self guided walking tour of amsterdam

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One Day in Amsterdam Self-Guided Walking Tour

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Amsterdam is a city that is both historic and progressive, elegant and bawdy. There are 17th century canals and trendy cannabis coffee shops. Grand, gabled houses line the streets, while a neon glow emanates from the Red Light District. Bicycles outnumber the human population and the long history of beer is being revolutionized by craft brewers.

However, it is possible to get a vibe of the city in one day – and an Amsterdam walking tour is a fantastic way to do it. To help fellow travelers, we designed a One Day in Amsterdam Self-Guided Walking Tour to more than 18 of the best sights. Plus, an Amsterdam Walking Tour Map is included!

Amsterdam Walking Tour

Sightseeing in Amsterdam is best done on foot – and our free walking tour highlights more than 18 attractions. To see the best sights, our walking tour of Amsterdam covers some ground and includes a little zigging and zagging. Don’t worry, we created an easy-flowing Amsterdam tour that is perfect for first-time visitors and those who have yet to discover all the prime sights.

What’s Provided in the Free Amsterdam Walking Tour Self-Guided

Our Self-Guided Amsterdam Walking Tour includes everything you need to make your way through the city!

For our Amsterdam Walking Tour Free Guide, we highlight individual sights, provide step-by-step walking directions to each sight and include two Amsterdam Maps. One being an interactive Attractions in Amsterdam Map, the other is an Amsterdam PDF Map.

You will also find our top Walking Tour Amsterdam Tips and more suggestions of things to do in one day throughout the article.

One Day in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Planning what to see in Amsterdam is no easy task – especially if you are limited to one day. Whether you have two hours or an entire day, you can use our outlined Amsterdam tour.

The main route of our walking tour in Amsterdam circles the city in a loop, taking in the major sights in a relatively short amount of time. However, those with more time to explore can use our ‘ If You Have Time ’ suggestions to complete a full day of sightseeing.

If You Have Time: Amsterdam in One Day Travel Tips

With our tips, visitors don’t need to worry about what to see in Amsterdam in a Day – we’ve got it covered! Throughout our Amsterdam Tour, we offer ‘ If You Have Time ’ advice regarding nearby sights and alternate routes to our Amsterdam Walking Tour.

We include both museums that require a ticket (or are included with the Amsterdam City Card) and other free sights, too. 

Travelers will find our suggestions of places to visit in Amsterdam in 1 day are ideally intertwined into a walking tour. Plus, we provide detour directions to the alternate Amsterdam walking routes.

Pro Tip : Even if you are short on time, we recommend reading through the ‘ If You Have Time ‘ sections. There may be detours you want to make during your walking tour in Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam Sightseeing Card

If visiting the museums and other attractions in Amsterdam that are listed in our ‘ If You Have Time ’ sections, consider purchasing a Amsterdam City Card . It includes entry into many recommended museums (excluding the Anne Frank Museum). Plus, free public transportation and a canal boat ride, which is a beautiful way to end your one day in Amsterdam!

Walking Tour Amsterdam FAQs

Before you begin your Amsterdam City Tour, we are answering a few frequently asked questions.

Is This Really a Free Walking Tour Amsterdam?

Yes! And we think it is the best free walking tour in Amsterdam! Featuring top Amsterdam sights, our route is easy to follow and includes walking directions and maps. For each stop, we include a snippet of information and sometimes a link to more information.

How Long Does Our Amsterdam Walking Tour Take?

This Free Amsterdam Walking Tour is Self-Guided – so how long it takes totally depends on you! Those who follow our Amsterdam tour as it is written should allow at least 2 hours to complete the loop.

Still, visitors who have a full day in Amsterdam can use our If You Have Time tips to fill their tour with Amsterdam Old Town sightseeing.

Pro Tip : If entering all of the suggested museums in this self-guided Amsterdam city walk, a City Card will save you money!

Where does the Amsterdam One Day Walking Tour Start? 

We start this Amsterdam Walking Tour from Central Station – which is great for travelers coming to the city for just one day. However, we designed the Amsterdam walking tour route in loop, so you can actually start it from anywhere along it.

Using our Amsterdam walking map, simply find the sight closest to your location – and set off on the tour from there! 

Do I Need an Amsterdam Tour Map?

For self guided walking tours in Amsterdam, it is best to have a map with attractions – either online or in hand. Don’t stress though – we make Amsterdam touring easy with multiple maps and links to Google, too.

We also provide two overview maps – and interactive version, as well as a printable map – of our free tour Amsterdam. Both feature the entire route of our Amsterdam walk with tourist attractions marked. 

The interactive Amsterdam Sightseeing Map indicates each stop, as well as nearby sights. The provided printable Amsterdam Sights Map with Walking Tour Route offers a general overview of the route. 

Where Can I Get an Amsterdam Tourist Map?

Although we include several free Amsterdam walking tour maps, visitors can also pick up an Amsterdam city map from the tourist information office. There is a VVV Office in front of Central Station.

Are There Guided Amsterdam Walking Tours?

Of course there are guided tours in Amsterdam – but not by us. While we believe our self-guided option is the best walking tour Amsterdam, those who prefer a guide lead the way will find ample sightseeing tours to book. We highlight some of the top-rated guided tours later.

Are there Free Guided Tours Amsterdam?

Visitors who want to join a guided Amsterdam free walking tour have a few to choose from in the city. However, it is important to understand that the guides expect – and hopefully deserve – tips. Therefore, they are not really free tours. That said, we mention popular guided free walking tours of Amsterdam at the end of the article.

What Will I Need for this Amsterdam Walk?

Fortunately, not much is needed to complete our outlined city tour. We provide all of the information for where to walk in Amsterdam – you just have to follow along. However, we have a few tips on how to prepare for sightseeing Amsterdam on foot. 

Data Connection 

Perhaps the most important thing to have for Amsterdam city walks is an internet connection. Visitors can print our Amsterdam Sightseeing Map PDF, but a WiFi Connection is necessary to access this article while touring the city. Furthermore, the interactive maps links will only work with connectivity.

We use a GlocalMe Mobile WiFi Hotspot to stay connected abroad. Top features are that eSIM data packages can be purchased online and it allows up to 10 devices to be connected at one time. That is really great for couples, families or groups of friends traveling together. 

Amsterdam Walking Shoes

The city is fairly flat, but walking in Amsterdam is so much better if you wear comfortable travel shoes . I like to wear these Columbia Shoes and Kris prefers Merrell Trail Shoes .

Capture the Sights in Amsterdam

Visitors can really take in the beauty while walking Amsterdam canals and streets. In order to truly capture these sights, we recommend using an actual camera . We shoot with a Canon Rebel and a 18-135mm lens . It’s a great set-up and the bundle comes with loads of accessories, making it an excellent valve camera for traveling .

Weather Gear and Day Bag for your Amsterdam Tour

Amsterdam walks are most comfortable if you are prepared for the elements. Depending on the season, a packable raincoat or travel umbrella might be a good idea. In summer, don’t forget sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat . Finally, bring a refillable water bottle and the perfect day pack to carry everything in!

Planning Your Amsterdam Trip

There is a lot more that goes into planning a trip to Amsterdam – from what to see to things to eat to where to stay. We have created several travel guides that will help make your trip planning a breeze. 

• 3 Day Amsterdam Itinerary
• Must-Eat Dutch Foods
• Best Amsterdam Craft Beer
• Day Trip from Amsterdam to Haarlem
• How To Spend Christmas in Amsterdam
• Things To Do in Nijmegen, Netherlands

Pro Tip:  Get (and stay) organized for your vacation to Amsterdam by utilizing our Trip Planning Printables !

Self-Guided Free Walking Tour Amsterdam Sights

Okay, lace up your shoes and grab your camera – it’s time to go see Amsterdam! Start your one day in Amsterdam at Central Station. MAP . 

#1 Amsterdam Central Station

Central Station was opened in 1889 and today 200,000 passengers pass through daily. From the north side of Amsterdam Central Station, ferries (which are free) transport passengers to the northern neighborhoods.

Sights in the northern neighborhoods include the A’DAM Lookout Tower (free with the City Card ), the NDSM artistic district and a few of our favorite Craft Beer Bars. Week-long river excursions – like the Amsterdam to Budapest Cruise we took – also depart near Amsterdam Centraal.

Pro Tip: Access the north side of the station via the Cuyperspassage – a tunnel of 80,000 Delft Blue tiles. The famous Netherlands tiles are a must-see, so we recommend ducking into the tunnel on your Amsterdam sightseeing route.

The south main entrance of Central Station opens onto the most historic part of the city. Across and slightly to the left is the towering Basilica of Saint Nicholas. The church was built in the late 1800s and is free to visit.

If You Have Time : Pop into St. Nicholas Basilica for a quick look around the magnificent interior. For visitors using this guide for a short, 2-hour Amsterdam walking tour, consider ending at the church.

Central Station to Damrak Directions: Walk straight away from the front of Central station onto the west side of Damrak Street. Map & Directions .

Damrak is the main north-south route from Central Station to Dam Square. Once a busy waterway of Amsterdam, the Damrak Canal was filled in to make a street in 1672. The remaining small body of water, Natte Damrak, was once a thriving harbor. Buildings open directly onto the water for quick unloading of goods.

Pro Tip : Many of the city boat tours depart from Natte Damrak harbor. We offer more information about canal cruises in Amsterdam at the end of the post.

Most of the buildings along Damrak were built from the 18th to 20th century – and more than 20 of them are designated as Royal Monuments. The large brick building, Beurs van Berlage, was once the stock exchange and is now a concert hall.

Directions from Damrak to Nieuwendijk:  Stay on Damrak to the south end of Beurs van Berlage. On your right, you will see the Old Amsterdam Cheese Shop, stop in for a free sample! After a few nibbles, use the next alley on your right – the elegant Beurspassage – to cut across to Nieuwendijk.

At the end of the lavish passageway is Nieuwendijk. Turn right to the first store on your right, Van der Linde Ice Cream Shop. There will likely be a line, but it moves fast, so pop in for a scoop of their one-and-only flavor: Mr. Whippy Vanilla. It’s one of the top things to eat in Amsterdam! With cone in hand, walk south on Nieuwendijk. Map & Directions . 

#3 Nieuwendijk

Running parallel to Damrak is Nieuwendijk. A pedestrian-only shopping street, it is one of the most historic places to walk in Amsterdam. The narrow, brick lane is home to 200 shops – most of which cater to tourists – and nearly 100 of the structures are labeled as national heritage sites. 

Directions from Nieuwendijk to Dam Square: Walk south to Dam Square. Map & Directions . 

#4 Dam Square

Dam Square is in the historical center of Amsterdam and is located at the original Amstel River Dam, which was built in 1270. A major sightseeing stop on our Amsterdam city walk route, many notable buildings and monuments are on the square. They include the Royal Palace (built in 1655 as City Hall and converted to a royal residence in 1808); the De Nieuwe Kerk (New Church); and the National Monument pillar honoring the victims of World War II (built in 1956).

Pro Tip : For a free view of Dam Square from above, go to the 3rd floor of the Peek & Cloppenburg Department Store.

If You Have Time : Facing the front of De Nieuwe Kerk, take the narrow passageway, Eggertstraat, around the east side of the church into an ancient part of the city. Here you will find De Drie Fleschjes (Three Little Bottles). The classic Amsterdam tavern is a jenever bar (a local Amsterdam gin) that dates to 1650. MAP & Directions .

Directions from Dam Square to De Oude Kerk: From the WWII memorial on Dam Square, walk north on Warmoesstraat to Wijde Kerksteeg and turn right to De Oude Kerk. Map & Directions .

#5 De Oude Kerk (The Old Church)

The 800-year-old De Oude Kerk  is Amsterdam’s oldest building and was consecrated in the year 1306. Built as a Catholic Church, it is now a Calvinist Dutch Reform Church, but the space is also used as an art gallery (and is free with the City Card).

If You Have Time : Just north of the Old Church along the canal is the Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder – or Our Lord in the Attic Museum (included with the City Card). The hidden church and historic house museum are some of the most fascinating buildings in the city! MAP.

Directions from De Oude Kerk to the Red Light District: Walk around the church to the right, cross the canal on Oudekennissteeg and continue to the next canal and the Red Light District. Map Directions . 

#6 Red Light District

The Red Light District is an odd prostitution-as-a-tourist-attraction sight. During the day, most of the red-lit window boxes are vacant, with only a few occupied by young women dressed in lingerie. At night, it is a different scene. Sex shops and the Erotic Museum are also found along the street.

Pro Tip: To get a better understanding of the area, take a Red Light District Tour at Night , guided by a local.

Directions from the Red Light District to Chinatown: Walk north through the Red Light District to Korte Stormsteeg and go right to Zeedijk. Turn right and walk south into Chinatown. Map Directions . 

#7 Amsterdam Chinatown

A plethora of Asian (not only Chinese) shops and restaurants line Zeedijk , the main street through what is commonly called Chinatown. The He Hua Buddhist Temple, built in 2000, is a striking difference to the rest of the architecture found in Amsterdam Old Town.

Directions from Chinatown to De Waag: Continue south to Nieuwmarkt Square and De Waag. Map Directions . 

Dominating Nieuwmarkt Square is De Waag , The Weigh House. The building, which is Amsterdam’s oldest non-religious structure, dates to the 15th century and was once part of the city walls. Now, it houses a popular restaurant.

Directions from De Waag to Waterlooplein Market: Exit the square to the south on Sint Antoniesbreestraat; cross the canal to the Rembrandt House Museum (free with the City Card); turn right on Zwanenburgwal to the Waterlooplein Market. Map Directions . 

#9 Waterlooplein Market

The outdoor Waterlooplein is one of the best Amsterdam markets. It has more than 300 stalls selling second-hand clothing, antiques, tools, books and other trinkets. It originated as a Jewish bazaar in 1893 and was revitalized as a general market in the 1960s.

Directions from Waterlooplein Market to the National Opera and Ballet: At the end of the market, turn right on Waterlooplein Street and right again before the bridge to the waterfront National Opera & Ballet. Map & Directions . 

#10 National Opera & Ballet: Stopera

The National Opera and Ballet building, nicknamed the Stopera, fronts the Amstel River. The modern building, constructed in the 1980s, was met with many protests – thus the name: Stop the Opera… or Stopera for short. Many of Amsterdam’s iconic houseboats are moored along this section of the Amstel River.

Directions from Stopera to Blauwbrug: Walk a few steps south onto the ornate Blue Bridge, Blauwbrug. Map + Directions .

#11 Blauwbrug Blue Bridge

The ornate Blauwbrug is named for a blue wooden bridge that used to straddle the Amstel River on the same site. The current bridge dates to 1883 and features sumptuous decorations. Despite not being painted royal blue, the original name stuck.

Pause a moment on the bridge and take in the 360-degree views and surrounding Amsterdam sights: The National Opera and Ballet is directly north. Look for the Hermitage Amsterdam Museum to the southeast along the river. Directly south is the Magere Brug – or Skinny Bridge – which is a picturesque wooden drawbridge and one of our favorite bridges of the city.

If You Have Time : There are several Amsterdam sights near Rembrandtplein that are worth exploring. Two that we recommend are the Willet-Holtuysen Museum and Museum Van Loon, both of which are historically preserved canal houses (and both free with City Card). The Archives Museum (in the De Bazel Building) is also close by and offers excellent exhibits and free toilets, too. For a quick snack, pop into Eetsalon Van Dobben, an iconic Amsterdam sandwich shop – which offers a discount with the City Card. MAP .

Directions from Blauwbrug to Muntplein:  After taking in the sights from the Blue Bridge, walk straight ahead to Rembrandtplein to visit The Night Watch cast of characters and the Rembrandt statue. Continue following the road to Muntplein. Map & Directions .

#12 Munt Tower on Muntplein

This busy square is actually a bridge with six streets leading to it. The Munt Tower  (Munttoren), after which the square is named, was once part of the city gate. In the 17th century, the tower served as a mint.

Directions from Muntplein to the Flower Market: Continue south and turn right (west) on Singel to the Flower Market. Map Directions .

#13 Bloemenmarkt Floating Flower Market

The flower market stalls are housed on floating shops and sell everything from seeds to fresh cut flowers. The floating market is one of the most colorful (and fragrant!) spots in the city. 

If You Have Time : There are quite a few tourist attractions that are south of the canal ring that are included on many walking tours Amsterdam. If time allows, make your way to Vondelpark and Museumplein, where you will find the famous Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum before continuing your canal exploration on Prinsengracht. Map & Directions.

Directions from the Flower Market to the Canal Ring: Continue west to Koningsplein and turn left. Walk to Prinsengracht and turn right for an exceptional Amsterdam canal walk north along the ring. Map Directions . 

#14 Amsterdam Canal Ring

The network of canals in Amsterdam date to the 17th century and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The canal system is a unique urban city plan and one of the best places to walk in Amsterdam.

Once an integral part of the city’s development and maritime trade, the land around the canals was purchased by the city’s richest residents. Beautiful gabled houses were built, enhancing the appeal of the area.

Pro Tip : Most of these houses were built on wooden foundations. As they warp and rot, they are shifting and leaning. However, the homes that appear to be hovering over the street were purposely built to look bigger than they really were.

If You Have Time: Walk the two blocks of Leidsegracht, a quaint canal with lovely bridges. With ample time, make a detour to the secret Begijnhof Garden that conceals two hidden churches (and is accessed via an inconspicuous arched doorway). From the courtyard, continue to the Amsterdam Museum and take a peek into the Civic Guards Gallery exhibit, then exit through the leaning portal. Now, continue through the heart of the Nine Streets Neighborhood. Map Directions .

Directions to the Nine Streets: Walk north along the canal to the Nine Streets. Map Directions .  

#15 Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes)

A tiny neighborhood within Central Amsterdam, The Nine Streets are a 3-by-3 grid of picturesque lanes lined with boutique stores, high-end specialty shops and chic cafes. Originally occupied by tanners, many of the streets are named after animals.

The Nine Streets are one of the picturesque places to see on an Amsterdam 1 day city tour. 

Pro Tip : Those who wish to take a stroll through the Nine Street District can use these Map Directions for a quick 10-minute walk.

If You Have Time : The Houseboat Museum (included with the Amsterdam City Card) sits on the west side of the Prinsengracht Canal at Berensluis Street. Although quite small, it’s interesting to see how the inside of a houseboat is decorated! MAP .

Directions from the Nine Streets to Westerkerk: Continue walking north on Prinsengracht to Westerkerk. Map + Directions . 

#16 Westerkerk

The Westerkerk is a protestant church that was built between 1620 and 1631. The tower, which stands at 279 feet, is the tallest church tower in Amsterdam (and can be climbed, for a fee). Famous Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn is buried at the church and, in 1966, Queen Beatrix chose Westerkerk as the location of her wedding ceremony. 

Directions from Westerkerk to the Anne Frank House: Walk north along the Prinsengracht Canal to #263. Map Directions . 

#17 Anne Frank House

The story of Anne Frank is known worldwide. Her diary detailing her time spent hiding in an Amsterdam house was first published as Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl , in 1947. The house where she hid, numbered 263 Prinsengracht, is now a museum. The Anne Frank House Museum is one of the most popular museums in Amsterdam.

Pro Tip : Tickets should be booked in advance; this museum is not included in the City Card. If tickets are unavailable, consider joining a private tour of Anne Frank sights – like this one – or a group guided Anne Frank Tour  to learn more about her life in Amsterdam.

If You Have Time: In the area, there are a few notable places to stop for food and drink. For a quick snack of classic Amsterdam fries, go to Heertje Friet; for a savory meal of Dutch-style pancakes, the Pancake Bakery is nearby; and for a locally produced beer, head to the charming Proeflokaal Arendsnest.

Directions from Anne Frank House to Jordaan Neighborhood: Walk north past the Anne Frank House to the first bridge, Leliegracht, and cross west into the Jordaan Neighborhood. Map & Directions .

#18 Jordaan Neighborhood

The working class settled Jordaan in the 17th century and attracted many people with political ideals. In the 1970s, gentrification overtook, attracting young professionals, well-to-do families and, along with it, trendy cafes, bars, galleries and specialty shops.

The inviting neighborhood is characterized by elegant houses, many of which hide hofjes (inner courtyards) and feature Gable Stones. The stone plaques displayed on the front were first used in the 16th century. They were a means of identifying the home’s inhabitants by depicting the owner’s profession or family name.

Pro Tip : For a unique way to experience the neighborhood, join a Food Tour of Jordaan .

If You Have Time : The Tulip Museum (free with the City Card) is one of the most surprisingly interesting museums in the city. The often humorous displays detail the history of tulips in the Netherlands – as well as the hysteria of the Golden Age Tulipmania. MAP . 

Directions from Jordaan District to Central Stations: Crisscross north through Jordaan and turn right (east) onto Brouwersgracht. Named in the late 1500s for the breweries that occupied the canal houses, it is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful Amsterdam canals. From here, it’s an easy walk back to Central Station. Map Directions .

Amsterdam, Netherlands Maps

Below find our two Walking Tour Amsterdam Maps. Use these maps of Amsterdam, Netherlands to route your way to our recommended walking tour sights. 

Amsterdam City Map: Interactive

Use this map of Amsterdam City Center that is interactive; click on any of the markers for more information and zoom in or out of the map for a better view.

The Amsterdam top sights listed in our walking tour are numbered; the blue markers show mentioned sights; the orange markers indicate the If You Have Time attractions. Use this online version of our Amsterdam, Holland Map. 

One Day in Amsterdam: Self-Guided Walking Tour Map

This is a printable map of Amsterdam that highlights the main route of our Amsterdam Walking Tour. To print this Amsterdam City Center Map, click on it and then right click outside of the map and select print! 

Top Amsterdam Sightseeing Tips

If you have just one day in Amsterdam to see the sights, these tips will help make the most of it!

What To Eat and Drink in Amsterdam

We absolutely love Netherlands food! Read our review of Dutch Cuisine , which includes everything from cheese to apple pie – and incredible dishes that tempt the palette. 

Having a locally brewed Heineken is an essential Amsterdam experience. The distinctive red star logo is plastered throughout the city and it’s sold just about everywhere. Even though Heineken is mass produced (and available in 192 countries), it wouldn’t be right to visit Amsterdam and not have one.

That being said, don’t miss out on the local craft beer, too. We have a complete guide to the Top Amsterdam Craft Beer Bars !

Stroll the Amsterdam Canals

Charming. Quaint. Lovely. Picturesque. Beautiful. The canals in Amsterdam are worthy of these overused adjectives and many more. It is not just the water flowing through the neighborhoods that make it so appealing. It is the allure of the entire scene: the floating houseboats, endless number of bridges and detailed architecture of the gabled houses.

We have had the pleasure of seeing it all with autumn leaves and in the winter decorated for the holidays. No matter the season – even if you only have one day in Amsterdam – take some time to savor the scenery and wander aimlessly.

Watch Out for Bikes in Amsterdam!

