Top 15 Amsterdam History Tours

1.Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,315 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $95Our pick

Spend 3.5 hours walking from central Amsterdam to the Jordaan while tasting Dutch cheese, herring, fries, bitterballen, apple pie, and more. Roman leads a group of up to 15 through the Bloemenmarkt, Begijnhof, Torensluis, and local food stops. Vegetarian options are available, but the tour is not vegan or gluten free.

“Roman, the French/Nederlander food tour guide left us so satisfied! His kind and personable demeanor was very delightful. We were promised a food tour of a milieu of Dutch treats, and boy did he deliver! He offered wonderful stories and shared his vast knowledge of local history and cultural delights. We’ve been on food tours before, but this one is hands down the best. We left satisfied with what was essentially an 7-course meal. Everything was delicious and the portions were just right! This tour is absolutely with the price of admission. Thank you, Roman! And, I forgot to mention…he added such a wonderful personal touch by speaking with each…”

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2.Historic City Centre Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 659 reviews · 1 hour - 75 minutes · from $16

Cruise Amsterdam for 1 to 1.25 hours from near the Anne Frank House or Prins Hendrikkade. Expect a warm, covered boat, toilet, open rear photo deck, and commentary from local skippers such as Jim, Derek, or Bianca. Audio is available in seven languages, with drinks and snacks sold before boarding.

“Relaxing, good value and informative. Really worth using this canal cruiser”

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3.Haunted History and Ghost Walking Tour

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

Join an English-speaking guide such as Sunil, Duncan, or Jan for a two-hour walk from Dam Square through Amsterdam’s darker past. Hear tales of the Spinhuis, a silent nun at Begijnhof, Blood Street, and the Waag. Expect more historical storytelling than jump scares, with small groups and occasional extra stops.

“Duncan was great! He really did his research and was able to answer any additional questions we had. We learned a lot about Amsterdam and were satisfied with the tour. Thank you!”

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

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

Spend four hours eating through Amsterdam with a guide such as Rudolph, Catharina, Jan, or David. You’ll visit a brown café, market, butcher, cheese shop, fish shop, and former Dutch West India Company headquarters while sampling Dutch classics, Indonesian specialties, craft drinks, and wine. The small group keeps the pace personal.

“David was a terrific guide! We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Highlights were the apple pie and Dutch wine tasting. The tour was nicely paced and all the food was delicious! I highly recommend!”

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5.Historic City Sightseeing Canal Cruise

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

Meet near the Anne Frank House for a roughly one-hour Amsterdam Circle Line cruise through the canal belt. Expect views of Westerkerk, houseboats, Brouwersgracht, Amsterdam Centraal, the IJ, and the Amstel, with live or recorded commentary depending on the departure. Guides including Robert and Rolif have been praised for warm, funny presentations.

“Just be on time. Easy to locate. Nice overview. Staff very friendly and. Funny too. Easy to get On board.”

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

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

Walk about 2 kilometers through Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter, Plantage, Dam Square, and the canals with a private English-speaking guide. Hear about Anne Frank, the February Strike, hiding places, and wartime Amsterdam. Anne Frank House tickets may be arranged for early bookings, with a virtual reality alternative if sold out. Apple pie and coffee or tea are included.

“Chris was knowledgeable and polite. Great overview of Jewish history of Amsterdam and. WW2 history..”

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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. You’ll dine beneath Pierre Cuypers’ restored 19th-century design, choose from meat, fish, vegetarian, and dessert options, and finish back at the restaurant after about 2.5 hours.

“service a little bit slow but was nice as you had a break between courses. Very good value for money food was really nice and not small portions which is what you normally get on a set course.”

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8.Amsterdam History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 281 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $6

Join SideWalks for a two-hour English walking tour through central Amsterdam. Guide Samuel brings the city’s origins, Golden Age, canal houses, Dutch culture, Red Light District, tulip fever, and prison history to life. The small group is capped at 10, and the walk ends at the famous Dancing Houses.

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9.Highlights & History Walking Tour

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

Walk Amsterdam’s old center with a local guide for two hours, from the Old Church and Chinatown to Dam Square, Begijnhof, the canals, and Flower Market. Expect stories about trade, crooked houses, Dutch culture, and the red-light district. Groups are limited to eight, with English, German, or Spanish guides. Guides such as Aaron, James, Robin, and Aarre are praised for humor and local insight.

“Aaron is a superb guide. Just the right mix of history, humour and cultural oddities in the tour to keep you engaged throughout. I learnt a lot but even if you're not after a factual 2 hours it's still a fun experience”

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10.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 licensed English-speaking guide. Along the way, hear about wartime Amsterdam, Jewish life, resistance figures, and the Frank family. Guides such as Iris, Stein, Tristan, Gee, and Madeline have led recent tours. Entry to the Anne Frank House is not included.

“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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11.Jewish Quarter and History Guided Tour

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

This two-hour walking tour follows Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter from the Amstel River to Anne Frank’s House, with stops at the Portuguese Synagogue, Jewish Historical Museum, Dokwerker, Auschwitz Monument, and former Jewish Council headquarters. English and Spanish guides lead private or small-group walks. James, Aaron, Joshua, Masha, and Jyry are among the guides used.

“Our guide, Aaron, was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We would recommend him and the tour highly”

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12.Ghost Walking Tour and Dark History

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

Meet your English-speaking guide at Nieuwe Kerk for a two-hour walk through Dam Square, Begijnhof, Kalverstraat, the Oudezijds canal district, Bloedstraat, Spooksteeg, and Prins Hendrikkade. Guides including Maria, Marie, and Pilar mix ghost stories with Amsterdam history, strange disappearances, and unsolved crimes.

“Excellent tour, good information and great guide, Maria was awesome. I recommend this tour to have a different view of the city.”

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13.Iconic Canals & Historic Sights Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 90 reviews · 2 hours · from $4Best value

Spend two hours walking from Dam Square through Amsterdam’s oldest center, the Red Light District, Jewish Quarter, canals, and Begijnhof. An English or Spanish-speaking guide such as Adrián or Craig explains the city’s past, bike culture, hidden courtyards, and wartime stories. Paid attractions are optional, and comfortable shoes are essential.

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14.Anna Frank and World War II History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 86 reviews · from $28

Follow an Italian-speaking guide through Amsterdam’s former Jewish district, from its 1600 origins to Nazi occupation and the Holocaust. Guide Ginevra is praised for her clear, passionate storytelling. The two-hour walk ends outside the Anne Frank House, but entry costs extra.

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

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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 historic private saloon boat from Oosterdokskade 8. Your English-speaking guide can shape the route and commentary around your interests. Guides including Robert, Robertino, and Carl have been praised for friendly hosting, local insight, and attentive drink service.

“We enjoyed our private boat ride. It was exactly what we expected. A nice historic boat and the driver shared a bit of information about Amsterdam.”

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