Netherlands · HISTORY TOURS IN AMSTERDAM

The 15 History Tours in Amsterdam Still Worth the Money

44 tours  ·  from $9

The good history tours in Amsterdam go weeks ahead and the best go sooner. Below: 15 to book early, what each covers and where they differ.

Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with Tastings - Starting at 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

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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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

2.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

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

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

5.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

6.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

7.3-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

8.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

9.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

10.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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LGBTQI+ History Tour of Amsterdam - Canal houses and Amsterdam’s city plan
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LGBTQI+ History Tour of Amsterdam

11.LGBTQI+ History Tour of Amsterdam

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

Join Henk for a small-group walk through Amsterdam’s LGBTQI+ past. You’ll visit the Gay Monument, Dam Square, the Royal Palace area, the Red Light District, Chinatown, and Café ’t Mandje. Expect personal stories, Dutch history, poetry, politics, and an honest look at both progress and hardship.

“Such an amazing tour!! Definitely a highlight of our week in Amsterdam. Henk is so knowledgeable and passionate about preserving and teaching the history of the LGBTQI+ community in Amsterdam. Henk is a kind and empathic person, and a great and knowledgeable guide. His sense of humor and warmth combined with his commitment to preserving and teaching the history of the LGBTQI+ community, made this a do not miss tour while in Amsterdam. We shared tears over the loss of loved ones to AIDS, enriching our deep appreciation for the work he is doing and how important it is to preserve the history of the community and to take affirmative…”

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Amsterdam: Ghost Walking Tour and Dark History - Starting at Nieuwe Kerk and Dam Square
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Amsterdam: Ghost Walking Tour and Dark History

12.Ghost Walking Tour and Dark History

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

Meet your English-speaking guide at Nieuwe Kerk in Dam Square for a two-hour walk through Amsterdam’s darker past. Maria and Pilar are among the guides leading the route through Begijnhof, Bloedstraat, Spooksteeg, and the canals. Expect ghost stories, unsolved crimes, executions, disappearances, and real city history, with time for questions along the way.

“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 - Starting at Beursplein 4 between the fountains
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REDKULT: Red Light District & Historical City Center

13.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 in a group of up to eight. Expect clear city history, stories about the district and its workers, practical tips, and guides such as Anne or Natascha, depending on the date.

“Anne ist ein super Guide. Die Infos waren interessant, aber nicht überladen. Wirklich zu empfehlen.”

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Zen Amsterdam Tour : Alternative History and High Experiences - Dam Square and the Royal Palace in 20 minutes
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Zen Amsterdam Tour : Alternative History and High Experiences

14.Zen Amsterdam Tour : Alternative History and High Experiences

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

Start near Dam Square and walk through Begijnhof, the Royal Palace, Spuistraat, the Bloemenmarkt, and Amsterdam Museum while learning about cannabis policy and local culture. Guides such as Eric, Pedro, Ben, and Caleb have led this experience, which may include coffeeshop visits and snacks on longer tours. You must be 18 or older and carry a passport.

“We were a small group and the lady guide lovely! We had a lot of fun, really liked the bitter balls and the experience overall. Like walking around with a group of friends”

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Amsterdam: Anna Frank and World War II History Walking Tour - The memorial to Amsterdam’s murdered communities
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Amsterdam: Anna Frank and World War II History Walking Tour

15.Anna Frank and World War II History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 86 reviews · from $28

Meet at H’ART museum for a two-hour Italian walking tour through Amsterdam’s former Jewish district. Guide Ginevra brings Anne Frank’s family story and the city’s wartime past into focus. The tour ends at the Anne Frank House entrance, but admission is not included.

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

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New in History Tours in Amsterdam

★ 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
★ 5.0Financial 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
★ 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
★ 4.72.5-Hour Historic Private Walking Tour13 reviews
★ 5.0Boutique Dutch Food & History Tour with up to 8 guests onlyFrom $1473 reviews
★ 5.0Skipping Lines & Sipping Beers: A History Tour of AmsterdamFrom $8022 reviews
★ 4.9The Story of History & Culture Walking TourFrom $378 reviews
★ 5.0small group tour: History, humor & hidden gemsFrom $326 reviews
★ 4.7Historic Walking TourFrom $3516 reviews

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