Bicycles are everywhere . As fans of pedal power, we were impressed with so many people using bikes as their method of transportation. We found it amazing how effortlessly people moved about on bicycles, even with the extra encumbrance of hauling groceries, musical instruments and multiple children.

Visitors need to be aware of bikes as much as cars. It is wise to always look both ways when crossing the street. And, for shutterbugs like myself, be aware of your surroundings when looking through your lens.

Amsterdam and Marijuana

The scent of potent pot is always floating in the air. Within 24 hours of being in Amsterdam, the smell becomes commonplace. In the Netherlands, the laws covering buying, possessing and using of small quantities of marijuana are complicated and evolving.

Individual joints are sold in coffee shops and can be purchased for about $5 USD. Some shops, with names like Coffeeshop Reefer, seem to be geared toward tourists who find the freedom to smoke up a novelty.  

The unfortunate side effect of tourists using drugs is that some idiots overdo it. We saw more than one foreigner dazed-and-confused and struggling to function in broad daylight. Not cool.

To Visit – or Not Visit – the Red Light District

We didn’t venture into the Red Light District after dark, However, even during the day, young women stood in the red-lit, glass-paneled box windows in their lingerie. The girls we saw looked bored, texting on their phones and not even looking into the crowd outside their windows.

The scene is not for everyone. Visitors using our One Day in Amsterdam Self-Guided Walking Tour who aren’t keen on walking through the Red Light District can simply skip it altogether.

More Amsterdam Walking Tours

We have outlined a free walking tour that is easy to follow and can be completed at any pace. However, there are many other routes that are led by knowledgeable, professional Amsterdam tour guides. 

Guided Walking Routes Amsterdam

Visitors can choose from a private walking tour with a local guide (like this one ) or join a small group for Amsterdam sightseeing. 

Find the guided Amsterdam walking tour you are looking for on this complete list of tours or join one of these highly rated tour recommendations in the next section.

Best Tours in Amsterdam: Themed Experiences 

We already mentioned a few Amsterdam guided tours that focus on a specific theme – like the Red Light District Night Tour , the incredibly popular Anne Frank Tour and the Jordaan Food Tour .

Looking for a different way to experience the city? There are a few more themed tours to consider. 

Alternative Tour of Amsterdam

A 2-hour walking tour that focuses on the city’s alternative side and subcultures. Find out more!

Amsterdam World War II and Jewish Quarter Tour

Learn about the city’s Nazi occupation and poignant memorials. Get the details!

Craft Beer Tour

Explore the city with a local Amsterdam tour guide while sipping craft beer. Book it now!

Cheese Tour Amsterdam

Join a Cheese Tasting Workshop in Central Amsterdam (accompanied by local beer or wine). Reserve your spot!

Guided Amsterdam Bike Tour

Pedal through the city streets like a local…with a local guide! The 2.5-hour tour features top sights, historic information and insider tips. Learn more about it!

Amsterdam Pub Crawl

Join jolly revelers on a nighttime pub crawl to the city’s best bars for a night of fun. Get the info!

Free Amsterdam Walking Tour

Visitors looking for a guided free tour have many options, including Sandemans New Europe Tours. Keep in mind, however, that these Free Walking Tours of Amsterdam are tip-based. For a truly Free Amsterdam Walking Tour, use our outlined guide above!

Amsterdam Sightseeing Options

There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to see the city – so we are sharing a few ideas of ways to explore, besides walking.

Sightseeing in Amsterdam by Boat, Bus or Bike

Too much walking? No problem. There are two great Amsterdam sightseeing options that don’t require nearly as much walking.

Amsterdam Bus and Boat Tour

The classic Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus moves tourists effortlessly through the streets to top attractions. The ticket is good for 24 hours – and the bus makes 11 stops around the city center. 

Bike Rental

An alternative is walking to city sights is to rent a bike! Visitors can discover the top places to visit in Amsterdam on two wheels at their own leisurely pace. 

Amsterdam Canal Boat

Unique to Amsterdam, the Canal Hop-On-Hop-Off Boat  transports visitors via the waterways.

Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Want to cruise the canal? In Amsterdam, there are plenty of options when it comes to taking a boat cruise on the canals! From sightseeing cruises to candlelit cruises to pizza cruises  to dinner cruises – pick one that fits your style! 

Best Amsterdam Day Trips

Have time to explore beyond the Amsterdam city limits? Consider taking a day trip to see the Famous Dutch Windmills and The Hague , the iconic Tulip Fields or to fairytale Bruges, Belgium .

For a great half-day trip from Amsterdam, hop on a train to Haarlem . 

Amsterdam Travel Advice

Amsterdam is a fascinating city and there is a lot to see and do! You can create your complete trip plan with our Amsterdam Itinerary – but for now we have a few essential tips to share.

Where To Stay in Amsterdam

Hotels in Amsterdam are expensive – so before you book your accommodations, use read our guide for Finding Cheap Hotels . 

During our trips to Amsterdam, we have stayed in a few different types of accommodations. For an Amsterdam layover hotel, Ibis Budget Amsterdam Airport, is just a short walk to the bus station where we could catch a ride into the city center.

More recently, we stayed at the stylish Volkshotel in Amsterdam South near the hip De Pijp District. Key features of the hotel were the creative rooms, co-working space and rooftop hot tubs!

More Amsterdam Hotels

For those who prefer staying closer to the city, there are many Amsterdam Hotels to choose from.  Search for availability at Park Mansion Centre Hotel  or The Toren and check out these other top-rated hotels (based on guest reviews) for your upcoming trip

Hostels in Amsterdam

Budget travelers can find accommodations at Amsterdam Hostels, like  The Flying Pig Uptown ,  ClinkNOORD Hostel  or  Generator Amsterdam .

Amsterdam Airbnb

We’ve often found Airbnb Apartments to be cheaper (as well as more spacious and comfortable) than hostels or hotels. This is especially true if there are two or more people traveling together, but be sure to check all the additional fees!

Getting to Amsterdam

Amsterdam can be reached by plane, train, bus or car. Our preferred method of getting anywhere is by flying, we are JetSetting Fools, after all! Direct flights to Amsterdam from the US are available from Seattle , San Francisco , NYC , Boston , Chicago , Washington DC ,  Philadelphia and Austin !

When we need to purchase plane tickets, we start our search for the best deals on flights to Amsterdam (AMS) on Skyscanner .

To get from city to city when flights are not possible, we rely on public transportation. In Europe, we use Rail Europe to find train tickets and our preferred bus company is FlixBus . We aren’t keen on driving abroad , but renting a car can save time and it allows for greater discovery. 

Amsterdam Travel Insurance

Trip insurance may help cover costs with cancelled plans or lost luggage , or when travelers become ill or get injured. If you haven’t already obtained coverage for your Netherlands vacation, consider traveling protected with World Nomads . 

Start planning your trip to the Netherlands ! Search for the lowest airfares , the best accommodations and fun things to do …then start packing !   Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more information and tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page !

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Ostrich Trails

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Amsterdam Walking Tour

Home » Europe » Netherlands » Amsterdam Walking Tour

By Vicky · Published Jul. 20th, 2022 · Updated Nov. 21st, 2022

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A walking tour of Amsterdam is the best way to experience this compact city in the heart of Holland. Discover canals, museums and more.

Page Contents:

This walk starts from Amsterdam Centraal train station . It’s an easy 20-minute train ride from Amsterdam Schipol airport.

Amsterdam Walking Tour Map

Get the route by downloading the .gpx or .kml file below. For navigation with Maps.me on your mobile phone, simply download the .kml file and open to add it to the Maps.me bookmarks.

Tips for Amsterdam Walking Tour

• This walking tour is self-guided and lasts roughly 3 hours, including a few breaks but excluding time spent in any museums.
• DK Eyewitness Top 10 Amsterdam * is a great guidebook to accompany this walking tour.
• Check out other historic cities in the Netherlands such as Leiden or Delft .
• See other Dutch walks and hikes on our Netherlands Hiking Page .

Top Sights in Amsterdam

On this self-guided walking tour you’ll see the main sites and attractions of Amsterdam. Two to three days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Amsterdam, however you could spend much longer visiting the many world-class museums.

• Grachtengordel (Canal Ring)

Rijksmuseum

Van gogh museum.

• Stedelijk Museum

Moco Museum

• Heineken Experience
• Hermitage Amsterdam
• Botanical Gardens
• National Maritime Museum
• NEMO Science Museum
• Museum Het Rembrandthuis
• Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder
• Royal Palace

Nieuwe Kerk

• Madame Tussauds
• Body Worlds

If you’d prefer to be led around the centre of Amsterdam by a local, try this guided tour * which visits many of the places on this self-guided walking tour. Apart from a walking tour, a boat cruise is also a very popular way to explore Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Walking Tour Route

This walking trail starts from Amsterdam Centraal train station . Centraal Station ( Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a monument in itself, not just a convenient entry point to Amsterdam. Its neo-Renaissance style, built in 1889, was designed by the same architect who built the Rijksmueum.

Directions: From the train station head across the large bridge in front of you. Look to your left and you’ll see the front of St Nicholas Basilica. Pop over to visit, else head right along the water. Take the first road on the left, then the first right along a smaller street. You’ll soon reach a bridge over the Singel Canal, and the start of the Grachtengordal area.

St Nicholas Basilica

Key Information: Open Tue-Fri 11-12:30 and 1-4, open Sat & Mon 12-12:30 and 1-3. Free to visit, €3 for an audio guide.

St Nicholas Basilica ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a church near Amsterdam Centraal Station and it’s a beautiful building with lovely stained glass windows. It was built in the late 19th century when after centuries Catholics were once again free to worship their religion openly (previously Amsterdam was ruled by Protestants).

1. Grachtengordel (Canal Ring)

The Grachtengordel, or Canal Ring ( Tripadvisor Reviews *), is a famous neighbourhood in Amsterdam and a lovely place to walk. The Grachtengordel contains four well-known canals from the 17th century, in order from the inner city outwards – Singelgracht , Heerengracht , Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht . There are some large, old houses lining these canals, and it’s mainly very rich people who live here today.

Directions: Walk down Keizersgracht, the third of the four canals. At Leliegracht, a canal at ninety degrees, turn right and cross the bridge over Prisengracht. Turn left. From here you can see Anne Frank House and Westerkerk on the opposite side of the canal. Head down the canal and cross over the next bridge. Head slightly back up to visit the famous House or the Church.

2. Anne Frank House

Key Information: Open 9am-10pm every day. €14 for adults, discounts for concessions (plus €7 for a 30-minute introductory talk). Must book in advance.

The Anne Frank House ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is another of the top sights in Amsterdam. If you haven’t read The Diary Of A Young Girl * by Anne Frank, now is a great time! Walking around the Anne Frank House is very moving as you look around the house Anne hid in with her family during the Nazi Occupation. To explore more in-depth, you can discover the Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam where Anne Frank lived on a guided walking tour *.

Key Information: Church open Mon-Sat 11am-3pm with free entry. Tower open to climb on a guided tour, June-Sept only, Mon-Sat, 10am-7:30pm, tickets €9. Book in advance.

Westerkerk ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a church next to the Anne Frank House. You can climb up the tower, Westertoren , which is mentioned in Anne Frank’s diary *. There are 360-degree views from the top of the tower, but book tickets in advance to guarantee a trip up the tower.

Directions: From the church, continue down Keizergracht, cross over to Prinsengracht, head down one block and then turn left towards the city centre. Cross over two canals, then the tram lines and continue on a small street. Turn right on Kalverstraat, a busy shopping street . After 200 metres turn right down a small alley – you should see part of a white church at the end. At the end of the alley you’ll reach the entrance to the Begijnhof.

3. Begijnhof

Key Information: Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm. Free entry.

The Begijnhof ( Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a medieval courtyard from the 14th century where religious Catholic women who weren’t nuns lived. Look out for the dark wooden house – het Houten Huis – in the corner, one of the only wooden homes left in Amsterdam. There’s also a little chapel inside that you can enter. Women still live here, though they no longer need to be Catholic, so be quiet and respectful.

Directions: After leaving the Begijnhof, head right and across a square. Walk down a small street leaving from the middle of the square and continue to a T-junction. Head left here and you’ll reach Koningsplein, by the Singel Canal. The Flower Market is just across the bridge on your left.

The Amsterdam Flower Market , or Bloemenmarkt ( Tripadvisor Reviews *), is a floating flower market on the Singel Canal. However, you can’t really tell that it’s floating because the barges the stalls are on are very sturdy and look like normal shops. You can buy all kinds of flowers and bulbs, including of course tulips. The stalls are open from 9:30am-5pm.

Directions: Head back to the main street and continue downwards leaving the city centre. You’ll soon reach Leiden Square ( Tripadvisor Reviews *), a pleasant square full of outdoor seating for restaurants. Head onwards on the walking tour, over the bridge, left and then right into Vondelpark, a park near the centre of Amsterdam.

4. Vondelpark

Vondelpark ( Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a grassy public park near the centre of Amsterdam. The layout was designed in 1850 and today it’s a very popular place for locals to go on a walk or a jog. There are lakes, rivers, fountains and birds, it’s a calm oasis in the busy city. There are several cafes/restaurants within the park, an open-air theatre and a water playground for kids.

Directions: The park gets more interesting after you walk under a road bridge. Wander around the lakes and rivers, then leave the park through a gate onto P.C. Hooftstraat, a fancy shopping street. Turn right at the next junction and you’ll soon reach Museum Square.

5. Museum Square

Surrounded by famous world-class museums, the museum square itself is a large green area. You’ll notice the grand Concertgebouw ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) on your right and the part old, part new Stedelijk Museum on your left. In the centre-left of the square is the obvious round building of the Van Gogh Museum, and at the far end the stately Rijksmuseum. The smaller, newer Moco Museum is between the two, in a fairly normal-looking old house.

Key Information: Open 9am-5pm every day. €20 for adults, free for children. You could spend an entire day here, most people spend a few hours.

The Rijksmuseum ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a huge art museum in Amsterdam. The most famous painting is The Night Watch by Rembrandt, which takes up one side of a large wall. There are also paintings by Vermeer and many more famous Dutch masters. The museum is so large that a guided tour * can be worthwhile to bring you directly to the highlights and give background to the paintings.

Key Information: Open 9am-6pm every day. €20 for adults, free for children. Must book in advance.

The Van Gogh Museum ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) has a large collection of Van Gogh masterpieces along with works by his impressionist contemporaries. Highlights include the Sunflowers, The Potato Eaters, The Bedroom and many self-portraits.

Stedelijk Museum (City Museum)

Key Information: Open every day 10am-6pm. €20 for adults, discounts for concessions.

The Stedelijk Museum ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) focuses on modern art and design. The new extension looks like a bathtub, while the rest of it is in a beautiful old building. There are some pieces by Mondriaan and Picasso but most of the work is from lesser-known artists. There’s also a nice sculpture garden. The free audio tour is worth getting.

Key Information: Open every day 8:30am-9pm (until 10pm on weekends). €16 for adults, discounts for concessions. You can book tickets online to avoid the queues.

The Moco Museum ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a new museum displaying street art, both old and contemporary, including works by Banksy. It’s quite small and can be overcrowded, so aim to visit early or late.

Best Museums in Amsterdam

Most museums in Amsterdam are fairly expensive, with ticket prices ranging from €12.50 to €25 for adults. The top three museums in Amsterdam are:

• Anne Frank House: The most popular museum in Amsterdam. If you visit, it’s worth reading the book * beforehand as you’ll get more from the experience.
• Rijksmuseum: A very large museum containing many famous works of art. Try a guided tour * to hit all the top paintings.
• Van Gogh Museum: Famous works by the master and his contemporaries, remember to book online a few days in advance.

Directions: Walk through the passageway beneath the Rijksmuseum to reach a canal. If you want to, head right 500 metres to the Heineken Experience. Else head across the bridge over the canal.

6. Heineken Experience

Key Information: Open 10:30am-9pm every day. €21 per person, must be 18+ to visit.

The Heineken Experience ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a self-guided tour, with several interactive displays explaining the process of making beer. You can of course also sample the beer.

Directions: After crossing the canal, continue walking straight onwards to a T-junction at Herengracht canal. Turn right then left over the bridge. Continue right along the canal then turn left to walk up a wide tree-covered area. You’ll soon reach a large square, Rembrandt Square ( Tripadvisor Reviews *), with a statue of the man in the centre. Head right to cross the square and leave along the road with trams on. Cross the Amstel River and immediately turn right to find the grand building of the Hermitage Museum.

7. Hermitage Amsterdam

Key Information: Open every day 10am-5pm. €15 for adults, discounts for concessions.

The Hermitage Amsterdam ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) has cut ties with the museum of the same name in St Petersburg because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It now contains Dutch artworks, mainly on loan from other Dutch museums.

Directions: Walk around the Hermitage, left on the large Weesperstraat and then right before the next canal. The botanical gardens are soon on your right.

8. Botanical Gardens

Key Information: Open 10am-5pm every day. €12 for adults, discounts for concessions.

The Botanical Gardens, or Hortus Botanicus ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *), started in 1638. It is fairly small but has beautiful flowers and several greenhouses representing different climates and plants from all over the world. The butterfly house is perhaps a highlight. There’s a nice cafe in the grounds.

Directions: If you do want to visit, now would be the time to detour to The National Maritime Museum and/or the NEMO Science museum, both along the water’s edge. If not, turn left across the large bridge just after the gardens and straight on to Museum Het Rembrandthuis.

9. The National Maritime Museum

Key Information: Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mondays. €17.50 for adults, discounts for concessions.

The National Maritime Museum ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a large museum celebrating Dutch naval history and its importance to the country. There are collections of model ships, old maps, navigation instruments and more. The building housing the museum is quite grand and has good views over the water and Amsterdam. You also get to tour a full-sized replica of a Dutch East Indian trading ship.

10. NEMO Science Museum

Key Information: Open every day 10am-5:30pm. €17.50 for adults, discounts for concessions.

The NEMO Science Museum ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *), located in a very modern glassy building, is full of interactive exhibits about science and technology. It’s good for kids, but can be crowded. There are great views from the roof terrace and a nice cafe, both of which you can visit without entering the museum.

11. Museum Het Rembrandthuis

Key Information: Open Tue-Sun 10am-6pm. €15 for adults, discounts for concessions.

Museum Het Rembrandthuis ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a museum in the house that Rembrandt lived in from 1639 to 1658. You can see how he worked and learn interesting facts about the artist. There’s a good audio guide.

Directions: After Het Rembrandthuis, continue along the street as it bends to the right and you’ll eventually reach the large square of New Market, or Nieuwmarkt ( Tripadvisor Reviews *). There’s a lovely old building at the centre of this square – De Waag, or the Weighhouse – used in the olden days to weigh goods. Leave Nieuwmarkt Square around the back of De Waag on Zeedijk Street.

Zeedijk Street is one of the oldest streets in the city. Some of the buildings are leaning quite precariously here since the ground has been subsiding since their construction. This street is also the centre of Chinatown and you’ll see Chinese writing on many shop signs, together with many Asian restaurants.

Turn left through a black gate down a small alleyway. This route is only open between 8am and 6pm, else the gate is closed. Continue over the first and then second canal to reach the Red Light District.

12. Red Light District

The Red Light District, or De Wallen ( Tripadvisor Reviews *), covers a central area of Amsterdam. A good way to get insight into the area is to take a guided walking tour *. There is an interesting museum here, Our Lord in the Attic Museum, and the Old Church (Oude Kerk) sitting in the middle of the District. The museum is just down the canal and the Church is a short distance further.

Museum Ons’Lieve Heer Op Solder

Key Information: Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (until 6pm on Sat), open Sun 1pm-6pm. €15.50 for adults, discounts for concessions.

The Museum Ons’Lieve Heer Op Solder, or Our Lord in the Attic Museum ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *), is a small slightly hidden museum that preserves a 17th-century canal house with its original furnishings. The old house surprisingly includes a church in the attic. During the 17th century Protestants were in power in Amsterdan and Catholics had to worship in secret, hence the wealthy Catholic merchant who owned this house built himself his own little church.

Key Information: Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1pm-5:30pm. €12 for adults, discounts for concessions.

The Oude Kerk ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is in the heart of the Red Light District. This church was started in the 13th century and is the oldest building in Amsterdam. It’s now mainly a museum but still has church services on Sunday mornings. It contains exhibits about the architecture of the church as well as temporary exhibits by artists, new and old.

Directions: Leave the church around the back and head out to Warmoesstraat. Continue left and you’ll soon reach the very large Dam Square.

13. Dam Square

Dam Square ( Tripadvisor Reviews *) is the main town square in the centre of Amsterdam. There used to be a dam here on the river Amstel, from which Amsterdam gets its name. The square was developed as far back as1270.

Explore more of the Netherlands on our other walking tours

• Delft Walking Tour – near Rotterdam
• Leiden Walking Tour – not far from Amsterdam
• Kinderdijk Windmills Walk – near Rotterdam
• Amsterdam Walking Tour – Amsterdam
• Wassenaar Dunes Hike – not far from The Hague

The Magna Plaza ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a shopping centre in a beautiful building around the back of the Royal Palace. It contains posh shops and a wonderful food hall. It’s open 9am-10pm every day. There are several other interesting buildings around the main square.

Royal Palace Amsterdam

Key Information: Open every day 10am-5pm. €12.50 for adults, free for children, discounts for concessions.

The Royal Palace Amsterdam ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is open most of the year to visit, while also being used sometimes by Dutch Royalty. You can explore the impressive interior and learn about the history of the building and the important collections of paintings, furniture and more. There’s a good audio guide tour.

The Nieuwe Kerk ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is on one side of the square. It’s open 10am-5pm every day and contains temporary exhibitions. Entry prices vary but are often around €15. Today monarchs are coronated in this church.

Madame Tussauds Amsterdam

Key Information: Open every day 10am-6pm. From €25 if you book online in advance.

The Madame Tussauds Amsterdam ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is part of the famous waxwork museum chain and here it focuses on famous Dutch people such as Van Gogh and the Dutch Royals.

Directions: After exploring the buildings of Dam Square, leave up the large Damrak Street toward the station. On the left is the Body Worlds museum, with the elegant Beurs van Berlage building just afterwards on the right.

14. Body Worlds

Key Information: Open 10am-10pm every day. €25 for adults, discounts for concessions.

The Body Worlds Museum ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) shows you the human body as you’ve never seen it before. Gunther von Hagens’ special technique to preserve bodies allows you to see in high detail all the tendons, sinews, organs and much more than you ever thought you would see. It really changes your perspective on your own body.

Beurs van Berlage ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is a historic building that contains high-quality art exhibits along with housing many cafes, restaurants and shops. Open 9am-5pm.

Directions: This is the end of the self-guided Amsterdam Walking Tour. You can walk onwards 500 metres to return to Amsterdam Centraal Station, return to Dam Square or head elsewhere for a well-deserved drink.

