Jordaan & Negen Straatjes: Stories from Amsterdam’s Most Soulful Quarter in Amsterdam - AdobeStock_312824073.jpg
4.9

Jordaan & Negen Straatjes: Stories from Amsterdam’s Most Soulful Quarter

  • 2 hours
  • City Highlight Tours
  • Amsterdam
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Choose one of 3 locals available

Experience hosted by Anna, Marten & one other local

  • Private Tour
  • Carbon Neutral

Discover the soulful charm of Amsterdam’s Jordaan district on a walking tour filled with hidden courtyards, canal-side stories, and artisan gems. From the historic Noorderkerk to the Negen Straatjes and the secret hofjes, explore the city like a true local. With a passionate host by your side, you’ll experience the Jordaan’s rich history and vibrant spirit—one story at a time.

Destination
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
2 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, Deutsch, Nederlands
Included
  • Private guide
  • All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral
Excluded
  • Entrance to attractions

6 reasons to book this tour

  • Explore the best of the Jordaan in only 2.5 hours
  • Spot classics like Noorderkerk & Negen Straatjes
  • Discover hidden gems away from the tourist paths
  • Experience the Jordaan from a local’s perspective
  • Can be 100% personalized to your wishes
  • Privately guided by a local expert

What you can expect

Jordaan & Negen Straatjes: Stories from Amsterdam’s Most Soulful Quarter in Amsterdam - AdobeStock_312824073.jpg

Amsterdam is full of magic—but nowhere captures its charm quite like the Jordaan. And with your favorite local host leading the way, you're set to experience this beloved neighborhood through its hidden courtyards, heartfelt history, and everyday local life. Get ready for a journey filled with culture, connection, and authentic Amsterdam vibes!

Step back in time as you visit neighborhood icons like the historic Noorderkerk, explore the lively Negen Straatjes with their eclectic boutiques and artistic energy, and slip into the quiet world of the Hofjes—hidden inner courtyards that still echo the neighborhood’s community spirit. And just when you think you've seen it all—surprise! Each host brings their own story, perspective, and love for the Jordaan, making your walk one-of-a-kind.

Craving a break? Your host knows exactly where to go. Whether it’s the best apple pie in town or a tucked-away café known only to locals, you’ll get to enjoy a special treat, handpicked with care. Use the moment to chat with your host about life in Amsterdam, favorite spots, and tips for your next local adventure—after all, nobody knows Jordaan like the people who call it home.

The true magic of this tour lies in the stories. Each local host brings a unique background—from music to history to art—and they’re excited to share and connect with you along the way. Want to take a detour or follow your curiosity? Just say the word! Your host will happily tailor the walk to suit your pace and interests, making sure this becomes your personal journey through the real Jordaan.

Choose your local

Get to know these 3 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

  1. Meeting point

    Meet at In front of Café Hegeraad - Amsterdam to start your journey

  2. Itinerary

    This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

  3. Jordaan Highlights

    See from Noorderkerk, Negen Straatjes, Hofjes, and other landmarks and must-sees of the Jordaan. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes the Jordaan so unique
  4. Hidden Gems

    Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the Jordaan through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience
  5. Magical Storytelling

    Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!
  6. Special Treat

    Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions
  7. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Feel confident booking

    Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

  • Change of plans?

    Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

  • Loved by travelers worldwide

    Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

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Katharina🇦🇹 Austria
(About local )
28 July 2025
We had great time with Marten. He told us many background things about this city. Thank you for a wonderful start here in Amsterdam Great view of Amsterdam
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Rebecca
(About local )
24 July 2025
Marten was a fun and easygoing host - we really enjoyed his insights into Dutch culture and the delicious food.Fun afternoon
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Dawn
(About local )
24 July 2025
Our Amsterdam tour with Marten was fantastic! He was knowledgeable, engaging, and brought the city’s rich history to life with fascinating stories. The mix of historical landmarks and hidden gems gave us a well-rounded view of Amsterdam. Marten's passion for the city was clear, and his friendly, professional approach made the experience even better. The tour was well-paced and informative. Highly recommend this tour—and especially Marten—for anyone wanting to truly appreciate Amsterdam.A great way to see Amsterdam!!
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Jim and Yolanda🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
19 July 2025
Anna expertly guided my wife and I through the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. She was able to intuitively perceive what was important to us and custom guide us through the works of the museum to illustrate the golden age of the Netherlands, it’s history, culture, and it’s people. We were fortunate that Ana had the time and she was willing to extend our two hour tour… and after 3 1/2 hours we were still fascinated by all that she showed us. Anna is an extremely knowledgeable guide and we highly recommend her for any of her many tours in Amsterdam.Anna was an amazing guide!
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Fiona🇧🇲 Bermuda
(About local )
4 July 2025
Anna was incredibly knowledgeable about what she was describing to us on our tour, answered the many questions and best of all she was fun! Rijksmuseum Tour
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Janice🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
4 July 2025
Marten is very knowledgable, and has an easy way about him. We learned about the history and culture in a fun informative tour. We thoroughly enjoyed the time spent together. Meeting Marten
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Megan🇳🇿 New Zealand
(About local )
29 June 2025
We fully recommend this tour, and Anna to guide you. As an adult family of 3 - Anna listened well to our "bespoke preferences" and delivered a varied, informative and brilliant cycling experience traversing history, ecology, design and random fun insights. We loved our half day cycle experience. Anna is THE BUSINESS. 😇Fab tour, Funky Guide.
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Beth
(About local )
28 June 2025
I’ve returned from my travels and I’m reflecting on the time I spent with Anna …four hours of walking learning and exploring the beautiful city of Amsterdam…. I had a layover of six hours before I had to continue with my travels. I have never been to Amsterdam… The one thought I had in preparing for my time with Anna is “I don’t want to be with all the other visitors”…. and that’s what came true…. we talked about architecture history,art and life in Amsterdam. I saw many many different examples of architecture learned about the people and the city both historically and today… Anna was very kind calm and extremely knowledgeable. I did not pay attention to the blocks of meandering we completed…, however, in reflecting how far we went, it must’ve been miles and miles of walking.., I am an interior designer for 40 years and studied architecture, art history, etc….many words, I learned back then and forgot… cartouche or arabesque…Anna used in her conversation. I applaud her on her knowledge…. I highly recommend spending time with her… as she grew up in the Netherlands and lives in Amsterdam… she is truly a teacher of beautiful Amsterdam 🙏🩷 Four incredible hours with Anna
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Anne🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
27 June 2025
We chose Anna D because of her background in social sciences but she is also a student of art history. We did a walking tour with her and her in-depth knowledge of Danish history and culture is astounding. We than picked up bikes and went on an exciting ride to the park and the Rijksmuseum. Anna could easily be a guide at the museum! If you’re interested In art and art history, you will be impressed! I highly recommend Anna if you want a great exposure to all things Danish. Very smart and well informed tour guide
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Nic🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
27 June 2025
I’d highly recommend a walking tour with Marten. You can expect to not just learn about the city but to learn something about the Dutch mentality, the values, what the local customs are like. There is no better way to begin your trip to Amsterdam.Amsterdam walking tour
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jayne🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
25 June 2025
Anna's private tour of Amsterdam was awesome! She was punctual, knowledgeable, dynamic, and interesting. We had a great time on the tour and we highly recommend Anna. Fabulous Tour Guide!
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Alex🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
22 June 2025
My husband and I took this walking tour through Amsterdam last weekend, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Anna was super knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the city’s rich history and culture. We loved how the route balanced iconic landmarks with hidden gems we would’ve never found on our own. It was the perfect pace, with plenty of time to soak in the sights and enjoy the atmosphere. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a deeper connection with this beautiful city!A Wonderful Way to Explore Amsterdam!
