and drink

Food ToursCheese TastingsBrewery ToursStroopwafelsBar Nights