Guidebooks to explore more of the Netherlands

To visit a typical Dutch town similar to Amsterdam but with fewer tourists, try exploring Leiden , 30 minutes away by train.

FAQS – Amsterdam Walking Tour

Amsterdam is known for its many world-class art museums, including the Rijksmuseum, for its very central red-light district, and its general tolerance for drugs and drunken tourist behaviour.

The best thing to do in Amsterdam is to go on a walking tour!

You need to spend at least two days in Amsterdam to explore the city, and could spend much longer visiting all the famous museums.

Related Posts

Wassenaar Dunes Hike

Delft Walking Tour

Leiden Walking Tour

Imstenrader Bos and Putberg Hike

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Walking in Amsterdam: Self Guided Tour

There are a lot of interesting sites to see in Amsterdam, and many of them are located in the city centre.

This self-guided tour will provide information about multiple historic and notable attractions at the heart of the city.

Audio Tour Option

We've recorded one of our tour guides as he gives his Intro to Amsterdam tour and have put it on a GPS-led audio tour app.

Listen to a sample.

• Purchase an audio tour  – $2.99
• Get a confirmation email with .mp3, .pdf, and embeddable Google Map
• Enjoy the tour(s).

Guided Tour Options

You don't have to go it alone.

There are several walking tours in the city that cover central Amsterdam, as well as other parts of the city.

Self-Guided Tour of Amsterdam City Centre

This tour will begin at the Central Station in Amsterdam, and it will lead south down the Damrak and past the Royal Palace to many other important historic sites.

Amsterdam Central Station

This is the main train station and the biggest public transport station in all of Amsterdam. Roughly 250,000 people find themselves here every day.

In addition to being the main hub of transportation, Central Station is also a bit of a shopping centre. 

You’ll find stores like Moonflower and Victoria’s Secret and restaurants such as Starbucks, Wagamama, and even a Salsa Shop.

Central Station first opened for business in 1889 with architecture designed by Pierre Cuypers, who also designed the Rijksmuseum . 

The architectural features have elements of both the Gothic and Renaissance Revival era. 

Due to its age, the building has been undergoing almost constant renovation and reconstruction since 1997.

Our next stop is the Stock Exchange, and you’ll find it by walking south down the Damrak.

The Stock Exchange (Euronext Amsterdam)

As you’re walking down Damrak, one of the first major sites you’ll see is on your right.

The Stock Exchange, otherwise known as Euronext Amsterdam, first opened in 1602.

At over 400 years old, this is considered the oldest modern securities market in the world, and it was established by the Dutch East India Company.

While it was once known simply as the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, this market merged with the Brussels and Paris Stock Exchanges to form Euronext in the year 2000.

This was the site where the first multinational corporation was established, and shortly afterward there was a lot of investment interest in the corporation, resulting in the first stock being sold.

It is possible to take a group tour of the building .

Our next stop is the Dam Square, which is just a bit further south on Damrak Street.

This is arguably the biggest and most notable public square in all of Amsterdam, and it’s also the location of multiple historic landmarks.

The most notable landmark you’ll see here is the Royal Palace, which was completed in 1665 and was originally intended to be the Town Hall of Amsterdam.

There is an image titled “Dam Square” already in WordPress.

The architectural style on display is Classicism, and it was designed by Jacob van Campen, who also worked on the Mauritshuis in The Hague, the Paleis Noordeinde and more.

To the right of the Royal Palace you’ll find De Nieuwe Kerk (The New Church), and despite its name, it’s actually older than the palace!

Built and finished in 1408, the church has seen many renovations over the years due to fires and other damage, which explains the use of both traditional Gothic and neo-Gothic architectural designs.

Today, The Old Church is used mostly as an exhibition site for art, photography and more. Some weddings and royal ceremonies are also held here.

Opposite the palace you’ll see the National Monument at the centre of the square. 

Every year there is a ceremony held here called Remembrance of the Dead which pays tribute to the casualties of World War II.

Although these are arguably the three most notable sites in the area, we should point out that you’ll find both Madame Tussauds and Ripley’s Believe it or Not on the southern side of Dam Square.

Continue walking south, this time down Kalverstraat, to find the next stop on our tour.

De Papegaai Church

Also known as the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, this church is nicknamed De Papegaai (The Parrot) because of where it was once hidden.

There was a time in Amsterdam when Catholicism couldn’t be practiced in public, and as a result, this church was originally hidden in a garden behind a house owned by a bird-trader.

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul was founded in 1672, but the current church is a reconstruction from the mid-19th century using neo-Gothic architectural design.

Today, visitors are welcome to partake in Mass and the Eucharist throughout the week at 10:30 am. There is also a second Mass service held at 12:15 pm on Sunday.

Our next stop will take you just a bit further down the Kalverstraat until you reach an alley branching off to the right between Kiehl’s and Pepe Jeans.

This is actually the entrance to the Civic Guards Gallery, our next stop. 

Civic Guards Gallery

This is technically a part of the Amsterdam Museum, but it’s actually entirely free to visit and enjoy everything on display.

There are a lot of interesting works of art and artifacts on display here, including works from none other than Rembrandt.

One of the most notable things to see here is the statue of Goliath, which towers over guests and dates back to the 17th century. This was likely an attraction at an Amsterdam amusement park.

This is one of the top free things to do in Amsterdam .

While there’s not a lot to see here, it’s definitely a nice taste of what you can expect in the Amsterdam Museum, which is the next stop on our tour.

Head out the back of the Civic Guards Gallery and walk down the Gedempte Begijnensloot to the east.

Amsterdam Museum

Although it originally opened in the Waag (on Nieuwmarkt Square), the Amsterdam Museum has been located here at a former convent since 1975.

The convent was used as an orphanage from the 1500’s until 1960, but it now houses some of the most important historical and artistic relics from throughout the history of Amsterdam.

There are 70,000 items in this museum, including a variety of paintings, archeological finds, photos, models, and many other interesting exhibits.

Tickets start at €15 for adults, €12.50 for student cards, and free for everyone 17 and younger. Visit their website .

You can also save money on this museum by using an Amsterdam tourist attraction pass , as the Amsterdam Museum is included on multiple services at a discounted rate.

Our next stop is right next door on the southern end of the museum.

This courtyard is one of the only of its kind in Amsterdam, located within the innermost canal of the city. 

In addition to the courtyard, this is also now the site of two churches: The Houten Huys and English Reformed Church.

Surprisingly, nobody knows exactly when the Begijnhof was originally founded. The first mentions of this location were found in texts dating back to the 1300s.

When it was first built, the Begijnhof was actually surrounded by water, and the only way to get here was by crossing a bridge across the Begijnensloot.

This was essentially like a convent, housed by beguines who had taken a vow of chastity. Unlike nuns, they were allowed to leave the court and get married if they wished. 

Our next stop is the Spui square, which is just south of the Begijnhof.

Spui Square

Although it’s not as well known or popular as Dam Square, this public square is a great place to take a break and rest your feet during the tour.

This was originally a body of water, but in 1882 the Spui Square was filled in and turned into the location you see today. 

If you come on a Friday, you may run into the weekly book market held here. 

Alternatively, visitors coming on a Sunday will have the chance to shop at the weekly art market on the Spui.

In addition to the shopping, there are also several works of art in this square, including Een vertaling van de ene taal in de andere from noted American conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner.

Our next stop will take you back down Kalverstraat heading south to Muntplein.

Located at the heart of Muntplein (Mint Square, named after the tower), you’ll find the Mint Tower. This is where the Amstel river and Singel canal meet.

The tower that stands here was originally attached to the Regulierspoort, which was one of the main gates in the city wall of Amsterdam during medieval times.

Following a fire in 1618, only part of this tower was left standing, and the rest of it was rebuilt in 1620 using elements of the Renaissance architectural style.

The Mint Tower gets its name from the guard house next to the tower, which also survived the fire. This location was used to mint counts during the 17th century, hence the name.

Although the guard house made it through the fire, it was replaced in the late 1800s using the neo-Renaissance architectural style.

To find the next site, head south across the water and then turn east on Singel to see the floating flower market of Amsterdam.

Floating Flower Market & Koningsplein

Also known as the Bloemenmarkt, this flower market is technically located on the Singel canal, which means it is floating in the water. 

As you might have guessed, this would be a great location to purchase some flowers for a loved one. In addition to selling bouquets and singles, they also sell seeds and blooming flowers ready to plant.

Aside from the obvious, this is also a great place to find authentically Dutch souvenirs, as there are a lot of vendors who have branched out (no pun intended) to serve a wider audience of customers.

This market has been open since 1862, and you can visit from Monday - Saturday from 9 am - 5:30 pm or on Sunday from 11 am - 5:30 pm.

To find our next stop, keep walking east alongside the Singel Canal until you reach Koningsplein. 

This public square is a popular meeting place for locals, and it separates the Singel and Herengracht canals.

Although it’s a nice square, there’s not a lot to see here, and our next major stop is actually south down Leidsestraat. 

This street is lined with popular stores and shops you may want to check out before we get to Leidseplein.

Leidseplein

This is probably one of the second most popular public squares in Amsterdam, and it’s a great place to hang out if you’re interested in the nightlife.

Originally, this square was used as a parking lot for horse-drawn carriages, but today the traffic looks different and so do the streets lining this square.

If you walk down the side streets nearby, you’ll find dozens of great bars, restaurants and nightclubs where you can enjoy your night, meet new people, and have a lot of fun. 

The most notable attraction here is the Stadsschouwburg, a theatre which was once home to the National Ballet and Opera. The architectural style on display here is neo-Renaissance.

The history of this theater dates back to 1789. After burning down in 1890, the building before you today was designed and construction was finished between 1892-1894. 

In 1982 it was named a Rijksmonument, a national heritage site of the Netherlands, due to its cultural importance.

This is the last stop on our tour, but we recommend taking some time to grab a drink at one of the nearby nightclubs or bars.

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Self Guided Walking Tours Amsterdam

Amsterdam self guided walking tours.

Self-guided walking tours in Amsterdam offer a fantastic way to explore the city at your own pace. With a plethora of historic landmarks, picturesque canals, and charming neighborhoods, Amsterdam is a perfect city for exploring on foot. These tours provide curated routes and maps that take you through the city's highlights, including iconic attractions like Dam Square , Anne Frank House , and the famous canal belt. Discover hidden gems, local shops, and vibrant street art as you meander through the city's charming streets and alleys. Whether you're a history buff, an art enthusiast, or simply want to soak in the city's atmosphere, self-guided walking tours offer an immersive and flexible way to experience Amsterdam's rich culture and beauty.

Embark on a fascinating journey through Amsterdam's infamous Red Light District. Our expert guide will lead you through the winding streets and alleyways, where you'll learn about the district's history and culture, as well as its current role in the city. Explore the area's famous red-lit windows and coffee shops, and discover the district's hidden gems. Our tour is the perfect way to experience this unique neighbourhood and gain a deeper understanding of Amsterdam's liberal attitudes towards sex work.

Book Now: Red Light District Walking Tour

Take your taste buds on a journey through Amsterdam's vibrant food scene. Our walking food tour will take you through some of the city's best-loved neighborhoods, where you'll sample local delicacies and learn about Dutch cuisine and culture. Our knowledgeable guide will introduce you to the city's culinary traditions and give you insider tips on where to find the best food in Amsterdam. From traditional herring to stroopwafels and cheese, our tour will leave you with a newfound appreciation for Dutch cuisine.

Click Here to Book Now: Walking Food Tour in Amsterdam

Explore Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter and learn about the city's Jewish history on this guided walking tour. Our expert guide will take you to the places that were significant to Anne Frank and her family during World War II, including the house where she hid and the Jewish Historical Museum. You'll also visit the Portuguese Synagogue and other important Jewish landmarks, and learn about the history and culture of Amsterdam's Jewish community. This tour is a moving and insightful way to learn about Amsterdam's past and its people.

You May Also Book: Anne Frank Walking Tour

Explore the rich history and vibrant art scene of Amsterdam on this walking tour. Our knowledgeable guide will take you through the city's streets and canals, introducing you to iconic landmarks such as the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House. Along the way, you'll also discover hidden art galleries and learn about the city's artistic legacy. From Rembrandt to Van Gogh, our tour is the perfect way to immerse yourself in Amsterdam's fascinating art and history.

Discover the colourful and dynamic world of street art in Amsterdam on this walking tour. Our expert guide will take you through the city's streets and alleys, pointing out murals, graffiti, and other works of art by local and international artists. You'll learn about the history and culture of street art, and gain a deeper appreciation for this vibrant form of expression. This tour is a must-do for anyone interested in the intersection of art, culture, and the streets.

Take a self-guided walking tour through Amsterdam's picturesque Western Canal Belt. With our detailed map and informative guide, you'll explore the city's stunning canals and historic buildings at your own pace. Marvel at the beauty of the 17th-century architecture, and discover hidden gems such as the Begijnhof courtyard and the Anne Frank House. Our tour is the perfect way to experience the charm and beauty of Amsterdam's canal belt, and discover the history and culture of this vibrant city on foot.

Routes for Self Guided Walking Tour Amsterdam

• Grachtengordel (Canal Ring) - Take a leisurely stroll through Amsterdam's stunning canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Marvel at the 17th-century architecture and soak up the charm of this picturesque neighborhood.
• Anne Frank House - Visit the home where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II. Explore the museum and learn about Anne's life and legacy.
• Begijnhof - Step back in time at this hidden courtyard, which dates back to the Middle Ages. Admire the charming houses and peaceful atmosphere of this tranquil oasis in the heart of the city.
• Vondelpark - Relax and unwind in Amsterdam's largest park, which features ponds, gardens, and outdoor art. Take a stroll or rent a bike and explore this beautiful green space.
• Museum Square - Home to some of Amsterdam's most famous museums, including the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. Take in the iconic I amsterdam sign and enjoy the lively atmosphere of this bustling square.
• Heineken Experience - Learn about the history and brewing process of one of the world's most famous beers at the interactive Heineken Experience museum.
• Hermitage Amsterdam - Discover the art and culture of Russia at this stunning museum, which features exhibitions from the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
• Botanical Gardens - Explore the beauty and diversity of plant life from around the world at Amsterdam's botanical gardens. Admire the exotic plants and learn about their history and significance.
• The National Maritime Museum - Learn about the history and importance of maritime trade in Dutch culture at this fascinating museum. Explore exhibits and artifacts that highlight the country's rich seafaring past.
• NEMO Science Museum - Engage your curiosity and explore the wonders of science at this interactive museum. From hands-on exhibits to demonstrations and workshops, NEMO is a fun and educational experience for all ages.
• Museum Het Rembrandthuis - Step into the world of one of Amsterdam's most famous artists at the Rembrandt House Museum. Explore the restored home and workshop of Rembrandt and learn about his life and work.
• Red Light District - Discover the unique culture and history of Amsterdam's infamous Red Light District. Take a guided tour or explore on your own and learn about the city's liberal attitudes towards sex work.
• Dam Square - Experience the heart of Amsterdam at this bustling square, which is home to the Royal Palace and many other historic buildings. Enjoy street performers and soak up the lively atmosphere of this iconic landmark.

• Groenburgwal: A scenic canal street lined with charming buildings and picturesque bridges, offering a peaceful and romantic atmosphere.
• Begijnhof: Step into the tranquility of this historic courtyard, home to picturesque houses, a hidden chapel, and a serene atmosphere.
• Flower Market : Experience the vibrant colors and fragrant scents of Amsterdam's famous floating flower market, offering a stunning array of blooms.
• Nine Streets neighborhood: Explore this trendy area filled with boutique shops, vintage stores, cozy cafes, and unique dining options.
• Jordaan: Wander through the charming streets of Jordaan, known for its quaint houses, art galleries, lively markets, and charming local atmosphere.
• Brouwersgracht: Discover the beauty of this picturesque canal, lined with charming houseboats and historic buildings, offering a serene and scenic experience.
• Dam Square: The heart of Amsterdam, bustling with activity and surrounded by iconic landmarks like the Royal Palace and the National Monument.
• Amsterdam Centraal: The city's central railway station, a striking architectural masterpiece and a bustling hub for transportation and exploration.
• Chinatown: Immerse yourself in the vibrant and culturally rich neighbourhood of Chinatown, offering authentic cuisine, bustling markets, and colourful festivities.
• Red Light District: Experience the unique atmosphere of Amsterdam's infamous Red Light District, with its narrow streets, adult entertainment, and vibrant nightlife.
• Skinny Bridge: Admire the elegant and iconic Skinny Bridge, a picturesque bridge that spans the Amstel River, offering a romantic and scenic view.
• Reguliersgracht: Explore this picturesque canal with its beautiful row of historic canal houses and charming bridges, creating a quintessential Amsterdam scene.
• Hermitage: Visit this renowned museum housed in a stunning historic building, featuring a diverse collection of art and cultural exhibitions from around the world.

Top Attractions to See on the Walking Tour

What are some popular landmarks or attractions that can be visited on a self-guided walking tour in Amsterdam?

Popular landmarks and attractions that can be visited on a self-guided walking tour in Amsterdam include the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Dam Square, Jordaan neighborhood, Vondelpark, and the famous canal belt. These iconic sites offer a glimpse into the city's rich history, art, and culture.

Are there any specific neighbourhoods or districts that are recommended for exploring on foot?

Neighbourhoods and districts recommended for exploring on foot include the Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes) neighbourhood, the charming Begijnhof, the historic Red Light District, and the lively Albert Cuyp Market area. These areas showcase a mix of architecture, local shops, cafes, and unique atmospheres.

How long does a typical self-guided walking tour in Amsterdam take?

The duration of a typical self-guided walking tour in Amsterdam depends on the chosen route and the pace of the visitor. A comprehensive tour covering major attractions can take a full day, while shorter tours focusing on specific areas or themes can be completed in a few hours.

What are some safety tips or precautions to keep in mind while exploring Amsterdam on foot?

Safety tips for exploring Amsterdam on foot include following traffic rules, being aware of cyclists, using designated pedestrian crossings, avoiding distractions from electronic devices, and keeping valuables secure. It is also advisable to stay in well-lit and populated areas, especially at night, and to be cautious of pickpockets in crowded places.

Are there any self-guided walking tours specifically designed for families or children?

Yes, there are self-guided walking tours designed specifically for families and children in Amsterdam. These tours often include child-friendly activities, interactive elements, and engaging stories that make the exploration of the city more enjoyable for young visitors. Some tours even provide scavenger hunts or games to keep children entertained while discovering the sights and attractions of Amsterdam.

What are the different Cruise options to book in Amsterdam?

Here are the different Cruise options to book in Amsterdam:

• Amsterdam Canal Cruises
• Amsterdam Evening Canal Cruise
• Rijksmuseum Tickets with Canal Cruise
• 75 Minutes Canal Cruise Experience in Amsterdam
• Romantic Private Cruise Amsterdam
• Amsterdam Romantic Canal Tour with Bubbly
• Party Booze Cruise with Night Club Entrance in Amsterdam

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Easy Walking Tour in Amsterdam – 11 Epic Sights in 60 Minutes

• May 26, 2017 June 3, 2018

This self-guided scenic walking tour in Amsterdam will let you experience a blend of historical and contemporary sights. Follow this route and in just 60 minutes you can sample the city's unique ambience, with its centuries-old buildings, world-famous canal ring and picturesque bridges.

Unlike most European capitals, Amsterdam's streets in the centre are relatively traffic-free and easy to navigate on foot. As you explore these city streets, you will pass by dazzling landmarks, cafes, galleries and exclusive independent shops. Taking a walk is a far better way to soak up the beauty and wonders of the city. It's also a great social activity and moving at a slower pace means that you will absorb more of the essential sights.

If you are wondering where to walk in Amsterdam? This route is perfect if you have a couple of hours to spare!

Amazing Dutch Sights You Will See Along This Route

• Bridges;  there are 15-20 on this route with various styles.
• Canals ; Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht & Reguliersgracht.
• Houseboats ; the static floating homes used by approximately 2,400 families in Amsterdam.
• Architecture ; some iconic Amsterdam canal houses with the ornate gables.
• Brown Cafes ; a traditional cosy Dutch pub with dark wood and smoke stained walls (check out Cafe de Fles )
• Fresh fish ; Traditional Dutch vishuisje  on which is a stall selling ready-to-eat fresh fish.
• Coffeeshops ; places to buy and smoke cannabis - not places to drink coffee.
• Bikes ; they look picturesque when parked on a bridge. However, watch out for them when crossing the road!

Amsterdam Canal Walk Route

Time: 60 mins - Distance: 4.1km - Tram: 4, 9, 14 at Rembrandtplein -  Metro:  Waterlooplein

Download free PDF for this easy walking tour map of Amsterdam

1. Blauwbrug

Blauwbrug - An ornate bridge across the Amstel built for the World Colonial Exposition in 1883.

Amstel - The main river flowing into the city from which Amsterdam gets its name.

3. Herengracht

Herengracht is the innermost of the three main canals in Amsterdam. It was the place where wealthy merchants and city rulers lived in the seventeenth century.  Literally translated, Herengracht means "Gentleman's Canal" referring to the status of its early residents.

4. Fifteen Bridges Viewpoint

15 bridges viewpoint - The intersection of Reguliersgracht and Herengracht gives a spectacular view of 15 bridges in different directions from one spot.

5. Golden Bend

Golden Bend - A section mansions on the Herengracht canal which were constructed during the Golden Age.

6. Keizersgracht

Keizersgracht is known as The Emperor’s Canal  and is the middlemost of the three main canals in Amsterdam. It was named after an Austrian emperor, Maximilian I, a 15th and 16th-century emperor of the house of Habsburg.

7. Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug)

The best-known attraction on this canal walk through Amsterdam is the Skinny Bridge , known as Magere Brug in Dutch. As its name suggests, it is a long thin drawbridge and spans the river Amstel. The current bridge is relatively new and was built in 1934. However, the original bridge in the same location dates back to 1691. Skinny Bridge is especially pretty at nighttime.

8. Prinsengracht

Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal) is the outermost and longest of Amsterdam’s main canals. It is named after the William the First, Prince of Orange.

9. Amstelkerk Church

Amstelkerk - 17th century, this wooden church with neo-Gothic interior and a 19th-century organ.

10. Reguliersgracht

Reguliersgracht  is a picturesque and tranquil canal with seven beautiful bridges many other interesting features. One example is the canal house designed by famous architect Isaac Gosschalk combining brick, stone and wood in the facade. Furthermore, the red house on the corner with a stalk which used to be where the midwife lived.

11. Rembrandtplein

Rembrandtplein - Busy square surrounded by bars and cafes, with a statue of Rembrandt and figures from his painting Nachtwacht.

A Few Small Items To Bring With You...

Most weeks, I head into Amsterdam in the evening and walk for 2 or 3 hours. Amsterdam is a great place to walk and unwind. It's also a safe city to visit. However, there are pick-pockets just like all major cities who especially target tourists. Therefore, I do all I can to blend in and look like a resident or commuter. I avoid using a backpack or camera bag and opt instead for a plain messenger style bag . Here's what I usually pack...