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Joanie🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
18 June 2025
Estella knew a lot about the city and the history.Great tour
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Melissa🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
18 June 2025
So nice to have a deep dive into the history of the artwork at the Rijks. She is detailed and very well prepared for any question. Really brought the history to life!Lovely Experience wirh Anna
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kp7dn89vwv
(About local )
15 June 2025
It was okay, but we didn't feel like we really connected with her.
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Marcy🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
11 June 2025
Marten immediately made my granddaughter and I feel comfortable. He was warm and engaging to both of us . His knowledge, expertise and experience makes him a top notch tour guide. His skill at making history and art so interesting to not only me, but also my 16 year old granddaughter, was so appreciated. We were lucky enough to have booked two separate tours with him . The first one was the Jewish history tour, which was very moving, and so worthwhile before we went to the Anne Frank House . It gave us a better understanding of Jewish life in Amsterdam before and after the holocaust. The other tour we took with Marten was of the Van Gogh Museum and Van Gogh himself. His story telling skills made learning about Van Gogh so very intriguing. His ability to draw attention to relevant things that one could easily overlook was so appreciated. Walking and talking while interweaving philosophical viewpoints made it even more thought provoking. It was very special to learn from this wonderful guide. We actually bumped into Marten the day after our tour and we were all so excited to see each other. Amazing tour guide
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tbkelso🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
11 June 2025
Several hours after our flight landed in Amsterdam we met Anna who took us on an amazing introductory tour of her city. She guided us through the maze of streets and canals explaining Amsterdam’s history and unique architecture. She was entertaining and very informative. We had such a good experience we hired her to guide us through the Rijksmuseum several days later. She earned our highest recommendation. Wonderful experience
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Booker🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
10 June 2025
Anna D. did an excellent job of differentiating Rembrandt from other painters of the Dutch Golden Age (1588 to 1672). She pointed out the subtle features of The Night Watch and other famous Rembrandt paintings. Anna is knowledgeable guide on Rembrandt
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Booker🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
10 June 2025
Marten K. is an exceptional storyteller. At the Van Gogh Museum, he wove an intricate and captivating story of Vincent Van Gogh’s life as a mentally unstable, yet brilliant artist, highlighting the numerous artistic innovations he pioneered. He connected Van Gogh’s artistic accomplishments through his early days in Holland, then in Paris and finally in other French locations, including his one-year stay at a mental asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. He detailed Van Gogh’s many relationships with Gaugin and other Impressionists. Throughout his telling of Van Gogh’s life story, he highlighted Vincent’s relationship with his younger brother, Theo, who loved and supported him throughout his life. Marten gave my wife and me many fresh insights that I had not heard in my art studies in college or learned in visits to other museums and exhibits with Van Gogh paintings. Our Van Gogh tour with Marten was so enlightening and memorable that we’d, without hesitation, use him for other tours he offers.Marten K. is the best guide you’ll find!
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Andrea
(About local )
9 June 2025
Martin expertly guided us through the Van Gogh and Rijks Museums. He has a deep knowledge of the artists and the art including artistic influences, time periods, and life circumstances. Martin also gave us background on the buildings including origins and newer editions and modifications. We especially appreciated his guidance through the Rijks Museum which is massive and crowded. Highly Recommend
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Magaly🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 June 2025
Ana made exploring Amsterdam such a fun and safe experience for me and my daughter. She took us to beautiful spots and shared cool facts about the city that kept us both interested the whole time. My daughter had a great time — and so did I! Thank you, Ana, for making our day in Amsterdam so special and fun! Fun Bike tour of Amsterdam with Ana!
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Andrea🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
7 June 2025
We enjoyed walking through the old part of Amsterdam with focus on the pre-war Jewish neighborhoods. Martin has a strong command of history both local and global. He was able to contextualize a lot of what we were learning. We asked to end the tour at a particular time at or near the Anne Frank House. Martin accommodated us nicely with this.Informative
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Christian
(About local )
7 June 2025
Unsere Tour mit Marten war sowohl informativ als auch unterhaltsam. Er hat uns mit viel Engagement und Fachwissen begleitet und spannende Hintergrundinformationen vermittelt, die den Rundgang besonders interessant gemacht haben. Absolut empfehlenswert!Dank Marten wurde die Tour zum Highlight
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Robert🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
7 June 2025
I enjoyed our time together. The story telling and local knowledge are interesting and fun. We walked and talked of the houses, the occupants, the changing norms and all manner of subjects. History, art, culture, architecture…
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Peter🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
6 June 2025