• A small A5 printed map. I prefer to save the battery on my phone for taking photos.
• Smartphone. I love the iPhone7 with new portrait mode and ability to shoot in RAW format.
• Camera.  Fuji x100t which is light and stealthy, or  Canon 6d which give higher quality and options for zooming in/out.
• Contact sheet. A print out of photo ideas from Pinterest / Instagram which I create using either  Apple Preview or Windows Explorer.
• Joby Gorilla Pod . For nighttime shots or selfies.
• Small folding umbrella. Just in case the weather suddenly changes.
• Fingerless gloves (winter). Keep the hands warm whilst allowing me to keep taking photos.
• Loose change for the toilets. These are rarely free in Amsterdam so be prepared to pay 30c to €1,00.
• Sanitising Hand Gel (see above)

Do you have interesting locations or walking routes in Amsterdam you would like to share?  If so, please let me know in the comments below .

Related Posts

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Canals of Amsterdam

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The Baby Boomer's Guide To Travel

How to take a self-guided walking tour in Amsterdam

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Would you like to take a self-guided Amsterdam walking tour? City walking tours are great ways to explore European destinations like Amsterdam. 

With its charming canals and laid-back rhythms, Amsterdam is a great place to explore on foot. In fact, I’ve already taken our boomer travel readers on a winter walking tour of the Jordaan District .

But there’s so much to see that one walking tour of Amsterdam simply isn’t enough. Guest contributor, Susan Guillory from The Unexplorer , takes us on an independent Amsterdam walking tour filled with tips for how to best see the city on foot, or as the locals do, by bicycle.

Tips for a self-guided walking tour in Amsterdam

While Amsterdam may be on the Grand Tour for every foreigner to visit while in Europe, intrepid travelers who prefer less touristy cities shouldn’t pass it by. Amsterdam is filled with warm citizens (who have no issue speaking English to you), wonderful food, and picturesque settings.

I recently tacked on a couple of days in one of my most favorite cities in the world after two weeks in France . Faced with a mere day to spend in the city, I made the most of it by exploring on a self guided Amsterdam walking tour.

Follow my tips to make the most of your independent exploration of Amsterdam. However I do recommend a good pair of walking shoes .

Boomer Travel Tip

In today’s travel climate, trip insurance is a must. Compare policies and rates at InsureMyTrip .

Amsterdam is a Walkable City

When you first exit Centraal Station , you are overwhelmed by the crowds, the starving students handing out flyers for hostels, and the zinging of what feels like millions of bicycles going by. If you walk a little further out, the crowds disperse and you can breathe more easily.

The streets are wide, with few cars competing against the primary means of transportation: the bicycle. Amsterdam is one of the more pedestrian-conscious cities I’ve traveled to, which makes walking here less stressful.

But do keep an eye out for those bikes! They move fast, and like cars, can still mow you down.

A Self Guided Amsterdam Walking Tour for Seeing the City in a Day

Once you leave Centraal Station, you have two choices: if you want a canal view and thinning crowds, stay straight to end up on Damrak, the wide boulevard lined by a canal. Meander down to Dam Square , where often on the weekends and during the summer, throngs of people gather for events.

Just before the square, look for Royal 98 Restaurant on the right. It’s desserts, particularly the mini bossche bol (a chocolate drenched confection filled with cream), paired with a cappuccino, make the perfect pick-me-up, no matter what time it is.

Option two: if you want to get your shopping on right away, veer one block to the right of Damrak when you leave the station to land on the narrow Niewendijk street. It’s lined with stores for both locals and tourists. Hema , a sort of miniature IKEA store, sits nestled among shoe stores and vape shops.

Yes, I said vape. If you’re unaccustomed to smelling the pungent whiff of marijuana in the air, you will be by the end of your walk. But for the most part, people, even tourists partaking, are respectful and not over the top.

Once you arrive at Dam Square (maybe stopping for that break), follow Damrak from either previous path. It turns into Rokin here. As long as the canal is on your left, you’ll be fine.

Do you prefer a guided Amsterdam walking tour ? Check out the offerings at Viator.

Let’s Add a Few Tulips to the Tour

Once you cross a bridge over another canal, it’s time to turn right to visit the Bloemenmarkt . (Signs will guide you.) This flower market on the canal has been in existence since 1862.

Your self guided Amsterdam walking tour becomes colorful here as you admire tulips in shades you couldn’t even dream of, as well as a surprising assortment of other plants, seeds, and bulbs. Buy bulbs to take home (it’s allowed) or just take photos.

There are also several cheese shops across from the market, so meander in for samples of amazing aged Gouda.

I know you’re getting hungry, but we’ve got one more stop before lunch.

Go back the way you came into the market and turn right on Vijzelstraat. Follow this street lined with houses (no tourists to be seen) for about 20 minutes.

Suddenly, the Heineken factory will loom largely ahead on the left. Take a photo. Take a tour, if you’re so inclined (free samples!).

Then turn left in front of the factory and then right on Eerstevander Helststraat until you end up in the middle of the bustle of the Albert Cuyp Markt . The street market is open daily, 9-5, and houses all sorts of wares, from clothing to meat to souvenirs. Whether you buy anything or not, it’s a great place to take in the hecklers begging shoppers to sample food as well as people watch.

I visited Amsterdam in late September, which was perfect. There were fewer tourists, and the weather was still warm.

Include an Amsterdam museum in your walking tour. But skip those long lines!

• Skip the line entrance ticket to Rijksmuseum
• Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum Skip-the-Line ticket

Time to Dine

Sorry to starve you this long! You’re welcome to pick up a few items for a picnic lunch at the market, then head two blocks south to Sarphatipark to enjoy it. If you run into a fritjes shop, by all means, make that your lunch. I won’t judge.

I personally think the french fries in Amsterdam are the best in the world. They come in a cone, slathered with your choice of sauce. I always opt for Samurai sauce (mayo with sriracha).

If you want something a bit more substantial, you’re spoiled for choice. Amsterdam is known for great Surinamese food, and I find the Indian and Chinese food to be spectacular as well. Trip Advisor is a great place to find a recommendation in the area you are looking to eat in.

Has this article inspired an Amsterdam boomer adventure? Start your search for hotels in Amsterdam with us.

Time to Relax

I know by now I’ve worn you out, so take it easy on your return to Centraal Station or your hotel. What better way than to rest your tired feet and see Amsterdam than on a canal tour?

There are several tours, and you’ll see signs for them on the larger canals. Be smart: buy your tickets ahead with company’s that offer a 24-hour-in-advance cancellation policy:

• Hop on, hop off canal cruise
• 100 Highlights Cruise : 1 hour cruise

Just sit back and listen to the guide give some interesting facts and history on the city as a way to round out your self guided Amsterdam walking tour.

We didn’t even touch on any of the major tourist attractions like the Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum, but if you’re inclined to visit them, you can absolutely include them into your walking tour.

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Historic self-guided walking tour in Amsterdam

Did you know it’s very easy to explore Amsterdam on foot? I went on a historic self-guided walking tour in Amsterdam and share my itinerary in this article.

Before we start: have you ever heard about the Westerborkpad?

In The Netherlands, there are multiple long-distance trails, and the Pieterpad (from Pieterburen in the north to Mount Saint Peter near Maastricht) is probably the most well-known. The Westerborkpad is also a long-distance trail and it has a very sad history. In World War II, Jews were round-up at the Hollandic Theatre in Amsterdam, and they were deported by train to Camp Westerbork. Westerbork was a transit camp, and most of the Jews were deported to concentration camps like Auschwitz and Sobibor. The Westerborkpad is a trail that follows the train tracks and is 342 kilometers long. During this self-guided walking tour in Amsterdam, you’ll hike a little bit of this historic trail.

Start: walk from Central Station to the canals

The stickers will lead the way and you’ll wander through many historic streets and follow the canals. Amsterdam is a gorgeous city, make sure to check out the architecture of the canal houses. A lot of them have been built in the 17th or 18th century. At some of the houses you will see something like MDCCX, these are Roman Numbers, and they tell you when the house was built. In this case, it would be in 1710.

At some point, you’ll walk by the Anne Frank House, and there are usually long queues at the entrance. The Anne Frank House is one of the most famous places in Amsterdam, and you should definitely visit it, especially when you only have 48 hours in Amsterdam .

After that, you’ll see the Westerkerk, which is one of the most beautiful churches in Amsterdam, and you’ll walk through the area called ‘9 straatjes’. This area is a great place for vintage shopping and getting coffee. Keep following the Herengracht for a while.

Rembrandtplein & Hermitage

At some point, you’ll walk across some very touristic squares (square means plein in the Dutch language): Thorbeckeplein and Rembrandtplein. Here you’ll find a large statue of Rembrandt, and in front of that, there are some smaller statues that resemblance his most famous painting: The Nightwatch. A great place to take a picture!

In the area of Rembrandtplein, there are also many shops. So if you need to buy some souvenirs from Amsterdam , this is the place to do that.

After a short walk from the Rembrandtplein, you’ll reach the Amstel river and see lots of canal boats.

You’ll explore the area with a lot of buildings of the University of Amsterdam, and even walk through a tunnel. This is called the Oudemanshuispoort, and here is a market where they sell books. I was there on a Sunday, so no one was selling books at that time. I will come back to check it out someday.

You walk back to the Amstel river and see a huge building on your left. This is called the Stopera, and this is the place where the local council has its meetings, and it’s also the place where you can go to the opera. Follow the Amstel for a bit, check out museum the Hermitage and go left. You can also follow the Amstel for a bit longer because the famous Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) is very close to this point.

The Westerborkpad

At this point, there are more and more things pointing towards the horrible history of World War II. The Hermitage is located close to Waterlooplein and the Jewish Historical Museum. This neighborhood used to be the Jewish Neighbourhood, and a lot of Jews moved here in the 16th and 17th centuries. After that, the wealthy families moved to other neighborhoods like the Plantagebuurt and the Transvaalbuurt. You’ll pass the Hortus Botanicus and enter the Plantagebuurt.

This area feels so much different from the city center. There are fewer tourists and it’s very green. You can also find the city zoo called Artis in this area, which is quite big, it takes up half the neighborhood. Close to Artis is the start of the Westerborkroute: the Hollandic Theatre (Hollandsche Schouwburg). This is the place where Jews had to go to during World War II. Standing here gives me goosebumps.

The Hollandic Theatre is a museum now, so if you’d like to know more about the history of this neighborhood, I can highly recommend visiting the museum. You can also continue this self-guided walking tour and follow the Plantage Middenlaan along Artis, the Tropenmuseum to the Oosterpark. In this huge city park, you can relax for a bit and enjoy the scenic views.

From the Oosterpak, you’ll walk to the Transvaalbuurt, where you probably won’t see any other tourist anymore. This is the place where you see many locals and get to explore the local Amsterdam life. Like I mentioned before, there used to live a lot of Jewish people in this neighborhood, and there used to be a lot of razzias. They were gathered at the Transvaalplein, to be transported to the Hollandic Theatre or the Muiderpoortstation. Nowadays, the Transvaalplein is just a regular square with a playground, but you can feel the history here. At some houses, you’ll see several signs, that tell you about the history of this neighborhood.

From the Transvaalplein it’s only a short walk to Muiderstation and from here it’s easy to take the train back to Amsterdam Central Station.

About this self-guided tour in Amsterdam

The total length of this tour is 11 kilometers and it’s an official NS-walking tour. The NS is the Dutch Railway company and they offer various walking itineraries from station to station.

I would highly recommend starting this hike early in the morning. Especially around the canals, it will be very crowded. You can do this self-guided walking in a couple of hours, but it also can take up a full day if you’d like to visit one of the many museums.

You can do this hike every time of the year. However, it might be a bit crowded during Spring and Summer months, but those months it’s nice to chill in one of the gorgeous parks in Amsterdam. I would recommend doing this during Autumn when you like to see the leaves changing colors. And also, it’s one of the best things to do in Amsterdam in Winter , especially on a sunny day.

Where to stay and how to get around?

Public Transport in Amsterdam is amazing, you can go anywhere by train, bus, metro or tram. You can buy tickets at stations and in buses or trams (only by debit cards, credit cards are not accepted most of the time!).

There are a lot of great places to stay in Amsterdam , and pretty much every neighborhood is safe (but always keep your eyes open for pickpockets). It is easy to compare and book rooms with Booking.com , which I recommend doing. Airbnb is also big in Amsterdam, but the government tries to control it more and more. Which results in illegal stays and people getting kicked out of their Airbnb. So make sure to check with the host before you book anything. If you’ve never booked with Airbnb before, you can use this link to get €25 off your first stay.

Extra tip for a visit to Amsterdam

Do you want to see all of Amsterdam for a great discount? Get the I amsterdam City Card . The I amsterdam City Card is your ticket to a more affordable, action-packed trip to Amsterdam. It provides free entry to the city’s top attractions, unlimited travel on public transport, a free canal cruise, and significant discounts and giveaways.

Would you like to read more about Amsterdam or The Netherlands?

Get one of these guidebooks:

DK Eyewitness Amsterdam

Lonely Planet Pocket Amsterdam

Or check out one of these articles:

• A weekend in Amsterdam: 30 tips from local
• 12 Great parks in Amsterdam
• The most beautiful places in The Netherlands

As a girl from a small town in the Netherlands, I always dreamed of traveling . I thought it would always be a dream, but nowadays, I travel 6 to 8 months a year and I hike thousands of miles on the most beautiful hiking trails. On this website you can read all about my favorite destinations.

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This sounds great, and you seem to get a much better feel for the city than sticking to the key tourist areas. I like that you included a bit of information about the history of the locations you’ve mentioned too. I’ve never been to Amsterdam but I’d definitely consider this if I visit x

I’m happy to hear that! Amsterdam has so much history, everybody who comes here should know at least a little bit :)

An Audio-Guided Tour

🎧 Over 15 Narrated Points of Interest: Engage with the rich history of Amsterdam through captivating stories and facts at each landmark.

🗺️ Interactive Map for Seamless Navigation: Easily find your way around the city's winding canals and historic streets.

📖 Dive into the Rich History and Cultural Melting Pot of Amsterdam: Discover how this city's unique position in Europe influenced its development, culture, and architecture.

🎶 Immersive Soundscapes: Background sounds and music that bring the historical atmosphere of Amsterdam to life.

🎭 Inclusion of Lesser-Known Stories: Delve into the tales of Amsterdam's communities and individuals who shaped the city's history.

⏳ Approximately 2- to 3-Hour Tour: Immerse yourself in a comprehensive exploration of Amsterdam at your own pace.

For Tourists and Locals Alike

Discover Amsterdam like never before with our innovative audio guide app! Perfect for both tourists and locals, this user-friendly app transforms your smartphone into a personal tour guide. With GPS-enabled navigation, effortlessly explore the rich history and vibrant culture of Amsterdam at your own pace. Say goodbye to endless research and hello to instant, in-depth insights about the city's iconic landmarks, hidden gems, and must-visit spots.

During the guided tour, you'll learn more about Amsterdam's famous figures like Anne Frank, Rembrandt, and many others.

Rembrandt van rijn, narrated points of interest.

• Anne Frank House: "Reflect on Anne Frank's enduring legacy at the historic site where her story unfolded."
• Stopera: "Marvel at the architectural grandeur of Stopera, a hub of Amsterdam's cultural and political life."
• Begijnhof: "Step into Begijnhof, a serene, hidden courtyard that whispers tales of Amsterdam's past."
• The House with the Graffiti: "Discover the enigmatic 'House with the Blood Stains' along the Amstel Canal"
• Beurspassage: "Stroll through the Beurspassage, where art and commerce blend in a dazzling display."
• In ‘t Aepjen: "Visit In ‘t Aepjen, one of Amsterdam's oldest pubs, brimming with history and character."
• Jordaan: "Experience the charming Jordaan, a neighborhood famous for its quaint streets and rich artistic heritage."
• Central Station: "Admire the architectural splendor of Amsterdam's Central Station, a gateway to the city's wonders."
• Chinatown: "Explore the vibrant colors and flavors of Amsterdam's Chinatown, a fusion of cultures."
• Dam Square: "Witness the bustling heart of Amsterdam at Dam Square, a crossroads of history and modernity."
• Damrak: "Take in the lively atmosphere of Damrak, a bustling thoroughfare lined with iconic Amsterdam sights."
• Oude Kerk: "Visit Oude Kerk, Amsterdam's oldest building, and a testament to the city's rich religious history."
• De Waag: "Uncover the medieval secrets of De Waag, a historic building with a storied past."
• Pathé Tuschinski: "Step back in time at Pathé Tuschinski, an exquisite cinema blending Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles."
• Rembrandthuis: "Explore Rembrandt's world at the Rembrandthuis, where the master lived and created his renowned artworks."
• Westerkerk: "Admire Westerkerk's towering spire, an iconic landmark that offers stunning views of Amsterdam."
• Muntplein & Flower Market: "Immerse yourself in the fragrant beauty of the Muntplein Flower Market, a kaleidoscope of blooms."

Step into the Heart of Amsterdam

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The Ultimate Self-Guided Amsterdam Canal Tour On Foot

One of the greatest ways to explore Amsterdam is through its unique canal-facing architecture. Those iconic houses show up on postcards, magnets, tea towels and more. They feel like the de facto symbols of the city. But behind each one of their facades are the hidden histories and secrets of Amsterdam. There are over 90 different islands in Amsterdam connect by 160 gorgeous canals. Interestingly, Amsterdam has more canals than Venice and more bridges than Paris! Amsterdam’s architecture is some of the best-preserved architecture in all of Europe. The historic centre has over 7,000 registered historic buildings, so the entire island feels like a floating museum.

Most people opt to go on a boat tour, and rightly so, as it is one of the most authentic ways to explore Amsterdam. But a tour on foot allows you to spend more time studying the buildings up close. This way you can get a real sense of the atmosphere and environment of different neighbourhoods spread across the city. A walking tour is a great idea as an intro to the city. You’ll get a taste and decide for yourself where you might want to return to study in greater detail. Don’t worry too much about being on the right side of the canal as we go. You can easily see these buildings from across the canal. But you can always cross over one of the many bridges in the city should you want to get a closer look.

How Long is the Tour?

This is a  full-day walking tour  that takes you across the entire city! If you feel like splitting it up, feel free to customize the tour yourself! This way, you can spend some extra time in any of the museums listed. That is the joy of self-guided tours, after all. We will start our tour in the quiet northwest corner of the city in the Jordaan neighbourhood. Then we slowly make our way over to the southeast end.

Amsterdam History

Amsterdam began as a small fishing village. The village was located behind the large dam which protected the city from the overbearing Amstel River. The name “Amsterdam” comes from the location along the “Amstel” river and the “dam” which protected it. In less than 200 years, from the 16th to 18th century, the city of Amsterdam’s population exploded! It multiplied from 30,000 residence to 160,000 residents almost overnight. The city was a melting pot for immigrants from all over Europe. At the time, the Netherlands had a very tolerant climate towards refugees. With this came a massive influx of people from France, Portugal, Spain, and much of the Jewish population from Antwerp.

The Canal Expansion

Back then, Amsterdam was just this tiny island overflowing with people. The city needed to find a way to expand the city and cope with the growing population. So, the city council decided they would follow what the Italians did in Venice. They created a series of canals that spread out around the city. But unlike the winding, a spider web of canals in Venice, the design of the Amsterdam canals was very structured. They run in a half-moon shape around the bay encircling the historic medieval centre. Historians also call this the windshield wiper design.

Grachtengordel

The newly formed canal belt neighbourhood was called the  Grachtengordel . “Gracht” translates to the word “canal” so literally, this was called the canal district. This new area would be designated for inhabitants. A fourth canal was added, the  Singel Canal , which would be used for defence.

Building the canals was a pricey business. So the city offered wealthy merchants and bankers the opportunity to buy plots of land in these prestigious areas. This helped them secure the funds they needed to build the waterways. A portion of the outer canals was reserved for industrial use. As these factories were known for being loud and smelly the city wanted to keep them as far away from the aristocrats as possible.

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Creation of Canal House

Many of the houses you see in Amsterdam are built atop a series of wooden poles. If you were to scan a cross-section of the city, you’d see it look like a giant pin cushion. How many poles are there? Some say it’s as much as eleven million! The Amsterdam Centraal train station alone stands atop 9,000 poles. Each pole needs to be around 15-20 meters tall to be struck down deep enough to support the houses built atop it.

Amsterdam Roof Gables

During the 17th century, it was considered gauche to see the roof of a house from the street or canal. This is why you see so many of Amsterdam’s houses featuring ornate and prominent gables. A roof gable is a section of wall between the edges of a dual-pitched roof. It provides both an aesthetic and functional purpose. Many of the gables in Amsterdam also feature sturdy winches in the center. These were installed to help lift heavy items up to the upper floors of the home or warehouse.

Types of Gables

The uniquely shaped gables are one of the most notable features of Amsterdam’s architecture. There are four primary designs you can see across the city. These include; the stepped gable, the bell gable, the neck gable and the spout gable. Each type of gable corresponding to a different period of time, like spotting fashion trends through the ages.

The Step Gable

The step gable was built in 1600-1655. It resembles a set of stair steps ascending from either side, ending in the rooftop. As this is the oldest style, it is one of the rarest to find.

The Spout Gable

The Spout gables were made from 1620 to 1720. These less ornamental designs signified the presence of a warehouse rather than a residence. The gable was formed into an inverted funnel with a rectangle block on the apex of the roof. This kind of gable was reserved for merchants. As it was used to signal warehousing and trade.

The Neck Gables

The neck gables were famous from 1630 to 1780. The gable resembled the idea of the human neck, slender and extending upwards. The thin rectangular extension goes up in the middle decorated with sandstone ornaments called “klauwstukken” or claw pieces, often featuring shell motifs. These symmetrical designs were popularized by the Louis XIV style. They were implemented to give the illusion of widening the facade.

The Bell Gable

The Bell Gable was built from 1660 to 1790. The ornate design resembled a church bell, and these designs also often featured more ornate sandstone scroll motifs. They were designed as an evolution to the nack gable.

Why are the Houses so Thin?

Another unique aspect of houses in Amsterdam are their width. The houses are designed to be tall and narrow. But this was originally not originally an aesthetic choice. Back then, taxes were calculated based on the width of the house, not the height . So the answer to building a large home without high taxes was to build upward.

Types of Hosues

There are two main types of houses you see along the canals. They are easily identifiable if you know what you’re looking for. There is the koopmanshuizen ( merchant warehouse ) and then the herenhuis ( residential mansions and townhouses). Merchant houses were designed to work on a split-level design. The lower levels near the water could operate as warehouses and the upper levels were used as the living quarters. Everything from spices, tulips, coffee and more were stored here. To identify the warehouses you need only spot the large wooden shutters. These were only added to merchant’s houses. The shutters when opened allowed goods to be hoisted in up to the upper levels which allowed for more storage space. When closed, the large wooden shutters helped keep out the heat and sunlight to preserve the goods inside.

Walking Tour Starting Point: Brouwersgracht

Our tour starts on the Brouwersgracht . This canal was developed in the 17th century just north of the residential canal belt. It was a canal built for large warehouses. The location near the mouth of the river allowed quick access for ships returning piled with goods. The Brouwersgracht , or the Brewers’ Canal , was named as such due to the number of breweries in the area. The location not only made the delivery of goods simple, but it also meant these warehouses had the best access to fresh water. Essentially for breweries and distilleries.

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Brouwersgracht 218

On Brouwersgracht 224-218 , we can see examples of neck gables . The house at #218 features a neck gable decorated with Doric pilasters that extend up in the style of Dutch Baroque architecture. The facade features three “ oeil-de-boeuf ” or “ox eyes”. These are small rounded windows (although these windows have since been bricked up.) Oeil-de-boeuf windows were popular design trends in Amsterdam and they pop up all over the city.

Hanging from the centre of these gables is a sizeable protruding hook. These hooks were used alongside a pulley system to move heavy items into the home. Although they were originally designed for the warehouses, to bring in spices, cotton or cocoa, in the residential homes they were used to move heavy furniture in and out.

Brouwersgracht 204-212

A group of 17th-century warehouses sit at Brouwersgracht 204-212 . Standing on the top of the gables along this series of warehouses are a variety of  Green Deer  sculptures. The one in the center looks straight out over the canals, seemingly on guard. Whereas the two on either side lie in repose, looking in towards the centre deer. When the family built the warehouses in 1640, the deer were always the crowning glory of the gables. But they disappeared hundreds of years later. When the area residents discovered some old drawings of the warehouses that featured the lost deer, they collaborated to have them reconstructed. Although they are now made of plastic (as to not disturb the structural integrity of the gable), it’s nice to see the love that the neighbours have for their neighbourhood history.

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Brouwersgracht 196-188

Many of the houses along Brouwersgracht contain those iconic brightly coloured window shutters. Used to identify them as warehouses. You can see more examples of these along Brouwersgracht 196-188 . All of these warehouses were built around 1636. In 2007 Brouwersgracht was voted the most beautiful street in Amsterdam by readers of Het Parool out of 150 nominations. And one can really see why. The canal is a lovely blend of all the most famous Dutch architecture. It is also home to a series of scenic houseboats that float along the canal. But since the canal is located far enough from the busy tourist centre, the area still feels peaceful and quaint.

Brouwersgracht 174

At #174 Brouwersgracht , you’ll find a vast building with the widest roof gable found anywhere in the city. Topping the centre of the gable is Amsterdam’s famous coat of arms . The coat of arms of Amsterdam consists of a large red shield with a black strip down the center. Punched along the vertical black stripe are three silver Saint Andrew’s Crosses. These three crosses are seen all over Amsterdam, either accompanied by the shield or sometimes just on their own. Unlike what you might think, “ XXX ” doesn’t stand for anything untoward or x-rated. St. Andrew is the patron saint of Amsterdam as he was a fisherman just like the earliest residents of the city. When St. Andrew was martyred, he was placed on an X-shaped cross, and the X became a symbol for the saint.

But why are there three Xs? Well, there are a few theories. One theory states that they represent the three formidable rivers Amsterdam controlled. Another is that it stands for the holy trinity. But my favourite theory is that they represent the three threats Amsterdam needed to protect itself against. These were fire, flood and plague.

Eenhoornsluis

Just a few steps from the Brouwersgracht is the great Eenhoornsluis or Unicorn Lock. This is one of the 16 “water locks” found around the city. These water locks were built in the 17th century to control the water levels inside the canals. They were meant to protect the town from flooding in from the swelling seas. Previous to 1916, these water locks actually allowed fresh ocean water into the city. But in 1916, a great flood caused much damage to the city. After this, the Southern Sea dike was built to prevent such a flood from ever happening again. This resulted in the transformation of the city’s water to be freshwater only, but the payoff was worth it in the long run.

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Prinsengracht

From the bridge, turn down onto the Prinsengracht . Prinsengracht , or the Prince’s Canal , was named after the Prince of Orange. This is the fourth of the four main canals belonging to the canal belt. The Canal Belt , and rings it formed around the city, would go onto give Amsterdam its distinctive crescent shape. The four canals which make up the Canal Belt are the Singel , Herengracht , Keizersgracht , and the Prinsengracht . The Prinsengracht is the longest of all the canals, stretching out over 3 km, on the outer edge of the city. The epic construction of the canal began in 1612 and took over 50 years to be completed.

Café Papeneiland

As we turn on Prinsengracht, we first stop off at the Café Papeneiland . This is the oldest cafe in Amsterdam, established in 1641! In the 16th century, during the Dutch Protestant Reformation , the government outlawed Catholicism. This meant all Catholics had to practice in secret or abandon their religion altogether. Many underground Catholic churches were built in response. Tunnels ran throughout the city to connect secret entrances to these churches. And this cafe was once one such location. The cafe’s name translates to “ papists’ island ,” as this part of town was known as a sanctuary for Catholics. The tunnel entrance is still located in the basement. If you order something from the bar (preferably their amazing dutch apple pie), ask the bartender nicely to show you the old entrance.

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Jordaan Neighbourhood

The area along the western side of Prinsengracht is better known as the Jordaan Neighbourhood . The canals closer to the historic center were generally reserved for the wealthy residents of Amsterdam. So the Jordaan Neighbourhood, away from the city centre, was a low-income area and somewhat of a slum. The roads and canals here are more slender than the rest of the city. This was done to save money on construction but resulted in what was seen as a more crowded district. It wouldn’t be until much, much later in Amsterdam’s history, that the area was gentrified into what we see today. Now, the Jordaan is one of the hipper parts of town.

But back in the 17th century, the area was densely populated by immigrants and refugees. Many of these refugees were from France. The name of the area, “ Jordaan ,” is derived from the french word “ Jardin ,” meaning garden. Many of the streets off of Prinsengracht are named after flowers.

Noorderkerk

Continuing along, you’ll come to the large  Noordermarkt square . The square is dominated by the imposing  Noorderkerk  or  North Church . The North and West Church ( which we will see later ) were financed by the same merchant guild who hired the same architect, De Keyser, to design them both. The  North Church , built in 1620, was meant to be the “ people’s church .” It was intended as a simpler version of the more ornate  West Church . The Noorderkerk has a symmetrical, cross-shaped layout, reflecting the ideals of the Renaissance and Protestantism. De Keyser’s unique design combines an octagonal floor plan with a structure shaped like Saint Andrew’s cross. Four arms of equal length spread out around the building giving it almost a circular appearance.

The “people’s church” was a polite way to distinguish the population that attended. This town area was home to Amsterdam’s more impoverished population. The wealthy merchant didn’t want to associate with them. They were mainly fishermen, and apparently, the smell of fish was something the wealthy merchant didn’t have the stomach for.

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Van Brienenhofje

Located along Prinsengrach t from #85 to 133 is the old Van Brienenhofje . This was one of 13 different breweries which were situated along Prinsengracht. When the brewery closed, it was transformed into an almshouse for the elderly. Today it is still used as a housing association for the poor.

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Prinsengracht 175

At Prinsengracht 175 , you can see an old house that dates back to 1661. On the front of the house, are a series of gable stones. They are carved into the shape of a sheep, an ox and a lamb. These gable stones can be found on many of the older buildings around Amsterdam. They were called gevelstenen and used before there was an established numbering system along the canal. These symbols also were used to identify the occupation of the owner inside. This also helped the illiterate population of the city during the middle ages find different shops and businesses they required. Spotting these stone tablets makes for a fun eye-spy game as you explore the city!

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Keizersgracht

We’re going to take a quick detour over to the Keizersgracht by turning left along Prinsenstraat. The Keizersgracht (also called the Emperor’s canal ) is the third canal in the canal belt. It was named after Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. During the wintertime, if the weather is cold enough, the water freezes over thanks to the water locks which stop freshwater from entering. This allows residents to skate up and down the canal, a great way to get around during the winter. The canal is 31 meters wide, making it the widest of the waterways in the canal belt.

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Keizersgracht 44

The red shutters of #44 Keizersgracht mark it as a traditional merchant warehouse. But what makes this house different are the stepped gables. Most merchant houses didn’t feature these ornate gables as they were primarily used on residences. This house is also unique as the contents of the warehouse were whale blubber . Large cement pits were dug out in the basement where the whalers could store up to 50,000 litres of whale blubber.

The Rode Hoed (Red Hat) announces itself to the public in large red letters as you pass by. While the house looks almost like a church, it was initially a hat makers shop until 1629. After that, the building was purchased by the Remonstrants Brotherhood ( a sect of Protestants). Like the Catholics, they needed to practice in secret. They built their underground church here, where they practiced until 1957. After that it was sold to a TV station. Thankfully, the station protected the appearance of the exterior for future generations to appreciate.

Keizersgracht 123

The house at Keizersgracht 123 is better known as the “House with the Heads.” The house was built in 1622 for merchant and art lover Nicolaas Sohier . It was built by city architect Hendrick de Keyser in high Dutch Renaissance style. The roof has been given that illustrious stepped gable design with decorative obelisks, pilasters, claw pieces and swathes of flowers blooming between the windows. Located above the pediments are these wonderful lion masks with their mouths wide open as if in a mid growl.

The house’s name comes from the six sculptural heads on the facade, located just above the first floor. These six heads were initially rumoured to represent six robbers who had once attempted to break into the house. They were caught in the act by the kitchenmaid and were beheaded with her own meat cleaver! Sadly, the story is nothing more than gossip but it makes for a great rumour. The heads acutally represent the six gods; Apollo, Ceres, Mercury, Minerva and Diana.

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Keizersgracht 177

The large brick mansion at #177 Keizersgrach t is called the Coymanshuis . It was designed in 1625 by Jacob van Campen for two wealthy brother who were both bankers. The brothers made their fortune in silver and iron. They had huge families, one brother having six children and the other having ten! So, in turnn, they require a very large manor to house all those kids! Architect Jacob van Campen would go on to design the Amsterdam City Hall. He used this house as his winning portfolio piece to get the opportunity to work on the great city hall.

Homomonument

On the other side of the canal, opposite the large and imposing Westerkerk , is a series of steps leading down to a triangular platform. This is the Homomonument, a memorial to commemorate gays and lesbians citizens who were killed by the Nazisduring WWII. Pink triangle badges were used in concentration camps to identify gays and lesbians and the triangular design is used repetedly here to memorialize those actions. The Homomonument was designed to “ inspire and support lesbians and gays in their struggle against denial, oppression and discrimination. ”  An estimated 15,000 people were sentenced to concentration camps during WWII, many of whom, never returned.

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Astoria Building

Although there aren’t many art nouveau-styled buildings in Amsterdam, you can find one of the greatest here at Keizersgracht #174 . This is the Astoria building , built in 1904 to serve as the head office for the Eerste Hollandsche Levensverzekerings Bank . Towering over the rest of the city, the Astoria was the first office tower ever built in the Netherlands. The Dutch style of art nouveau, also called the Nieuwe Kunst , is a much more restrained version of the art style found elsewhere in the world. The most impressive part of the building is the giant mosaic located on the facade depicting an angel protecting a young woman beside a small child.

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Anne Frank House

Turn back onto the Prinsengracht canal and make your way to Prinsengracht #263 . The house is easily spotted by the long line of people outside. They are all waiting to see the famed Anne Frank House . It was here that little Anne Frank wrote her seminal diary. This book went on to ignite, inspire and inform young people the whole world about life during WWII.

The Secrets of the House

It was in this house that Anne and her family hid from the Nazis. The house was initially built in 1635 by Dirk van Delft , but the canal facade was renovated in 1740. The lower levels with their wide stable-like doors were initially used to house horses. Later, when Otto Frank bought the house, the space was used as a warehouse for household appliances, piano rolls, and spices. In the back part of the house, was concealed from the street. From the outside, you couldn’t make out the back extension that allowed Anne and her family to hid. A trick bookshelf was installed to give access to these large secret apartments.

Sadly, after hiding for two years, they were discovered by the Nazis during a raid and were sent to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Anne’s father Otto was the only family member to survive. The employees who worked in Otto’s factory came back to retrieve anything left behind by the Nazis. Luckily, one of these items was Anne’s diary. When Otto returned to Amsterdam it was his life’s mission to publish the book. Not knowing how widespread her musings would become. If you are interested in visiting the museum, be sure to book tickets WELL ahead of time. I’m talking like two months early in some cases! You can also line up in the afternoon for day-of tickets but there is no guarantee you’ll get in and the line tends to be hours long.

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Opposite the Anne Frank House is the 17th-century protestant Westerkerk . This church is most notable for its 87-meter tower, which can be seen all across Amsterdam. The top of the building is capped with the brightly coloured gilded Imperial Crown. The symbol of the imperial crown belonged to the Holy Roman Emperor, in honour of Maximilian I, archduke of Austria and ruler of the Low Countries. When Maximilian travelled to the Hague in 1484 he fell ill. He prayed that if he recovered he would make a pilgrimage to Amsterdam, where the miracle had been performed. When he was indeed healed, he granted the use of his coat of arms to the city of Amsterdam. The crown is covered in bright blue enamel and even decorated in shining jewels to look as realistic as possible.

The interior of the church is rather plain, painted in white with natural stones. The main feature of the interior is the 36 large windows which allow sunlight to pour in from any angle. There isn’t a single building surrounding the church that obstructs the light flowing in. The white painted interior highlights the glowing luminescence produced by these great windows.

Nieuwe-Wercksbrug

Walk up along the Nieuwe-Wercksbrug bridge to get a beautiful view down the canals. Standing on the bridge, you are walking along Rozengracht street . Rozengracht street translates to “rose street,” but back in the 17th-century, the area was nothing of the sort. The Rozengracht is one of the six filled-in canals located in the Jordaan neighbourhood. The canals had to be filled in because of the poor hygienic condition in the water due to the pollution. People threw everything from garbage, dead animals and human waste into the canal. The street literally smelled so bad they had to fill it in. Now you might understand the irony of giving it such a flowery name.

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Reesluis is the name of the bridge which crosses over this part of the Prinsengracht. From here, you have a fantastic view of Westerkerk’s giant clock tower that looms over the canal. The bridge is named after the Reestraat , which continues out to the east. The street’s name translates to “ Deer Street .” This area of town was popular with animal skin traders and craftsmen who worked in the leather industry. The bridge is one of the older bridges in the area, built before 1625.

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Lauriergracht

From here, we are taking a short detour to the east along the Lauriergracht . The Lauriergracht , or the “ Laurel Canal ,” was a popular place for artists to live in the 17th century. I definitely find this canal contains many hidden artistic flourishes from bright stained glass windows, colourful exteriors and even just little ornate stonework hidden here and there. They are small flourishes but definitely a unique characteristic of the area.

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Lauriergracht 23

Built in 1658, this home was a typical 17th-century example of the fanciful neck gables of the time. This one features two huge lions set into claw pieces. The lions look like they are on the prowl, protecting the home from intruders.

The Houseboat Museum

Turn back to Prinsengracht until you reach the corner of Elandsgracht and Prinsengracht where you’ll find the Houseboat Museum . Since there are over 800 houseboats in Amsterdam, you’d be remiss in visiting the city without going inside of one. And unless you’ve booked one for your hotel stay (a great idea, by the way) or you know someone with a houseboat, this might be your only chance to see the interior of one in person. This houseboat dates back to the 1960s. It has such a retro vibe and still displaying all the ingenious ways people make the small spaces work for them as living quarters. There isn’t a drawer or cabinet not squeezed into place to make these floating homes just like the real thing.

Prinsengracht 300

At #300 Prinsengracht we’ll find another beautiful example of the stone house symbols. This one features a red fox with a blue sparrow in its mouth. The house was built for furrier Dirck Hendricksz Hooghvelt who made his living selling fox fur clothing. The house was originally called ‘De Witte Vos’ (meaning the white fox) until 1767 when the stone tablet was repainted white and the house went by the name ‘De Roode Vos’ (the red fox.)

Beudekerbrug

In 1949, while walking across the Beudekerbrug, singer-songwriter Pieter Goemans was inspired to write the famous song ‘ Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten ‘ (‘On Amsterdam’s Canals’). It is one of the most popular songs celebrating the city. You’ll often hear it played on street organs across the Netherlands. When the author died in 2000, his ashes were scattered here in the canal. The plaque on the bridge commemorates his contribution to the history of Dutch music.

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Palace of Justice – Prinsengracht 443- 436

From the corner of Prinsengracht and Leidsegracht , we can see the great former Palace of Justice . At the corner, the building has a much different style than the neo-classical facade further along. The entire structure was once the old ‘ Weeshuis ‘ or orphanage. This Weeshuis was designed to serve the poorest of Amsterdam’s children. Two small stone carvings on either side of the doors on the old brick building show the images of the nuns. The nun who worked in the orphanage are seen holding hands with the small children in the frame. Despite the updating of the rest of the building this small memento from history remains.

The orphanage was renovated into the Palace of Justice in 1825 by architect Jan de Greef . Greef was working under the stylist trends of the period. These were heavily inspired by ancient Greek architecture. The building features large stone columns, Corinthian capitals and heavy stone balustrades. On the second-floor facade, you can see a stone carving with a poem attributed to Jacob van Lennep. It reads, “ Under your rule, Serene Willem! Is this Asylum rebuilt, and consecrated to Law and Justice.”

Prinsengracht 769

At Prinsengracht 769 , you’ll find the old Prinsengracht Hospital . The original hospital was built in 1857 after the cholera epidemic in the 1850s. The hospital remained open for over 150 years, eventually closing in 2015. A modern co-working space company bought the property. They wanted to transform the individual hospital rooms into rentable desks spaces and meeting rooms for digital nomads and start-up companies. While the interior has been modernized, the facade remains much unchanged from the days when it served as a hospital.

The Deutzen Hofje

Facing out along the canal’s bend is the Deutzen Hofje at Prinsengracht 857 . Hofje is the Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it. Hofjes have existed since the Middle Ages providing housing mainly for the elderly. The house was built in 1695 with funds from a wealthy Amsterdam resident. She bequeathed the house over to the city to become free housing for older servants who couldn’t work anymore. On the front of the house are the words, “ A comfort to the poor, an example to the rich.”

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Reguliersgracht 92

At the corner of Prinsengracht and Reguliersgracht is an old red-painted building. Take note of the interesting sculpture of a stork peeking out over the niche above the doorway. The building was first built in the 17th century for a popular midwife. She used the stork as a symbol and de-facto advertisement for her business.

De Duifbrug

De Duifbrug or the Dove Bridge has also been called the “ tunnel of love .” The original name came from the fact the bridge was located next to the old De Duif church. But the nickname was given as it is thought to be one of the most romantic spots in the city. Standing on the bridge your vantage point looks out over at the seven different famous bridges that surround the area. When illuminated at night, it is one of the most magical places in the city!

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Brasserie Nel

Set back on the Amstelveld , is a charming tree-lined square. Located right inside is the old Brasserie Nel . The building, which houses the trendy restaurant with a picture-perfect patio, was built in 1668. It originally served as a temporary church before the De Duif was constructed. The restaurant is a great place to stop if you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat or just have a refreshing glass of beer!

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Magere Brug, the Skinny Bridge

Make your way down to the Amstel River to see the Magere Brug or “ Skinny Bridge .” Considered by most to be the most beautiful bridge in the city. The Magere Brug is a bascule bridge or draw bridge . These bridges can be raised to provide clearance for large boat traffic to pass through. The present bridge was built in 1934 to accommodate these large boats which couldn’t pass under the original stone bridge.

The first incarnation of this passage across the river was installed in 1691. Back then, it is said that the bridge was created by two sisters who lived on opposite sides of the Amstel river. Each one wanted to be able to visit one another every day without having to jump into a boat. But the women weren’t super-wealthy and could only afford to build a very narrow bridge. Hence the original name “skinny” bridge. Walk out onto the bridge for some of the best photo opportunities in the city. The view looking out at the Amstel River as well as the view of the bridge and houses behind it are both stunning photo spots.

The name Amstel is derived from the Dutch word Amestelle . “ Ame ” meaning water, and “ stelle ” meaning solid, high dry ground. In the 12th century, the Amstel river was developed to serve as a commercial waterway by the very wealthy Van Amstel family. The family had been an influential dynasty in the medieval Netherlands named after the river from which they drew their wealth. The river is truly the lifeblood of the town and is one of the most important transit routes in Amsterdam.

Herengracht

Walk back to Amstel street until you reach the Herengracht . The Herengracht is the second of four Amsterdam canals belonging to the canal belt, located right behind the Singel Canal . The portion of the canal was built in 1612. Previously the area was a simple moat dug for the companies on the Singel canal to use. The name of the canal was given in honour of Heren Regeerders van de stad , the Gentlemen Governor of Amsterdam. Today it goes by the nickname the Gentlemen’s Canal.

Willet-Holthuysen Museum

After walking past so many of these canal houses, take this opportunity to step inside one for yourself! The house at Herengracht 605 was built for the mayor of Amsterdam Jacob Hop in 1685. It was passed down to each subsequent mayor until 1895, when it passed hands to Abraham Willet and Louisa Holthuysen . When Willet died, Louisa bequeathed the house to the city of Amsterdam. She gave it along with their collection of art, furniture and another interior decor to serve as the Willet-Holthuysen Museum .

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The facade was renovated in 1739 to suit the new Louis XIV style. I adore the floral stone carvings, which look like they are real flowers growing out of the stone. Above the doorway is a large stone sculpture of St. George standing atop a slain dragon. Holding up the plinth is the head of an elephant whose trunk acts as a column holding up the entire stone tablet. The interiors all date back to 1895 and are a wonderful slice of that period of architecture, design and art in Amsterdam. Ticket prices for Adults are €12.50.

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Gouden Bocht

The Gouden Bocht or Golden Bend was built as the most prestigious part of the Herengracht . Many people who originally purchased the land here were regents, mayors and traders. They were encouraged to buy a double lot to ensure their mansion felt grand and imposing. Most of the residents made their living importing and exporting goods from South America or the Dutch East Indies. The name “ golden bend ” came from the fact that the city’s wealthiest families seemed to be amassed right here along the bend.

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Philips Vingboons and Adriaan Dortsman

Two architects were responsible for most of the structures along the Golden Bend. They were Philips Vingboons and Adriaan Dortsman . Philips Vingboons is known to be the originator of the famous neck gable design. Since Vingboons was a Catholic and the city was controlled by the protestant elite, he never had the opportunity to design any governmental or religious buildings in the town. These kinds of commissions would have brought in a substantial amount of money and fame for the artisan which he, therefore, missed out on.

Having two principal designers for one area meant the strip has a more uniform appearance. The styles they preferred featured very classical facades. Today, the Golden Bend keeps its name and is home to some of the largest banks and financial institutions in Amsterdam. Very appropriate.