We have been fortunate to participate in many, many tours. There is a huge difference between a generic tour guide and a host. In addition to possessing a passion for history, a deep sense of Dutch pride and an easy manner, Marten is an enthusiastic and personable host. We challenged him by asking to alter the tour plan at the last minute to accommodate avoiding things that we had already seen. He graciously and seamlessly adapted to our request and we spent an easy three hours walking and talking. We would recommend Marten highly to anyone seeking insight into the fascinating history and contemporary life of the Netherlands. Amsterdam is Awesome
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Kevin🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 June 2025
Marteen was on time, very knowledgeable about the area as well as the history. My husband and I had a great time and we enjoyed the food, especially the stroopwafels!!!Great in a history lesson of the area
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mcooperman
(About local )
5 June 2025
Marten is great! He walked us through many different city areas and highlights. His enthusiasm for Amsterdam as a historian was clear through the storytelling he wove throughout our tour. This made the tour informative and engaging. Highly recommendedAmsterdam Storytelling
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Michele🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
4 June 2025
We had a great time with Marten on the food tour! He was very informative and also a lot of fun. He shared great stories about living in Amsterdam and the history as we tried several different foods along the way. My mom is elderly and he was very accommodating to our slower pace. Great time with Marten
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Alex🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 June 2025
Marten was a wonderful host with a lot of really interesting stories! We loved hearing about some history of Amsterdam and specifically about the area we were walking through. We had a great time walking around the Albert Cuyp Market sampling different food. My favorite was the warm, fresh stroopwafel, but everything we tried was delicious! In hindsight, my family would have appreciated at least one stop where we could have sat down for a bit to eat (we were with my in-laws), but that didn’t detract from the great experience we had. Thank you Marten!! A wonderful experience in Amsterdam!
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Silke
(About local )
1 June 2025
Wir hatten eine Foodtour in Amsterdam gebucht und einen ganz tollen unterhaltsamen Nachmittag mit Marten. Wir haben nicht nur ein wunderschönes Viertel von Amsterdam und einen beeindruckenden Foodmarket kennengelernt, sondern durch Martens sehr unterhaltsame und lustige Art auch Hintergrundinformationen zur Geschichte von Amsterdam, Land und Leuten bekommen. Wir hatten sehr viel Spaß und können Marten nur weiterempfehlen! Jederzeit sehr gerne wieder😃Tolle Entertainment Foodtour
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Jodi🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
29 May 2025
Anna was terrific from beginning to end! She advised me to change the tour we requested, met us ontime in the lobby, and adapted the tour to our requests. She was great about answering all of our questions and proactively providing interesting facts as we toured. A great day overall and perfect start to our vacation. Knowledgable and adaptable!
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Ward
(About local )
26 May 2025
Marten is een uitstekende gids met uitgebreide kennis van historiek en maatschappelijke achtergrond. Hij voelt heel goed het niveau van de groep aan en past zich aan. Hoog niveau van kennis en sociale vaardigheid. een plezier om hem (en zijn mede-gids en partner Pillou) heel de dag te mogen meemaken. Voor herhaling vatbaar! Ik kan hem aan iedereen aanbevelen! Zeer leuke ervaring, Proficiat! Ward Uitstekende gids. Absolute aanrader!
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Tracy
(About local )
25 May 2025
Estella shared the history of Amsterdam .. creating visuals of bygone times .. with wonderful glimpses into the life of those who walked these streets over the centuries. Explaining and discussing the relevance of history to the present culture of people and place which we see today as Amsterdam. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge and your insights with us. Just a wonderful day. The Tale of Amsterdam - Walk through Time
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Jim & Linda🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
22 May 2025
Not only is Anna very smart and well prepared, but she does a great job of engaging with you and making sure you are on the same page for what you want see and not just going through a checklist of items. We visited the Rijksmuseum, which is a huge facility with thousands of possible things to see, and the first thing she did was pause and help us think through what types of exhibits we were interested in. Once we decided that, it took the pressure off trying to "see everything" which was impossible in a 2 hour tour. We moved directly to the areas we wanted and never felt rushed. The resulting conversation about the exhibits was easy and free flowing allowing her to tailor the tour to our specific areas of interest and answer all of our questions. She is a real pro! We highly recommend! Simply the Best!
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Marion🇦🇹 Austria
(About local )
20 May 2025
Vorweg möchte ich erwähnen, dass Marten ein netter, sympathischer Tourguide ist und viel Wissen weiter vermittelt. Die Foodtour führte kurz durch ein Stadtviertel und fand vorwegs auf einem Markt statt. Die Auswahl an Verkostungen war jedoch recht mager - von Fisch zu Süßem und dann wieder Fisch, Süßes und zum Abschluss Käse - und wenig abwechslungsreich. Was auf jeden Fall fehlte waren Getränke während dieser 2stüngigen Tour! Mussten wir uns selbst besorgen. Als Resumee: für diesen Preis hätte ich mir mehr Auswahl und Getränke erwartet. Toller Guide!
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Julian🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
19 May 2025