Almost unmissable is the domanieering De Bazel building on the corner of Herengracht and Vijzelstraat. The building is the former headquarters of the Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij . The NHM was founded in 1824 by King William I to promote trade, shipping, shipbuilding, fishing, agriculture and manufacturing. One of their most important functions was supporting trade between the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies. The building was designed by the architect Karel de Bazel in 1919. It is nicknamed De Spekkoek , which translates to pork belly. It is named as such because of the alternating light and dark colours of stone that look like layers of fat in bacon. Spekkoek is also the name of a popular dessert with the same light and dark layers but made with cake.

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Herengracht 446

The beautiful black brick facade at #446 was home to the Amsterdam regent family De Graeff . Andries de Graeff became the reigning mayor of Amsterdam in 1671. De Graeff was a Free Imperial Knight of the Holy Roman Empire. The Free Imperial knights were free nobles of the Holy Roman Empire, whose direct overlord was the Emperor. The upper gable is a stone shield with the De Graeff family coat of arms emblazoned on it. The coat of arms comprises two white swans and two shovels in either corner of the shield. The shovel represents the Herren von Graben family and the swans from the De Grebber family who joined together to form this new noble house.

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Koningssluis

The Koningssluis bridge is one of the more uniquely designed bridges in Amsterdam. The original bridge was from 1662, but the current incarnation was made in 1921 by architect Piet Kramer . Instead of removing the entire old stone bridge, Kramer worked to integrate the ancient stones with new decorative wrought iron railings. He was inspired by the art deco fashion of the time. Don’t miss checking out the stone and brick corner of the bridge. These feature stone sculptures in the shape of mythical animals which are little hidden gems to discover.

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Herengracht 394

The house on the corner of Herengracht and Leidsegracht is home to the ‘ De Vier Heemskinderen ‘ house. Notice the iconic house symbol above the doorway featuring a horse with four riders. This depicts the medieval story of the Four Sons of Aymon or the Heemskinderen . The house was built during the canal expansion in 1671. The high neck gable is decorated with carved floral garlands, which also embellish brick around the windows.

Herengracht 390-392

The houses along Herengracht 390-392 both feature incredible Dutch Baroque claw pieces adding a bit of interest to their neck gables. The houses were commissioned as a duo by the wood merchant Jan Teeringh and designed by Justus Vingboons . The ornately carved claw piece consists of a male and female figure leaning on the gable. A large cartouche was carved below them. On either side of the window are two large floral festoons, made to look like the stone facade has begun to bloom.

Museum of the Canals

If you are interested in learning more about the history of the canals in Amsterdam, make a stop inside the Museum of the Canals . Inside this historic grand mansion, you will travel back in time through over 400 years of history. You’ll be able to learn more about the history of Amsterdam and how the canals and the canal houses were built atop the water. Through minature scale models, 3D animations and interactive multimedia experience, you are really immersed into the world of Amsterdam’s history.

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Herengracht 380

Herengracht 380 is probably my favourite house along the Herengracht . It looks so much different than the rest of the buildings along the canal, in a very distinctive style. It was built in 1775 adjoining three other buildings which once stood here. Sadly, in the 19th century, a great fire burned down the old buildings, and they all had to be demolished. But this new treasure rose from their ashes. The architect Abraham Salm was inspired by his time in Paris and the castles he saw in the Loire valley. The french style of architecture is a rarity to find in Amsterdam. The facade is covered in exuberant decorations, carved medallions, large sculptures, ornate balustrades and sandstone lilies (an iconic symbol of France). Although it was initially designed as a residence, it has since passed hands and is a government office building today.

Cromhout House

The houses along 370-364 are lovely examples of the lavish designs of the 17th century. Initially built for wealthy merchant Jacob Cromhout, the house was designed in 1660 in Dutch classicist style by architect Philips Vingboons . The lower facade is mainly classical but the gables are covered in a stunning array of intricate stucco decorations, which are emblematic of the Dutch baroque area. Pay close attention to the oval oeil-de-boeuf windows surrounding gorgeous floral motifs. Besides the neck, gables are claw pieces in the shape of swirling shells, another element of baroque iconography. The building was previously home to the beautiful Bible Museum , but it closed permanently in 2020. The home is now used for travelling exhibitions.

Bartolotti House

The Bartolotti House at Herengracht 170 was built in 1617 for Willem Bartolotti van den Heuvel tot Beichlingen . Willem had married Giovanni Battista Bartolotti, who came from a wealthy family of merchants from Bologna. Hendrick de Keyser was the architect and one of the most influential Baroque Renaissance architects. And this house is perhaps the best example of his work. The richly decorated facade has pilasters, masks, vases, claw pieces, extensive balustrades, and one of the most elaborate stepped gables in the city. The actual facade of the house seems to be bent at a slight angle, as the home is located in what was called the “small bend” of the Herengracht. On the facade are two large cartouches with the inscription, “ Ingenio et Assiduo Labore ” (by ingenuity and diligence) on the left and “ Religione et Probate ” (by religion and righteousness) on the right.

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Herengracht 120

The charming black brick house with white accents at #120 was built in 1615 for cloth merchants Michiel Jansz de Lange and Adriaen Jacobsz van Noort . These merchants traded mainly with Norway, and they wanted to name their home after the King which they served. The style of the house with its large expansive windows is known as Amsterdam’s Urban Renaissance architecture.

Herengracht 81

One of the most spectacular historical houses is at #81 . It announces its permanence with the date printed on the brick of 1590 when the house was first constructed. This is actually the oldest residential house in all of Amsterdam. It was initially a traditional merchant’s house, highlighted by those gorgeous wooden shutters. Before these brick buildings were constructed, in the medieval period in Amsterdam, all houses were built out of wood. But sadly, three great fires which ripped through the city destroyed all of these original homes. After the last fire in 1597, the government ensured all new houses were made in brick to help prevent future widespread fires. I adore the stepped gable located on this house; the red brick and white stone atop each step really highlight the shape and makes it so unique.

Melkmeisjesbrug

The Melkmeisjesbrug will take you from Herengracht over the Brouwersgracht . The word “ Melkmeisjes ” means “ milk market .” When the bridge was first built in the 17th century, it was located near the large Dutch milk market. You’ll notice a set of three burgundy-coloured bollards situated on either end of the bridge. These were installed to prevent large vehicles from passing over the old bridge, which cannot withstand the weight. This was actually the first place they were installed. They are called the Amsterdammertje (Dutch for ‘little one from Amsterdam’). They are imprinted with three Saint Andrew’s Crosses from the coat of arms of Amsterdam.

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Singel Canal

Walking south from the Haarlemmer Sluice we will come upon the last of the canals in the Canal Belt; the Singel Canal . The Singel encircled Amsterdam’s medieval centre, serving as a moat around the city until 1585. The Dutch word “ omsingelen ” means “ to surround ” as the canal literally surrounded and protected the medieval old town as a makeshift fortress of water. The trench was dug in 1428, making it the oldest of the channels in the central belt.

On the east side of the canal at Singel #7 , we find the little slice of a house. It barely registers as a house at all when you pass by it. This is indeed the narrowest house in Amsterdam. The house is literally only a door’s width wide, with a singular window located on the second floor. Since we know that the property was taxed based on width, this building would have been a real penny pincher.

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Ronde Lutherse Kerk

Although it’s now used as an event space, the imposing Ronde Lutherse Kerk or Nieuwe Lutherse Kerk was once the former New Lutheran church in Amsterdam. It was built in 1668 as the second and thus “new” Lutheran Church after the Old Lutheran Church had become too small. This building couldn’t cope with the many Lutheran immigrants coming into the city.

Lutheran architecture forbids the construction of bell towers, so instead, the architect wanted to make the great dome as the central focus of the church. Crowning the top of the dome is the Lutheran swan. The swan is a famous symbol in the Lutheran church because of its connection with Jan Hus . Hus was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement in Bohemia during the 16th century. His teachings had a strong influence on Martin Luther . When Hus was sentenced to be burnt alive, just before he said, “today you will roast a goose, but a swan will rise from the ashes.”

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Londenvaarders

The area along the Singel canal from the Ronde Lutherse Kerk to the Lijnbaanssteeg is known as Londenvaarders . This part of the canal was where ships coming in from London would be docked. Anyone walking around this area during the 17th century would find English sailors and merchants everywhere they looked and it became a de facto embassy for Englishmen.

Look across the canal at #36 Singel. From this further away vantage point, you can really appreciate the elegance of the beautiful cornice in Louis XV style, which tops the house. In the centre of the richly decorated balustrade is this incredible carving of the god Mercury lounging, holding in his hand a large purse. Surrounding the relaxed god is a series of items relating to the trade industry like barrels, wine and animals. The house was originally built in 1763 for shipowner and trader Tamme IJsbrandsz Beth. Beth was troubled by the arrival of the British and the fact the London ships took over the area and wanted to create a powerful facade that would show his dominance over the British fleets.

Blauwburgwal

Continue along the Singel canal until you come to the Blauwburgwal canal on your left. The Blauwburgwal canal is the shortest waterway in the city center. It is sandwiched right between the Singel and the Herengracht by two scenic bridges. The trees which line either side of the little canal makes this such a picturesque little scene to stop in and look at.

De Dolphijn

Head back to the Single Canal and make your way down to #140 . This is better known as the house De Dolphijn . The house was built in the 17th century for soap merchant Hendrick Laurensz Spieghel . The front facade consists of two identical stepped gables made of that iconic red brick with sandstone highlights. The house is one of the best examples of Dutch Baroque architecture in the style of Hendrick de Keyser.

The main characteristics of this style were the symmetrical facades created from brick using classical references. This can be seen with the addition of the images of Greek masks featured above the window pediments on the first floor. The house is one of the few facades in Amsterdam that still has scroll ornaments along the gables. Originally the house featured dolphins on both sides gable. The dolphin was the emblem of the Spieghel family , and therein is where the nickname of the house came from.

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The Torensluis

As we continue down the Single Canal, we come up the enormous Torensluis bridge . This bridge is the oldest and widest bridge in the entire city, preserved since 1648. It measures a whopping 42 meters wide! The word “ Torensluis ” means “ tower lock ,” as the bridge was once home to a great tower that stood here until the mid-19th-century. Looking back at the bridge from further along the canal, study the area under the bridge along either side of the arches. There you can spot several small barred windows. Beneath the bridge, there was once a dungeon and prison cells connected to the old tower. Truly an example of how ingenious the architects of the city were. Using every little bit of space to cram in more infrastructure.

Multatuli Statue

Most of the bridge is now used by the cafes nearby as patio space. But amidst these seats is a statue of Dutch writer Multatuli. Eduard Douwes Dekker, better known by his pen name “ Multatuli ,” was a Dutch writer best known for his satirical novel Max Havelaar . This book was one of the first to denounced the abuses of colonialism in the Dutch East Indies. It is a considered piece of writing from 1860. Multatuli was truly a man ahead of his time as an anti-colonialist.

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On the other side of the bridge at #188 , we can find another great example of Amsterdam’s stone tablets. Most of the general public couldn’t read during the middle ages. Therefore to help businesses bring in customers, these stone tablets used pictorial images to depict their goods and services. This is a perfect example as the tablet above the doorway features a windmill. The house is named the “ De Roo Oly Molen ” or “ The Red Oil Mill. ” A few doors down at #194, you can find another example of a cobbler’s shop. This stone features a shoe and some cobbing equipment. Hundreds of years ago people would have just one shoe to their name and repairing their shoes was much more common than we do today. Early examples of sustainability.

The house at #192 features a beautiful neck gable with this curved pediment featuring a brightly painted bunch of grapes. The house was built in 1739 in Louis XIV style for the wine merchant Arend Roger . Just another example of how some merchants liked to advertise their businesses through their gable architecture. Something I genuinely wish we still did today, a great way to get to know your neighbours!

The gable along the top of the house at #288 features this wonderfully playful dolphin’s head. The dolphin appears to be bursting forth from the house with a spray of water cresting up behind him. Dolphins are a frequent symbol seen throughout Amsterdam, even though the canals are not home to these sea creatures. But the animals have a deep connection to the sailors and sailing merchants who would greet these great beasts on their voyages. Incorporating them into their home designs was a means of keeping that connection to the waters close to home.

The 18th-century house at #326 features the most incredible scene on either side of the beautiful neck gable. Sitting against the curved claw pieces are statues of Neptune and Mercury holding a golden trident and caduceus, respectively. Surrounding the lifting beams are also a swath of Acanthus leaves . Acanthus leaves are a symbol of enduring life. When combined with the images of Mercury, we can imagine that this house was perhaps a doctor’s residence.

Old Lutheran Church

The sizeable windowed building at #411 is the Old Lutheran Church . And when I say old, I mean old. It was built in 1632, that’s over 350 years ago! The church is a very, very odd one to visit. It is such an irregular shape. The floorplan curving to flank the edge of Spui road on the northern side of the building.

House #460 Singel is better known as the House Nürnberg or the Odeon building . It was designed by famed architect Philips Vingboons in 1661. However, previously, the lot had been used as a brewery as early as 1586. What makes this building stand out is the tall neck gable. The building is built in a rich, dark burgundy brick with contrasting light sandstone curved claw pieces decorated with elaborate festoons. Two oeil-de-boeuf windows stand below either side of the claw pieces. A large Cartouche surrounds the huge lifting hook. The festoons from the upper levels hang down below the windows. Looks like the building has been decorated for the holidays every day of the year!

Bloemenmarkt

Walking along Singel crossing the Koningsplein , we enter the great Bloemenmarkt . The Bloemenmarkt is the world’s only floating flower market founded in 1862. Back then, this part of the city was where flower growers would enter the canal to sell their plants. They travelled on large barges that floated beside the canal and buyers would simply hop on the barge. The barge would sit beside the streets and return to their ships once all the flowers were sold. Today the barges are affixed to the mainland. Sadly, much of the original flower market has disappeared over the years. Few to no vendors actually sell blooming flowers here. Instead, the market is mainly a tourist attraction with gift shops and souvenir stands. These focus primarily on tulip paraphernalia.

Tulip Bulbs

Some of the vendors do sell fresh tulip bulbs which you can bring home to plant. But only if your country allows them through customs (be sure to check!) Although it’s super touristy, I actually loved looking at the varieties of tulip bulbs for sale. It’s incredible to see how many different colours and even new “designer” flowers have been created. They were made by combining different strains of tulips together in the lab. If you can try to ignore the hoards of tourists and just focus on this, you might actually get something out of a visit to the Bloemenmarkt. But the Bloemenmarkt can get super crowded! You only need to see a portion of it to get the idea. I would advise jumping down Sint Jorisstraat and then walking along Reguliersdwarsstraat until you reach Vijzelstraat . This little back street is a great way to avoid the crowds.

Walking over Muntsluis bridge to find your way to the great Munttoren ( Mint Tower ), which sits at the intersection of the Amstel River and the Singel Canal . The great tower was initially located at the entrance to the city’s main gates along Amsterdam’s medieval wall. The original building was made in 1480 and consisted of two towers and a guardhouse. After the great fire of 1618, the tower was rebuilt as you see it today in Amsterdam Renaissance style. The entire structure was replaced in 1885 but maintains its medieval design.

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In the 17th-century, during the Dutch wars against England and France, the city was occupied by these factions. The transportation of coins from their location outside the city was impossible with these restrictions. So the guardhouse was set up as a temporary mint, giving the tower its official nickname. The building features a beautiful tower design by Hendrick de Keyser . They installed a clock face on every side of the spire so that citizens on every corner of town could look to it to tell the time.

The Dancing Houses

Make a quick detour over the Halvemaansbrug and onto ‘s-Gravelandseveer street . From here you have the best vantage point over to the famous Amsterdam Dancing Houses . Since houses in Amsterdam were built upon muddy marshland and stand on old pine-wood poles, some of the houses have begun to shift and sink over time. Surprisingly it’s not the weight of the house that creates the unevenness, but the water level. So long as the pole remains under the water, its integrity is preserved. But the second the water level drops, the wood can start to rot. The rot weakens the structure and causes this sagging effect. Although many houses are sinking, this row of houses seems to be suffering the most. They have become affectionately known as the “ dancing queens ” or “ dancing houses .” The wobbling levels making them appear as though they are dancing up and down.

Grimburgwal

Just around the corner from the Dancing Houses is the Grimburgwal . This canal marks the outskirts of the  Red Light District . The Grimburgwal also marks the entrance to the Medieval centre of Amsterdam. This narrow watery passageway connects the great  Oudezijds Voorburgwal  to the  Amstel river  via the  Rokin canal . The name “ Grimburgwal ” comes from the word “ grim ,” which means “muddy ditch” and “ burgwal ” which means earthen wall. This part of the city was home to this large earthen wall dug out along the muddy waters used to protect the medieval city. The wall was destroyed in 1384 during the city’s expansion. The Grimburgwal remained the city’s southern canal border until 1425 when the canal belt began to be constructed. It’s a small, almost forgettable canal today, but its rich history is something to take note of.

The view from the Amstel River along the medieval Groenburgwal, with the steeple of the Southern Church in the background, has been painted by several famous painters over the years. Rembrandt himself would come here to paint as the canal was so close to his home. But the most famous painting of the canal was made in the 19th-century by impressionist painter Monet .

Kloveniersburgwal

From Grimburgwal walk back towards the Aluminium Bridge , which crosses over the Kloveniersburgwal . The Kloveniersburgwal canal was dug out in the 15h-century originally designed as a defensive canal to protect the Oudeschanst. The canal’s name comes from the division of the civic guards called the ‘ kloveniers ‘ who worked along with these defences.

During the Second World War, Kloveniersburgwal was the border of the Jewish quarter. It was here that the Germans started to segregate the Jewish population of Amsterdam before sending most of them off to concentration camps. At one point, more than 25,000 Jewish people were living here. Sadly, 75-80% of the people from the neighbourhood were deported and murdered by the Nazis. After the war, this part of town must have been hauntingly empty, a constant memory of the loss.

Oudezijds Voorburgwal

Walk west along Vendelstraat , through the pedestrian walkway north towards the Sleutelbrug , which looks out over the entrance to the Oudezijds Voorburgwal . The  Oudezijds Voorburgwal  (often abbreviated to OZ Voorburgwal) means “ old city walls. ” This area was where the defensive ramparts continued around the old medieval city. The canal was originally nothing more than a little creek but was dug out to create this large waterway in the 14th century. As the canal was one of the first large expansions, it is where we can find some of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam.

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Red Light District

During the Dutch Golden Age, the canal was a hub for commerce and ships coming into port. This influx of sailors led to the development of what we now call the “ Red Light District. ” While some people only come here to gawk at the red light dancing girls, there is so much more to this historic canal to see and appreciate.

Despite the fact that today the area is known for its illicit activities, in the middle ages, the canal was where you could find a large number of monasteries, churches and religious institutions. During the 17th century, many wealthy Catholic merchants made this part of the city their home. Back then, the area was nicknamed the “ Velvet defence-canal “. Sort of a dig at the rich merchants who lived here who were known for dressing in fancy velvet clothing.

House at the Three Canals

At the intersection of the Oudezijds , the Achterburgwal and the Grimburgwal , we find the Huis Aan De Drie Grachten or House on the Three Canals . Name because it is located at this meeting point of these three famous waterways. This house is so fantastical, designed in high Dutch Renaissance style. I especially love the large leaded glass window and set-in brick arches above them. The charming red wooden shutters making it so classical Dutch looking. The house was originally two separate lots built around 1610!

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The house was designed for bricklayer Claes Adriaensz van Delft . Seeing as it was made for a bricklayer it is only appropriate that the bricks on this house are among the most impressive parts of the entire building. During the 1930s, a bookstore was opened in the house. Inside, the various bookshelves hid behind them, secret compartments where Jewish people on the run from the Germans could hide. These hidden compartments were only discovered in 2005 during renovations to the building. Adding to the already illustrious history of the building.

Agnietenkapel

Behind this grand arched entrance, is the doorway into the old Agnietenkapel , also known as the Chapel of the Convent of Saint Agnes . This is one of the oldest structures in the city, dating back to 1470. In the 15th century, the area along the southern half of Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal was called the  stille zijde  or the “quiet side.” This so-called peaceful part of town became popular with religious institutions looking for a monastic place to build their home. Away from the hustle and bustle of the raucous trade center. Very ironic today that all these churches are now located in what would be considered the most unholy neighbourhoods, the Red Light District.

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Athenaeum Illustre

In 1578, when the Catholic city government was deposed in favour of the Protestant one, all Catholic churches and monasteries were demolished. This was called the Alteratie , or the “alternative.” But the Agnietenkapel was thought to be too beautiful to be destroyed. Instead, in 1631 it was converted into the Athenaeum Illustre . The Athenaeum Illustre, or Amsterdamse Atheneum , was a city-sponsored ‘illustrious school.’ An Athenaeum Illustre was neither a university nor just a school. It fell somewhere between where it would teach at an academic level, but there were no degrees given out. In the 17th century, each province was only allowed one official university, and Holland already had a university at Leiden. It wasn’t until 1815 that it was recognized as an official academic institution where diplomas could be given out. Leading to its transformation into the University of Amsterdam.

Church Gate

The Agnietenpoort or Church Gate is fantastically carved with so many ornaments placed along the archway. You can see why they decided to preserve it when it changed hands from the church. On the top, set into a large shield is the Amsterdam coat of arms. The coat of arms of Amsterdam consists of a red shield (here just plain stone) with three silver Saint Andrew’s Crosses down the middle highlighted by a black pale. The black pale symbolizes the Amstel River, while the three crosses represent the three dangers of Old Amsterdam: fire, floods and the Black Death. St. Andrew is the patron saint of Amsterdam as he is the patron saint of fisherman as the city was originally just a small fishing village.

Surrounding the coat of arms is typical Vredeman de Vries motifs. Hans Vredeman de Vries was a Dutch Renaissance architect best known for his publication in 1583 on garden designs. Inside this book were many drawings of floral ornamentations that have since been referenced ever since on buildings all over the city. A large cartouche frames the emblem with the year 1631 below and a roaring lion on top. The Dutch Republic Lion was the badge of the Union of Utrecht and a precursor of the current coat of arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. You’ll find lion symbols all over the city to represent this ancient heraldry.

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Amsterdam Municipal Pawnshop

Pawnshops have truly been around forever! Proof positive of this fact is the old Municipal Pawnshop found along the canal. This building was established in Amsterdam in 1616. It was created as a municipal charity to protect poor people from shady loan sharks. These loan sharks would lend out money at a sky-high interest rate that made it impossible to ever pay back and get out of debt. The Amsterdam Municipal Pawnshop , or Stadsbank van Lening, was started as a not-for-profit city bank that still operates today! It is considered the oldest bank in Amsterdam and one of the oldest banks in the world!

Above the doorway, you’ll find the city coat of arms topped by the Emperor’s crown. In gold lettering, along the pediment over the doorway, is a poem in Dutch. It reads, “ Have you neither money nor property, pass this door. Have you the last, and do you miss the first, come to me. Give pledge, I give you money, why should I guarantee you? Or isn’t it enough that you live off mine? But if you return your pledge, you must take care in time. That my principal will return with interest. I help you and me and show it to the investigators. Of my secrets, the grave of forgotten usurers. “

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The Prinsenhof

Another holy institution located along the Oudezijds Voorburgwal was the St. Cecilia Monastery . The original church was built in the early 15th century but after the Alteratie, the Catholic institution was converted into the city’s Prinsenhof in 1581. It was named the ‘Prinsenhof ‘ after Prince William of Orange . In the late 16th century, the prince of Orange was the ruler of the Netherlands and would often use the building as his primary residence. It was later used as the Admiralty in the 17th century.

Prinsenhof as City Hall

In 1808 King Louis Bonaparte pulled the old switcharoo and wanted to convert the beautiful Dam City Hall into his Royal Palace. This meant the city needed to find a new location for its city hall. Seeing as the Prinsenhof was little used at this time, it was selected as their new City Hall. The building was used as accommodation for visiting dignitaries, mayors and, of course, city council meetings. When the city council moved in, the building saw a huge change in the architecture to suit its new function.

Amsterdam School Style

The new style of architecture which came out of the building of the new city hall was called, “ Amsterdam School Style . ” Like all variations of Dutch architecture, it heavily featured brickwork. The use of bricks is the primary building material in Amsterdam is due to the fact that the city’s access to clay. Clay is found in abundance around the rivers which encircle the city. Amsterdam School structures are also characterized by a rounded appearance, as demonstrated here by the curved facade bowing out towards the canal. The style also tended to favour decorative masonry, wrought iron accents, spires and ‘ladder’ windows. The style is slightly reminiscent of the Art Deco design aesthetic but with a Dutch interpretation. The decorative masonry here features large artistic pillars along the first floor. They depict men and women as symbols correlating to administrative virtues such as simplicity, courage, and diligence.

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City Hall Public Urinal

Across from Oudezijds Voorburgwal #195 is a small brick and stone cylindrical structure which is actually a public urinal ! A urinal probably seems like a very strange thing to make a point to visit. But this urinal has become an actual National Monument . It was built in 1926 and renovated for the new City hall. The urinal was designed to fit into the same uniform Amsterdam school style as the City Hall. Right on top of the urinal entrance, you’ll find another sculpture designed by artist Hildo Krop . This sculpture matches the same sculptures on the pillars outside the City Hall. If nature calls, men can still use the rudimentary bathroom today!

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Oudezijds Voorburgwal 187

The Dutch Classical black brick building at #187 has a very  interesting  gable design, specifically around the ornate claw pieces. The house was built in 1663 for an American tobacco trader. We can tell the house was designed for a merchant working in the Americas because of the imagery featured in the claw pieces. We can see sculptures of the merchant’s enslaved Africans holding tobacco leaves. Above them are pictured personifications of indigenous workers carrying large harvest baskets. 

Amsterdam’s Architecture of Colonial Exploitation

Many parallels can be drawn between America’s colonization and the enslavement of the African people to the Netherlands’ own dark colonial past. Everyone knows that the “Dutch Golden Age” was the city’s great boom in the 17th century brought about by its free and tolerant society and its enormous trading empire. With the creation of the Dutch East India Company, the Netherlands had an empire of ships that roamed the coastlines of Asia and Africa.

But it wasn’t just spice and silks they brought home. They also colonized countries and robbed them of their natural resources. And although the Dutch didn’t bring slaves back to their home country, the colonies suffered through a period of around 200 years of  slavery until it was abolished in  1863. While houses like this and other images of slavery are tough to observe, it’s essential to understand and accept this period of Amsterdam’s history. You can learn a lot more about Amsterdam’s Architecture of Colonial Exploitation in this great article!

Oudezijds Voorburgwal 136

The house on Oudezijds Voorburgwal #136 was first built in the 16th century. Above the doorway, there is an iconic wooden relief featuring the famous navy officer Admiral Cornelis Tromp . Cornelis Maartenszoon Tromp lived in Amsterdam but never at this particular residence. In fact, the relief wasn’t installed until well after his death. The house was purchased by trader Jan Pranger who had a great reverence for Cornelis Tromp as a fellow sea traveller.

Admiral Cornelis Tromp Stone Tablet

Tromp can be seen in his heroic pose, his hand resting on a large globe above a scrolled nautical chart in the background. The relief was hidden for years when the house was converted into a printing shop that covered up the old plaque. In the 1990s, when the house was being refurbished, the old emblem was released, and they went about restoring the brightly painted colours to their former glory. The house basement was converted into a sex shop in 1980 but today the house serves as the headquarters for the green energy initiative in Amsterdam.

Bulldog Coffeeshop

The Bulldog Coffeeshop is a famous landmark in the neighbourhood as it is the oldest “coffee shop” in Amsterdam. It was established in 1974 as a secret “speakeasy” for soft drugs. Despite multiple raids over the years, eventually, the city began to tolerate the sale of these drugs. Many people think marijuana is legal in Amsterdam, and surprisingly that’s not the case. But it is generally accepted, even by the police, who look the other way. The original location is worth visiting as you can discover more about the history of cannabis in Amsterdam inside.

Even if you don’t partake in the consumption, you can’t visit Amsterdam without seeing what these “coffee shops” are all about. Plus, this location has a full menu with food and drink options that don’t contain any drugs. I myself don’t partake but still had a blast checking them out and seeing what a comfortable, friendly atmosphere I was greeted with inside.

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The Oude Kerk

The crowing glory of the Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal is the grand Oude Kerk . The Oude Kerk or “ Old Church ” is named as such because is the oldest religious institution in the city. The first wooden part of the structure was constructed here in 1213! Originally the church was named St. Nicolas Church after the patron saint of the city.

The area they selected for the church was a sold mound in the otherwise marshy settlement. This allowed the church to grow in size without requiring much additional foundation work. Today the church sprawls out over 36,000 sq ft. Each generation of Amsterdam’s religious elite seemed to have added their own personal touch in its expansion. In the 14th century, the side aisle was lengthened, and the great medieval wooden vaults were installed. These remain to this day are the oldest medieval wooden vault in all of Europe. The vaults were made out of great Estonian oak planks. Some of the plants were stained in various colours to look like paintings on the ceiling. Bands of florals surround each part of the vault with golden stars decorating the keystones. These vaults are still thought to provide some of the best acoustics even amongst the more modern churches.

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Miracle of Amsterdam

In the 14th century, the church was the site of the “Miracle of Amsterdam.” One day, a dying man accepted the sacramental bread during communion. But after ingesting it, he began to vomit it up in a fit of pain. When the priests threw the vomit into the fire, the bread did not burn, and the act was proclaimed a miracle. Even stranger than the miracle itself was the fact that the vomitted bread was preserved in a relic chest and kept inside the church. Sadly their miracle relic was one of the many items which disappeared during the Alterie .

Stained Glass

In the 15th century, a north and south transept were added to change the floorplan of the church into a cross shape. The beautiful large windows inside the church were installed in 1406 and were once covered in vibrant stained glass. More and more windows were added over the years, totalling 33 large-scale artfully made scenes. Sadly during the great fire of 1536 and the gunpowder explosion in 1654, all of these original windows were destroyed.

Most of the windows are now plain glass replacements but, beginning in the 20th century, these windows began to be restored. Using paintings, drawings and historical architectural plans, the church museum started to create modern interpretations of the ancient windows. There were created by artist Joep Nicolas . The windows depict various biblical stories, such as the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the story of baby Moses. But they also commissioned some modern, secular scenes as well. Inside the Memorial window are depictions of WWII victims who were killed during the Nazi occupation. The Libration window also commemorates the Netherlands’ liberation from the German and Japanese occupiers.

Oude Kerk & the Alterie

After the Catholic Reformation in Amsterdam during the late 16th century, the church was looted and defaced on multiple occasions. This stripped the church of much of its original decorations save for a few paintings. The thieves couldn’t reach them as they were installed high up under the vaults. After the Reformation, the church was used as a meeting house for the public. People would come here to escape the cold and the rain to gossip, sell their goods, and it was even used as a de-facto homeless shelter.

In the 17th century, the church was reconsecrated and been given a fresh coat of paint. New decorations were installed, including a new oak screen which referred to the desecration during Reformation. It states, “ The prolonged misuse of God’s church, was here undone again in the year seventy-eight .”

Rembrandt & Oude Kerk

One of the most famous Dutch painters, Rembrandt himself, was a frequent visitor to the Oude Kerk. All of his children were baptized inside the temple, and it is one of the few original buildings left in Amsterdam where the painter roamed the halls. His wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh was buried here in 1642 inside the Holy Sepulchre . Another famous figure buried is naval hero Jacob van Heemskerck who was a central figure in Rembrandt’s masterpiece The Night Watch .

Today, the church is used as a contemporary art gallery where the ancient architecture is the backdrop for modern art. Entry into the church costs €12 for adults and €7 for students; children under 13 are free. On Sunday mornings, the church still opens its doors for worshippers for free but only for those serious about coming in to pray.

Oudezijds Voorburgwal 57

Across the bridge from the Oude Kerk at #57 is a gorgeous example of Amsterdam Renaissance architecture made by the famous architect Hendrick de Keyser . They call the house the De Gecroonde Raep . It features one of the finest examples of stepped gables in Amsterdam. With these gorgeous scalloped stone carvings above each step. The facade also features these beautiful brace arches above the windows with smallmasks set into the pediments. Iconic features of Keyser are the double pilasters with cartouches set in between the brick pillars.

Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic Museum)

Hidden behind an otherwise simple brick facade is an example of a “ schiller ” or “ clandestine church .” After the Reformation, Catholics needed to practise their religion undercover. A few old houses on the canal were converted into these secret churches. This church went by the name Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic Museum) . It was built by a Catholic merchant in 1663 who transformed his third-floor attic space into the beautiful yet cramped religious wonderland you find today. Personally, I adore the pink-painted balustrades and railings, such a unique touch.

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Visiting the Museum

After Catholics could practice in public once more, the church was exposed and opened as a museum in 1888. This makes it the second oldest museum in Amsterdam. Today, it remains a museum visited by over 85,000 people annually. In addition to viewing the secret church, you can also tour the 17th-century merchant canal house interior. Tickets are €14 for adults and €7 for children and students.

Oudezijds Voorburgwal 18

House at #18 bears a striking (if not a simplified version) of the house saw a few doors down at #57 . The curved arches above double pilasters are a clear sign of the work of Hendrick de Keyser . Above the third floor, there are face masks, but on the lower levels, we find lion masks. Above the stone gable is a relief depicting the legendary castle of Egmond aan den Hoef.

Oudezijds Voorburgwal 14

The Het Wapen van Riga , at #14 , is a 17th-century merchant’s house. In the center, we find relief of the coat of arms of the country of Riga. The original house was built for a wealthy merchant who was indeed from Riga and this emblem was a way of paying homage to his home. The lions are a powerful symbol of the city of Riga. Two golden lions on a grey plinth were thought to symbolizes the strong foundation of the city and the bravery of its citizens. You can also find two of Riga’s lion heads protruding off either side of the stone gable on the first floor.

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Oudezijds Kolk

Walk over and stand on the old Armbrug bridge to look out over the Oudezijds Kolk . During the Middle Ages, most of the canals in Amsterdam looked more like this canal. The old canals didn’t feature any sidewalks or laneways as the primary mode of transport was solely boats. When the newer canals around the canal belt were built, the boom of horse-drawn carriages had taken over. These canals were built to feature roads for horses and eventually cars to travel along. This canal is one of the last remains medieval canals in Amsterdam and a gem to treasure.

Weeping Tower of Amsterdam

At the end of the Oudezijds Kolk canal, you will find the largest of the three remaining medieval city towers . It goes by the Weeping Tower of Amsterdam . The legend goes that the wives of the sailors who were off to sea would come up to the tower to wave their last goodbye. Tears obviously ensued, echoing down the canals. The life of a sailor was a tough one as storms, scurvy, war, and pirates were all things that a sailor would come up against at sea. And most of these wives knew that upon saying goodbye there was a good chance they would never return.

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This brings us to the end of our canal tour of Amsterdam. Hopefully, you’ve discovered more about the history, architecture, canals, and culture spread out across the waterways throughout our day together. There are so many more secrets to be found down all the different side canals in this city so let me know if you want to share some of your favourite spots!

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

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So, you’re visiting the Dutch capital – but where to start? If you’re looking to see the sights of Amsterdam without the hassle of out-of-date maps and boring tour guides, then it’s time to try a fun walking tour with Urbs.

Just by using your phone, the Urbs app gives you total freedom over your trip. Plan a route that works for you, going at your own pace, whilst taking in the sights you want to see. The good thing about the app, is that you can listen as you walk, and since the Netherlands is so visual you won’t miss out either. Whether you’re checking out the countryside with friends, or heading to its famous Red Light District, an audio tour of Amsterdam is the way to go.

And it couldn’t be easier. Simply download the Urbs app to your phone and choose from the many attractions and places of interest to add to your itinerary. You can even book tickets and bypass the queues. Intrigued to learn more? Check out some of the highlights below, which you can add to your self-guided walking tours of Amsterdam.

The Urbs Way

Listen & discover.

Enjoy 4+ hours of audio content written by cultural experts Explore 60+ fascinating cultural locations Discover 150+ restaurants, cafes, bars and shops recommended by local writers

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Find out which locations require tickets Book attractions and activities in advance to avoid the queues

Getting Around Amsterdam  

One of the most popular destinations in Europe, Holland’s capital is a fun place to visit, especially with friends, or as a couple. But, there’s more to Amsterdam than tulips and windmills! Here are a few of the top picks for your audio tour of Amsterdam.

Canals and Culture

Whether you choose to get off the beaten track or take a popular route on your self-guided walking tour of Amsterdam, give yourself enough time to experience the city by foot. There are more than 160 canals in Amsterdam, although you can just head to ‘De Negen Straatjes’ and experience this quaint area in the central canal belt. From here, take a leisurely walk past the impressive Koninklijk Palace before a cheeky visit to Amsterdam’s Red Light District for some adult entertainment (if that’s your thing).

Foodie Scene

During your trip, be sure to join in the local cuisine. Foodhallen, is a humongous hall with over 30 food stalls and bars – ideal for a big group. Pick up a taco, try out a waffle and don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a craft beer or two! Speaking of which, beer lovers will enjoy the Heineken Experience, where you can learn about the world-famous beer from the region.

History and Culture

Amsterdam has a rich history to uncover. A must-visit is Anne Frank’s former home, this 17th-century property is today transformed into a museum and educational centre, featuring snippets from diaries she has written, offering a fascinating insight into its wartime past. For a very different type of local culture, the Johan Cruijff Stadium Tour at Ajax’s stadium is a must for football fans.

Flowers and Tulips

​ During your audio tour of Amsterdam, be sure to experience the local tulip fields. June and July are the best months for the flower bulb region, with events such as the Aalsmeer Flowers Festival and Sailing Flower Parade taking place. For more of this, take in the fragrant smell at Keukenhof Gardens – home to flower fields galore. Spread over 32 hectares, the beautifuldisplay includes everything from daffodils to tulips to enjoy in this photogenic area.

For Art Lovers

​ The unmissable Van Gough Museum is a great place to spend an afternoon, with the largest collection of his works anywhere in the world. For those who appreciate architecture, the iconicRijksmuseum is one of the most impressive sights, with a huge collection of art and artefacts to photograph.

Discover More with Urbs

Good news – the Urbs app has a number of helpful features to enjoy during your self-guided walking tour of Amsterdam. Here are just a few of them.

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No two people are the same, and no two tours should be either. The app allows you to pick and choose a route that works for you, going at your own pace.

Get Inspired

Find new and exciting things to do on your visit. There are many engaging audio descriptions and loads of bars, shops and restaurants recommended by local writers and insiders.

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Jump the queues and book tickets to key attractions in advance. Save tickets to your app for quick and easy access, without the need for printing them out. It’s a smarter way to travel sustainably.

The Modern Tour Guide

Our self-guided audio tour offers a truly immersive way to see the sights of Amsterdam. Once you download the app you can start adding attractions to your list. When you’re ready, simply plug in your headphones and enjoy a lovely tour using GPS navigation.

Download the app

Planning a trip to Amsterdam? Then don’t miss the chance to access the city in this audio feast, now available to download on Android and iOS devices.

It’s time to see the sights of Amsterdam in style. Download the Urbs app today and get ready for your Dutch adventure!

The Revolving Compass

To share our love for travel….countless soul enriching experiences

A free self guided Amsterdam walking tour

We arrived in Amsterdam on the last leg of our trip to Europe in 2017 . Starting with Rome , then spending 2 days in Florence   doing self walking tour in Florence , including half day trip to Pisa and enjoying a  hop on hop off tour of Venice  including a visit to the glass world of Murano . All this during the initial 6 days in Italy . Then we spent four days in Switzerland , based out of Lucerne and did  a day trip to Bern , another day trip to Grindelwald , and yet another to Interlaken. We also played in snow at Mount Titlis and visited a cheese factory and the kambly cookie store while here. Thereafter we spent 3 days in Paris including a day in Disneyland . And finally reached Amsterdam from there.

Europe is one of the best destinations to visit in May , because its the shoulder season here. Neither too crowded nor too cold. And that is the reason we planned our trip across April end and May beginning. On the last leg of our trip , we finally arrived in Amsterdam. But little did we know that we are arriving in Amsterdam on King’s day . And the city is going to be super crowded due to it. Nevertheless, we were hell bent on not wasting time. Rather we decided to be a part of the celebrations. And also go on with the self guided Amsterdam city walking tour that we planned for ourselves.

We are so glad we did our self guided Amsterdam city walking tour. Just like our previous walking tour in Europe, including Florence walking tour , Venice walking tour and a walking tour in Lucerne , we enjoyed this Amsterdam city walking tour a lot. We did at our own pace. And also for free. In this post lies the details of the self guided Amsterdam city walking tour. With a map at the end for your convenience. Feel free to tweak and customise as required. Also, if you are in Amsterdam as  first timer, here’s a beautiful guide on where to stay in Amsterdam as first time visitor . Also, if you are traveling with kids, then exploring the streets of Amsterdam through a walk is one of the best activities to do in Amsterdam with kids .

Table of Contents

Amsterdam Central

Our self guided Amsterdam city walking tour started right at Amsterdam Central. Since we were staying nearer to the Schiphol airport , we took a train from there to Amsterdam Central. Thus arriving at the heart of Amsterdam. The railway stations at Amsterdam have automated ticketing as well as ticket swiping system. So, it took us just 2 minutes to get used to this convenient method. And soon we saw ourselves out of the Amsterdam Central, on the street. We crossed the street and walked towards left, taking the first right as the road turned. This brought us on to the Damark, the north-south road that connects Amsterdam Central to the next destination on our stop, the Dam Square.

The next day we were supposed to take a guided tour to the Tulip Gardens. So, we decided to locate the tour operator whose address was right on the Damark. In the process of locating the office, we scrutinized Damark thoroughly. Either side of the street is full of shops and restaurants, that range from economy to high end. And the shops include literally everything from grocery to garments to souvenirs. So, in case you are planning to shop, particularly high end, then Damark will be a good starting point for you. After having located our tour office and confirmed with them our plan for the next day, we headed further to the Dam Square.

The Dam Square

The next stop on our self guided Amsterdam city walking tour, The Dam Square can’t be missed, as you arrive at the end of the Damark. It is a big square located at the Amstel River dam, built in 1270. It has many notable and significant buildings surrounding it. The prominent one amongst these being the Royal Palace itself. The square also has a national monument to memorize the victims of the world war 2. The place was particularly abuzz on the eve of the King’s day. With lots of youth and old alike celebrating the day, sitting on the Dam Square. Some singing, some dancing and some simply drinking 🙂

The Oude Church

From the Dam Square, we took a left and immediate next left. Then we continued straight to arrive on the next destination on our self guided Amsterdam city walking tour – The Oude Church. The Oude Church, also known as the Oude Kerk, is Amsterdam’s oldest building and also the oldest Parish church. The same itself means “Old Church”. The church is huge, covering an area of almost 36000 sq foot. And Amsterdam being a marshy land, it is really commendable that this building has stood the test of time. Which makes it something not to be missed when taking your self guided Amsterdam city walking tour.

The Red Light District

Well, can a tour of Amsterdam complete without taking a walk in the Red Light District ? No. So, from the Oude Church, one can head to the Red Light District. In fact, there is a Museum of Prostitution at a stone’s throw away from the Oude Church. It takes the visitors through the daily life of the prostitutes, their work, etc. Something that is considered illegal in most of the other parts of world has not only been legalized but also accepted here, that commands a lot of respect. In fact, visitors are also welcome to leave their own secret confession on one wall of the museum! Visit the museum and walk through the Red Light District on your self guided Amsterdam city walking tour, heading to the next destination – Nieuwmarkt.

“Nieuwmarkt” (New Market) is another square located centrally in Amsterdam. A daily market is established around the square. And on weekends, special organic markets are arranged here. There are many restaurants and cafes around the square. So, if you feel tired on your self guided Amsterdam city walking tour, now is the perfect time to grab a coffee. Or a basket of fries with cheese and sauce! You can also rest your foot a bit before continuing further on the self guided Amsterdam city walking tour. Nieuwmarkt is considered a part of the Chinatown area, a chinese settlement in the center of Amsterdam. Walking on, we will continue further to the next destination – the Waterlooplein Market.

Waterlooplein Market

Waterlooplein is the oldest flea market, not just in Amsterdam but in the whole of Netherlands. Next we arrive here on our self guided Amsterdam city walking tour. Running 6 days a week, the market hosts hundreds of stalls selling all kind of items. There are many food trucks also stationed here, offering the best of fries, Italian and Greek appetizers and main courses. A world famous flea market, it is a must include in the list of places to visit while on our self guided Amsterdam city walking tour. In fact, those of us, who saved ourselves shopping in the high end malls on Damark can actually look for some souvenirs here. And those who are not into shopping can just enjoy the feel of the place in general.

Nationale Opera & Ballet

From Waterlooplein market, we head further on our self guided Amsterdam city walking tour. Arriving at the Nationale Opera & Ballet. The place is highly recommended by theater lovers. The shows and Ballets performances are great, and need pre-booking. If you are not into theaters or don’t want to watch the shows, it is still worth visiting this area before heading further on the self guided Amsterdam city walking tour. Since, this area boasts of the best of the houseboats on the canals of Amsterdam. You can easily witness some around. Some are even converted into restaurants and cafes and you can get the feel of one here.