Marten war nicht nur unglaublich freundlich und witzig, sondern hatte auch ein tiefes Wissen über die Geschichte, Kultur und versteckten Ecken Amsterdams. Unvergessliche Stadtführung in Amsterdam!
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Sylvia🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
16 May 2025
We spent a lovely couple of hours eating our way through a local food market filled with delicious local cuisine with Marten. We also walked around the neighborhood learning about Dutch customs and history. Marten was knowledgeable, great fun, and a perfect guide. We highly recommend him. Food Market Fun!
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Josh🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
16 May 2025
Marten was a very knowledgeable tour guide who gave us a very good tour of the Rijksmuseum. The tour was perhaps slightly heavier on history than on art, but was nonetheless very enjoyable. Recommended.Very Good Tour
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Unknown
(About local )
14 May 2025
Marten provided my parents and I with a wonderful tour of the Van Gogh museum. He was patient while we put our items in lockers and used the restroom, and then took us on an insightful tour of Van Gogh's work through the years, and how the evolution of his painting reflected what was happening in his personal life and his view of the world. Marten provided a lot of excellent historical and artistic information. I would absolutley tour with him again the next time we're back in Amsterdam. Van Gogh Tour
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Helen
(About local )
12 May 2025
Is Stella gave us a great, leisurely, personalized five hour tour of Amsterdam. It was everything we hoped for.Great intro to Amsterdam
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Ailsa
(About local )
12 May 2025
Marten was a brilliant guide for the Highlights and Hidden Gems tour. 3 hours of a fascinating, engaging and informative insights into Amsterdam’s history and its people. Highly recommended. We will definitely seek out Marten for another of his tours on our next visit to the city.Highlights and Hidden Gems of Amsterdam
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Robert🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
11 May 2025
We book this intro to Amsterdam on our first morning with Estella. She was delightful and helped to orient us to the history and beauty of this amazing city. 5 stars!!! Book any chance you get with Estella .. you won’t be disappointed 👍🏻 Wonderful guide and so knowlegeable
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Unknown
(About local )
5 May 2025
Excellent guide, féru d'histoire et d'anecdotes, sympathique et cordial. Il connait très bien la ville et l'histoire du pays. Il est intéressé et intéressant eu égard aux religions, à la sociologie et à la politique. Il sait s'adapter rapidement aux besoins de ses clients. Belle visite.Excellent guide !
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Lisa
(About local )
5 May 2025
Marten met us on time and was gracious with one of us having a physical issue that slowed things down a bit(me). Asking what he enjoyed teaching about the art in this wonderful museum, Marten explained the Netherlands history through art and the people’s evolution as a freedom loving people. This helped me to understand more about this beautiful and interesting country.Learning about the Netherlands Golden Age
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Lynn🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
4 May 2025
Marten was the perfect companion for our historical tour of Amsterdam. We saw and heard a wealth of fascinating information—so much so that I would have continued the tour for several hours! We asked for an “insider’s” tour and Marten did not disappoint with his many stories and historical insight. He was flexible in terms of starting and ending points, which was a bonus, considering I have some mobility issues. We highly recommend Marten!Engaging and knowledgable tour guide
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Tina
(About local )
3 May 2025
We loved our time with Anna! Time flew by. Knowledgeable and funny! Made our visit at Rijksmuseum so enjoyable. Don’t miss out on a great time, book Anna! Highly recommended
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Judson
(About local )
2 May 2025
Marten was very knowledgeable, and flexible. We booked a tour well beyond what we needed. We booked a 5-hour walking tour with Marten. He realizing this created a tour that he met our needs. He is obviously passionate about Amsterdam and its people. He was very accommodating and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this tour, because there are many things that you see that you don't know what it is. Marten explains things that otherwise you would know nothing about. My recommendation is 3 hours would be more than sufficient. Martin Will taylor the tour to your wantsFlexible, knowledgeable, passionate
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Ginny🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
2 May 2025
Anna was a great guide for us. She was easy to contact, prompt, and flexible allowing us to change we the tour start location. This was critical because walking is a challenge for my husband. She has a great knowledge of the city and the history. Her advice was also helpful for the rest of our stay in the area. Thanks Anna!Knowedgable and Flexible
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Laura🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
1 May 2025
We had a wonderful tour with Marten on our tour. We were a group of 4 and we all enjoyed it. Marten is super knowledgeable and is an excellent communicator. This made for a great tour. Marten was willing to customize our tour a bit and was very accommodating! Thanks Marten!!Anne Frank & Jewish Culture Tour
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Eileen
(About local )
1 May 2025
Anna was very pleasant besides being knowledgeable and informative. Her command of the English language was impressive. Obtaining the 4, lightweight chairs was a godsend. The 4 of us thoroughly enjoyed the tour!Informative andknowledgeable

Withlocals experiences
are always

Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.

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