Flower Market

The Amsterdam Flower Market, just like the Red Light District and many others, is one of it’s kind in the world. In fact, it is the only floating flower market in the whole world. And that’s the reason, it must be in the list of places to visit on our self guided Amsterdam city walking tour. So, next you walk here from the Nationale Opera & Ballet. Since 1862, this market is operational 6 days a week (closed on Sunday). And it is best described as one of the most fragrant parts of Amsterdam 🙂 . Here you can buy bouquets, single stems of flowers or even bulbs. And the best part is that the bulbs are ready for export. So, you can easily carry them back home with you.

Next on the self guided Amsterdam city walking tour comes Westerkerk, a church designed in the Renaissance style of architecture. The architect, Hendrick de Keyser, who built this church, is himself buried here. The construction of the church was finished by his son in 1631. It is particularly famous as one of the first purposefully made protestant church. While other older churches were converted during the reform. More than anything, the renaissance architecture of the church is particularly attractive.

Anne Frank House

The second last spot on our self guided Amsterdam city walking tour is the Anne Frank House. To me, it is the most moving as well. If you don’t know about the life and story of Anne Frank, I highly recommend you read the Diary of a young girl . It is a small yet moving true story of a girl, Anne Frank, who lived hidden in this house along with her family and a few other families during the second world war, while the Nazis took control of the city. The house is preserved in her memorial is now open to the public.

The story is really moving, it is all about the human spirit, despair, hope against hope and the zeal to live on in the most pathetic and worst conditions. A story of an individual that brings out and strong the message about how cruel a war can get.

Last but not the least, Jordaan is actually not a building or a museum, or a park. But is is a neighborhood, an area right through which you walk as you start back from Anne Frank House to the Amsterdam Centraal. It is one of the most expensive and upscale locations of not just Amsterdam but the whole Netherlands. “Jordaan” derives from the French word meaning “Garden”. And most streets and locations in this area are named after trees and flowers. Overall, it is a delight to walk through this neat and clean, well structured area, looking at some of the most posh houses of Netherlands.

Canals of Amsterdam

Last but not the least, a trip to Amsterdam won’t complete without a boat ride on the canals of Amsterdam. So, before you end your self guided Amsterdam city walking tour, don’t forget to take a boat ride over one of the numerous gorgeous canals that are like the arteries of this city. It’s always wonderful to be on the canal and have a look at the city go by, along side the beautiful sunset, calling it end of a beautiful day! If you have a little more time at hand, we highly recommend trying a river cruising in the Netherlands , one of the most famous activities here.

Map of the self guided Amsterdam city walking tour

General Tips on visiting Amsterdam

We traveled to Amsterdam for only 2 days. We spent the first one on the above walking tour and the second one in the Tulip Gardens. If you have more time at hand, you can as well take some awesome day trips from Amsterdam . Here’s a guide to Rotterdam , a must not miss when doing day trips from Amsterdam. Now, let us summarize some useful tips for you when visiting Amsterdam:

• Amsterdam, the capital of Netherlands, is well connected with most of the other cities around the world through air ways, and most of the cities in Europe through rail and road as well.
• Amsterdam Central is the central railway station in the city, located right near the old city. And is well connected with other railway stations. For instance, there is a train between Schiphol and Amsterdam Central every 10 minutes.
• We came here on the King’s day. Being a holiday, and a day of celebration, it was super crowded. Vehicles were not allowed on the major lanes. So, if you want to do a thorough exploration of the city, chose a different day. Also, note that many shops, markets and places of interest are closed on Sunday.
• Wear comfortable shoes for walking.
• Carry your own refill drinking water. Bottled water are expensive and mostly not environment friendly.
• There are plenty of cafes and restaurants on this route, so no need to worry about food.
• Apart from the places mentioned here, there are several other notable places to visit in Amsterdam. They are farther apart, so, can’t be covered as a part of this walking tour. However, you can take a public transport or rent a bike (cummon you are in Amsterdam!) to go to some of these. Like Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and several other notable museums, Vondelpark, De Gooyer Windmill.
• In May beginning, it was still pretty cold there. Pack accordingly.

Summary of our Europe trip

During our Europe trip, we booked our hotels from either   Booking.com   or  Agoda.com . Also, we used skyscanner.in to compare flight tickets and booked the same from Makemytrip.com . Comparing the flight tickets and booking in advance are two of our tried and tested tricks to score cheap flights of shorter durations. Then we went ahead and made detailed plans for each day, planning some free walking tours & booking some day trips. So, if you want to plan your Europe trip on your own, do your bookings and define your own itinerary. Then, we have an excellent resource for you – our ebook  on how to plan your Europe trip on your own. It contains all the details that we put to use while planning our own trip.

Here’s our 2 weeks Europe trip itinerary . And here’s an article dedicated to revealing the secrets of how we traveled Europe on a budget by choosing the right accommodation, food, tour and commute options in Europe . And also, here’s one on our vegetarian survival guide in Europe . We hope it will help you out planning yours. Below is the detail of all the hotels we booked.

Accommodation Booked in Europe

• Best Western Blu Hotel, Rome
• Palazzo Dei Ciompi , Florence
• Hotel Continental, Venice
• Hotel Drei Konige, Luzern
• Ibis Style Paris Eiffle Cambronne
• Holiday Inn, Amsterdam

PS: Some of our links are affiliated, this means we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product by clicking those links. However, this will have no extra cost for you.

35 thoughts on “A free self guided Amsterdam walking tour”

Hello, I enjoy reading all of your article post. I like to write a little comment to support you.

I am jealous right now, from the first sentence until I finish the post. Haha! Imagine all the countries your visited on the tour and this last stop has a lot of beautiful structures. Love that you pick walking to explore, it’s the best way to get the details, and get great photos.

Well Kris, we really wanted to spend more time in Amsterdam but we had to do with a one day walking tour due to limited time. Hope that makes you feel better 😀 But surely, we will return here some day to explore more

I loved my trip to Amsterdam. It’s such an interesting city. It’s so cool to read about your self guided tour. We’re always quick to pay money and go on organised tours but this is a great way to see a new city!

Definitely David. Walkable places are our favorites and self guided tour that you can take on your own pace are the best to our likings

I feel the best way to know a city is by taking a walking tour across the city. Its so good that you discovered the beauty of Amsterdam by walking. The places look interesting and you have put up a very detailed itinerary and tips. Thanks for such a detailed post.

Totally agree with you. Walking is the best way to pay attention to the minor details and enjoy the culture of a place.

I have been hooked to this place, thankfully its part of my Europe package that I will be doing this year and i so so look forward to it. The canals of Amsterdam leave me mesmerised every time I look at the pictures. Your pictures are stunning too. Never knew about the red light area, but seems intriguing enough to be visited at least once

Oh..The red light district is an integral part of Amsterdam. Do some research on it before you go.

Great article. It’s well written and I loved reading it.

This is such a lovely post on a DIY Amsterdam tour. When I think of this city, I imagine canals, flowers and cycles. You have covered 2 🙂

Thanks Swati!

It sounds and looks like you had an incredible time, your photos are amazing, i really need to visit Amsterdam and it’s definitely on my list, this just makes me want to go more! I can’t wait to read more from you, really well write, great job!

Thank you so much. It is a lovely city. You will enjoy your time thoroughly when you go to Amsterdam

I believe that one of the best ways of seeing a European city, or any city for that matter, is by walking around. Good job in compiling the blog post!

Thanks Umang. Thats true.

I am all for walking tours! It has become of the things I look forward to doing whenever I go abroad. It proved to be one of the best ways to really get to know a city. By the looks of it, Amsterdam is another good place to do a walking tour at as the place is so beautiful. Ain’t automated ticketing system a beautiful thing? Really it’s one of the things I wish we have in my own country.

And the Red Light District! It’s on my bucketlist. It’s interesting to know it even has a Museum of Prostitution, I will not miss it if I ever go there. Oh yeah, Anne Frank house, I have to visit it too.

You are right Marge. And that ticketing system…even I wish we had it in our country here 🙂

There are so many things about Amsterdam that make it a city worth visiting. I love the fact that its great for walking and easy to navigate on your own. My favorite thing about it (although there’s a lot to love) is definitely the architecture…I love the details in the buildings, thanks for sharing this great itinerary!

Thanks Aisha. The beauty is that when a city has so much to offer, everyone gets something to their liking. Isn’t it?

Awesome guide. I had a friend who just recently visited and was telling me about how awesome Amsterdam is! I would like to live in a city with barely any cars and where people ride around it bikes hehe.

That way Amsterdam definitely is a fit for the city you are looking for. We saw very less cars on the streets and the number of bikes were definitely more. The rest of the world needs to learn from them.

Really interesting to know what you planned this walking tour by yourself. I assumed that most people would explore Amsterdam via bicycle.It is indeed a very beautiful city with so much to explore. I hope I can visit someday. Thanks for the tips and the map of the walking tour!

We did want to bicycle in Amsterdam, but with our little one with us, it was a little inconvenient. So, instead, we took a walking tour on a slow pace

Truly. Amsterdam is such a great city that offers a lot of great scenery to enjoy. I think wherever your eyes would choose to gaze, it’s all beautiful. Ambling around is i guessed the best way to enjoy this City and would love to do that if I get the chance. The city lights are so charming and romantic. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Truly said. Amsterdam is a beautiful city. The city is charming and romantic both by the day and by night.

Great to hear that you’ve decided to go on a self-guided walking tour around the city despite the holidays. It must’ve been more festive and the city would’ve been bustling of activities by then. 🙂 Love your itinerary. Seems like you’ve visited a lot of places! The flower market sounds pretty interesting and very enticing (so many flowers in one setting!) and the canals of course. 🙂

Thanks Marvi. We had just that one day to explore the city and thus we had got to make the most of it. Although pertaining to the king’s day, almost everyone was on the streets enjoying themselves, still the city was as much walkable as on any other day. In fact, more so, since in many streets and main roads the vehicles were not allowed for the day pertaining to the celebrations. So, that worked well for us

Travelers love tralving on various destinations but a guide Amsterdam city walking tour can be more helpful for a traveler. This article is really helpful to understand guided Amsterdam city walking tour.

Thanks Sophoia. I guess it being self designed and giving you the freedom to make changes to it as you wish, and take the walking tour on your own desired pace is what really makes it a wonderful walking tour

This city is just brimming with spectacular architecture. Looking at your photos, I can’t help but notice how intricately the buildings are designed. To think these are just pictures, how much more the real thing? What a marvelous place to feel artsy. 😉

I still felt cold when I visited in June! I used to be in Amsterdam once a month, and so became familiar with all the sights. Though I don’t remember Jordaan. It looks so colouful there!

Yes, it was definitely very very cold in the month of April, last week to be precise. But the sun was out there to greet us, and we enjoyed the day walking around clad in proper winter wears 🙂

Amsterdam is an enchanting city. I feel like most European cities, Amsterdam too is best seen by walk. We too love city walks that are self guided as it gives one the freedom to set your own pace. Also a walking tour provides a much more immersive experience. Your itinerary a really good as it covers a wide range of sights and experiences of Amsterdam. My favourite is Anne Frank’s house.

Thank you Sandy N Vyjay. Definitely, walking tours are a must when in Europe. And this one we just loved to take since it so happened, the same day was King’s day as well. So apart from the usual sites, there was a celebration going on all around. And the festive mood made us enjoy our walking tour all the more.

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Secret Jordaan: a self-guided walking tour of the Jordaan

November 12, 2018 by Karen Turner 10 Comments

One of my favorite neighborhoods in Amsterdam is the Jordaan.  If you’re looking to escape some of the crowds of center and experience some of the charm of Amsterdam, you can follow this self-guided walking guide to the Jordaan, one of Amsterdam’s most charming neighborhoods, to see a few secrets of de Jordaan that you might not see otherwise.  It’s based on my time living just five minutes away from the Jordaan.

I do my best to discuss history as well as some charming cafes, restaurants, hofjes and streets that I always love to stop into.  The walking tour of de Jordaan should take about 1.5 hours. The total distance covered is 2 kilometers (~1 mile), but I encourage you to slow down.  Map at the bottom of the post.

Warning: Not all of these locations in De Jordaan are public property, so please be considerate as well as quiet as several locations are on private property where the owners are kind enough to allow the public into daytime.  When entering hofjes, please be quiet, stick to paths, and give residents their privacy.

If you wish to stay in the Jordaan, you stay in a real houseboa t for a unique experience.  If you prefer a boutique hotel, head to Mr. Jordaan for a sustainable stay with thoughtful touches.  Otherwise, you’ll find numerous bed and breakfasts within the Jordaan.

• 1 Starting point: Intersection of Papiermolensluis and Brouwersgracht
• 2 Walk along Brouwersgracht towards Palmgracht
• 3 Het Raepenhofje
• 4 See the alleyways along Willemstraat
• 5 Browse the Lindengracht Market
• 6 Optional: Healthy lunch (or coffee) at PIQNIQ or boozy brunch at G’s Jordaan or apple pie at Winkel43
• 7 The prettiest house in the Jordaan!?
• 8 Noordermarkt 
• 9 Noorderkerk
• 10 The loveliest street in the Jordaan: Lindenstraat
• 11 Karthuizerhofje
• 12 Optional: Geelvinck Pianola Museum
• 13 Wander down Prinsengracht
• 14 Enjoy a drink along the boat terrace at the cozy ‘t Smalle cafe
• 15 End at admiring the Westerkerk and the Anne Frank House
• 16 Optional: Stop for a cozy drink at Café Chris
• 17 Let me know what you thought of this self-guided walking tour of the Jordaan!

Starting point: Intersection of Papiermolensluis and Brouwersgracht

One of my favorite starting points is at Cafe Papeneiland.  This cafe has stood here since 1642 and it’s one of the most picturesque cafes in the Jordaan.  Enjoy it from across the water first!

This gorgeous typically Dutch cafe has Delft blauw tiles on the interior, a great selection of local beers from Brouwerij ‘t IJ , and friendly bartenders.  Even if it’s too early for a beer, you can always enjoy a coffee.  Be sure to check out the upstairs for gorgeous views over Prinsengracht.

Walk along Brouwersgracht towards Palmgracht

Brouwersgracht is one of my favorite canals in Amsterdam, mostly because it’s quiet.  Other canals get the crowds, yet you can always walk along here enjoying the stunning scenery and the many warehouses turned residential homes. 

If you haven’t had breakfast yet and love something sweet, step into Sweet Bob’s for Brazilian brigadeiros.  They’re pretty unique and you can get a coffee if you’re starting off this walking tour early.

The name is attributed to the breweries that used to be along this canal for beer although you can still find one of Amsterdam’s last remaining distilleries along nearby Driehoekstraat:  A. van Wees Distilleerderij de Ooievaar .  I’d recommend walking until you reach Driehoekstraat, which is a beautiful street that seems out of place in modern Amsterdam.   

Het Raepenhofje

The many warehouses along with business brought in by the VOC (the Dutch East Indies Company) allowed the Jordaan to prosper in the Dutch Golden Age.  Many workers lived in this area and a housing crisis (much like today’s housing issues in Amsterdam) forced people to keep building.

The housing shortage was slightly improved through the generosity of many aristocrafts of the time who donated properties to be used as almshouses, known as hofjes, for those in need. De Jordaan neighborhood has the most number of hofjes in Amsterdam (21) although not all of these hofjes are easily accessible to the public.

The Raepenhofje can be easily missed if you don’t know what you’re looking for.  This historic hofje is one of the oldest almhouses in Amsterdam that was endowed by a wealthy merchant.  The small hofje with only six houses is intended for widows and today it remains a quiet refuge for young woman.  The door is not always open and it feels quite private inside, so peek inside the door (if it’s open) when you pass by.

See the alleyways along Willemstraat

A key part of the history of the Jordaan is Willemstraat.  On this street, you’ll find remnants of the Gangenproject.  Beyond the doors (locked) are corridors where residents would live along these skinny alleyways in what they called “forts. ”  For many centuries, majority of the residents of the area lived hidden away from the beautiful streets of the Jordaan. You can stop at 22 Willemsstraat to see a reconstruction of these forts. 

Browse the Lindengracht Market

Amsterdam has so many lovely markets! The Lindenmarkt in the Jordaan happens each Saturday (if you’re lucky enough to be there) along Lindengracht. Although this street isn’t a canal anymore (it was filled in 1895), the wide street with tall trees is home to more than 200 stalls. I love coming here to buy flowers, bread, used books, and cheese.  It’s a great place to browse for unique souvenirs that aren’t overly touristy!

Optional: Healthy lunch (or coffee) at PIQNIQ or boozy brunch at G’s Jordaan or apple pie at Winkel43

If you’re not full yet, I’ve included a stop off for a few favorite places to eat in the Jordaan.  For the best apple pie in Amsterdam, head to Winkel43 for Dutch apple pie.  It truly is the best.

If you’re looking for a lovely brunch, lunch, or breakfast, I really like PIQNIQ .  This vegan-friendly cafe has a cozy location along Lindengracht. Although it can get quite busy on the weekends, it’s worth the wait. 

If you’re looking for something more adventurous, head to G’s Jordaan.   (Be sure to make a reservation.)  This boozy brunch hotspot open Thursday to Sunday is perfect for those who like a little kick with their lunch and something a bit off the wall.  

The prettiest house in the Jordaan!?

This is just a small note, but I have a serious weakness for  Het Brillenpaleis .  This little eyeglass shop has one of the most beautiful ivy covered houses in the Jordaan. I always love seeing how it changes in each season. (Photo taken in fall.) 

There’s a lovely little record shop next door ( Flesch Records/Books) . I recommend stopping in here to browse!

Noordermarkt 

If you’re visiting the Jordaan on a Saturday, you’re likely to see the Noordermarkt.  This farmer’s market is a great place to pick up lunch if you intend to have a picnic or simply browse.  You’ll also find a number of lifestyle stalls where you can browse vintage fashion. 

Noorderkerk

Unlike the Westerkerk (mentioned later), the Noorderkerk was built to ensure that the commoners were Protestant Christians as well.  This church built in 1620 still holds services today if you’re curious about Dutch services.  You can also attend concerts here on Saturday afternoons in the summers (check for tickets ahead).

The loveliest street in the Jordaan: Lindenstraat

I just love Lindenstraat.  All along this street, you’ll find some of the prettiest houses in Amsterdam not on a canal and lots of ivy.  I love to wander down here.  This street (especially close to Eerste Lindendwarsstraat) is just lovely and classic Amsterdam.  Luckily, most tourists manage only to find this street en route to the Lindengracht market.

Karthuizerhofje

The largest courtyard in the Jordaan is  Karthuizerhofje .  This large complex was built upon a former monastery.  As early as 1650, it housed widows in need of an affordable place to live.    Note: please be considerate as this is private property and the inhabitants are kind enough to allow the public during daylight hours.  

I love coming here to say hi to the numerous cats who live inside this beautiful hofje and to sit on one of the benches to catch my breath.  It’s hard to find places in Amsterdam where you can truly disconnect from the rest and this is one of my favorites.

Optional: Geelvinck Pianola Museum

For music lovers, the Pianola Museum is a great place to visit.  My father-in-law visited this museum, one of the small quirky museums of Amsterdam. Within the walls of this small museum are numerous instruments, music archives, and all kinds of historic music history.  

Wander down Prinsengracht

Is there anything as lovely as walking along the canals in Amsterdam? (Note: Don’t walk directly on the canals as you will be in danger of bikes and traffic; stay on the sidewalk.)  That said, although Prinsengracht is the most touristic canal, you still can enjoy little moments of relaxation as you gaze out along the water watching the various boats go by.  

You’ll pass one of my favorite Indonesian hole-in-the-wall places Eethuis Pondok Indah .  If you’re curious about Indonesian food, the owners are incredibly friendly and cook up specialities from their home island for an affordable price.  Have cash on hand as they don’t take credit cards. They’re open for dinner mostly.

Enjoy a drink along the boat terrace at the cozy ‘t Smalle cafe

One of my favorite places to sit out at on a nice day is on the boat terrace at Cafe ‘t Smalle.  This cozy cafe with a lovely interior has drinks, including coffee.  Take a moment to slow down, enjoy the scenery, and enjoy a cup of coffee on a nice day.  (If it’s too chilly, its two-story interior is lovely too.)

End at admiring the Westerkerk and the Anne Frank House

The Westerkerk was a church intended for the upper class aristocrafts along the larger canals.  It opened in 1631 although the tower took seven more years.  Today, you can climb the tower. 

Anne Frank could see the clock tower from the window of her attic and she wrote that the bells calmed her.  On top of the tower is a crown from Emperor Maximilian.  Rembrandt fans can look for his grave here! 

Behind the church, you’ll find Homomovement, a monument built in honor of murdered members of the LGBTQ community who were persecuted due to their sexuality.  (It’s typical to lay flowers here on May 4th.)

Optional: Stop for a cozy drink at Café Chris

For lovers of dive bars, I recommend Cafe Chris.  This is one of the oldest cafes in the Jordaan–and it’s one of the coziest places to step in for a beer.  Be sure to admire the gorgeous stained glass windows. 

Let me know what you thought of this self-guided walking tour of the Jordaan!

Read more tips for traveling in Amsterdam , your perfect Amsterdam itinerary , secret Amsterdam locations not to miss , and the best day trips from Amsterdam .

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

November 13, 2018 at 7:16 pm

I love Jordaan! One of my favourite neighbourhoods in Amsterdam. I was just there a few weeks ago and it puts such a smile on my face!

November 17, 2018 at 2:44 am

It’s been a long time since I have been in Amsterdam – I need to go back

April 7, 2019 at 6:38 am

Hi Karen, You have composed such a nice compilation of posts about Amsterdam. I feel they have truly helped me get the insiders scoop that is otherwise can be so difficult to find! I very seldom (honestly almost never) reach out on travel blogs but I feel very compelled!! Thank you so much for your tips. From the step by step directions for getting to Amsterdam central to all the hidden cat opportunities I feel prepared for my first solo trip. I am visiting next week and am SO EXCITED! Freya

July 16, 2019 at 10:04 pm

Thank you for such a thoughtful post that wasn’t full of “the most instagrammable spots” in Amsterdam.

January 10, 2020 at 4:16 pm

Thank you so much for a beautiful tour! 1 recommended addition. The Mouse Mansion, just 2 blocks up from t’smalle cafe. It’s a treasure!!

January 13, 2020 at 10:56 am

I was recently there! I will update the post with info soon!

February 4, 2020 at 5:42 pm

I can’t wait to visit the Jordaan and Amsterdam with your tips! It’s a pity to have only 2 days…but will be 2 full days!! Many thanks…now i search something about De Pijp 🙂

December 20, 2021 at 2:39 pm

Of course nowadays Café Chris is not “cash only” anymore both the cozy atmosphere stays the same!

June 16, 2022 at 6:18 pm

We did your “walking tour” today, was a lovely way to spend an afternoon in the city. Thanks for sharing.

August 2, 2022 at 6:47 pm

A few weeks ago I’ve been to Amsterdam with my boyfriend. We loved your tour!! As Amsterdam is very touristic, this tour takes you to the most calm and authentic spots in the Jordaan area! Many thanks!

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