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Grachtengordel Culture & history

Our most recommended Grachtengordel Culture & history

Amsterdam: Life of Anne Frank and World War II Walking Tour

1. Amsterdam: Life of Anne Frank and World War II Walking Tour

Find out more about Anne Frank on a small-group or private guided walking tour of Amsterdam, led by an expert guide. Discover the city’s centuries-old Jewish Quarter in a small group setting while your guide weaves in anecdotes about Anne Frank's life and World War II. You will hear all about Anne Frank’s family dynamics, their move from Germany, their time in hiding, and her father’s life after the war. Start the tour outside the Portuguese Synagogue, a 17th-century Sephardic construction that still functions as a synagogue today. Find out about the background of the original Jewish neighborhood and how it developed over the centuries. Your guide will share stories of Anne Frank’s love of writing, the conditions she lived through in 1930s and 1940s Amsterdam, and how her diary became so famous. You will also hear about the Dutch Resistance during the Second World War and see where secret hiding places were located. Over the course of the tour, you will walk by the Jewish Historical Museum, stop at the Auschwitz Monument and see the outside of the Anne Frank House façade. Finish the tour with a small surprise at a local Dutch cafe.

Amsterdam: Anne Frank Walking Tour in German

2. Amsterdam: Anne Frank Walking Tour in German

Get to know one of the most important facets of the city and immerse yourself in the history, current affairs and culture of the Jews of Amsterdam with an experienced German-speaking guide. The Jews, expelled by the Spanish Inquisition, transformed Amsterdam into one of the wealthiest commercial cities in Europe and thereby influenced the cityscape significantly. This is how the Jodenbuurt was founded with its most well-known part the Jewish Triangle.  The tour will take you through this area with interesting stories and illustrate why it was especially this piece of land that the Jews wanted to inhabit. Not only Jews settled here. Non-Jews like the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn also had their domicile in the middle of the Jewish quarter.  But even in Amsterdam, Jewish history is not just about success and good life. The strong discrimination experienced by the Jews by the Nazi Germans also ended in Amsterdam with the Holocaust.  Learn about the young and courageous Anne Frank, who was one of the Jews hiding not to get deported. While hiding she wrote her famous diary. Her diary will accompany the tour and exemplify the grief the Jewish community had to undergo.Thousands of people were deported and hardly anyone came back. But not all Amsterdammers wanted to accept this. Learn about the February Strike in 1941, but above all: learn of the courageous resistance by Jews and non-Jews, who saved many lives while endangering their own.  Pass by the Portuguese synagogue on the tour and see important testimonies such as Stolpersteine, the gate of the old plague cemetery and monuments commemorating the courageous resistance of the Third Reich.  Also, discover how the Jewish community lives today in multicultural Amsterdam. Join this tour to explore the Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam and enjoy an unforgettable experience.

Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Ticket and City Canal Cruise

3. Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Ticket and City Canal Cruise

This unique combo ticket saves you both time and money as you explore Amsterdam's scenery by canal and enter the world-famous Van Gogh Museum. Purchase a combined ticket to the Van Gogh Museum and a leisurely cruise along Amsterdam’s canals, and enjoy 2 of the city’s must-see attractions with 1 ticket. You are free to decide which part of the ticket you would like to use first. Relax and admire beautiful, traditional merchant houses, numerous bridges, and typical houseboats as you soak up the unique vibe of Amsterdam on a 75-minute canal cruise.   Then, explore the legendary Van Gogh Museum’s exhibits at your own pace. The ticket will save you time and money on individual purchases. The 2-in-1 ticket will give you access to both the Van Gogh Museum and to a wonderful city canal cruise.

Amsterdam: Guided Bike Tour of Central Amsterdam

4. Amsterdam: Guided Bike Tour of Central Amsterdam

Discover the sights of central Amsterdam with an expert guide riding by your side. You’ll learn about the city’s culture, see important historical sites, and famous hotspots as well as lesser-known local favorites.  Start your journey near the central station, pass the impressive A’DAM Tower, and ride over to the Western Islands, which are filled with charming drawbridges, old warehouses, and chic artists' studios.  Continue along the Brouwersgracht Canal and visit the trendy Jordaan and 9 Street districts flanked by indie boutiques, cozy cafes, and hip eateries. As you ride deeper into the city center, you will enter the Grachtengordel neighborhood and zoom past the Westerkerk (Western Church) and the historic Anne Frank House.  Feel the buzz of music and street performers around Leidseplein Square, a busy theater district with a buzzing nightlife.  After so much excitement, enjoy a pleasant break in the Vondelpark, the largest park in Amsterdam and the most famous park in the Netherlands. Feeling recharged, circle the Museum Quarter and ride through the narrow streets of the Bohemian-influenced De Pijp neighborhood.  Cross the iconic Magere Brug (skinny bridge), a wooden drawbridge over the River Amstel, and arrive at the famed Artis Zoo leading into the Maritime Quarter.  Admire the impressive replica of a 17th-century Dutch East Indian Company ship at the Salt Harbour, before returning to back where your bike journey began.

Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise and Rijksmuseum

5. Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise and Rijksmuseum

Take in Amsterdam on a 75-minute canal cruise that offers stunning views of the 17th-century buildings lining the city canals. Uncover 21st-century city that Amsterdam has become as you pass by new architecture and bridges. Visit the Rijksmuseum for 800 years of Dutch art and history. Hop onboard a comfortable boat while listening to your personal audio system. This offers audio commentary in a choice of 19 languages (free earphones are supplied). Pick the option with the snack box to enjoy chips, popcorn, stroopwafels, salted peanuts and a drink of your choice (soft drink, beer or wine) as you glide through the city. Use your ticket to Rijksmuseum's internationally revered collections which features some of the nation’s most famous works, including historic art by Vermeer, Frans Hals, and perhaps most notably Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch ’w hich takes pride of place in a beautifully lit hall. Enjoy 800 years of Dutch art and history through 8,000 objects in 80 galleries and see world-famous masterpieces by Dutch masters like Vermeer, Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Jan Steen in the Gallery of Honor. Admire the Rijksmuseum’s expansive, evocative collection that also includes Delftware, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, clothing, Asian art, prints, items from Dutch maritime history, and many other culturally significant items.

Amsterdam: Culture & History Walking Tour in German

6. Amsterdam: Culture & History Walking Tour in German

Visit famous sites of Amsterdam downtown and get an overview of the city on this walking tour dedicated to culture and history. Profit from tips every adventurous traveler needs to know and make the best of your trip. Find out which food you should taste and which districts can be discovered independently by bike. Listen to your guide telling you which architectural designs were popular in the past and get an idea of the people of Amsterdam. Hear stories about how merchants, salesmen, and the poor used to live in the Middle Ages, why the world of art blossomed in the Golden Era, how World War II has changed the people of the city and what it feels like to live in the tolerant, multicultural city today. Start your tour in the heart of the city at Dam Square, where Amsterdam was founded. The tour leads you past the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, the New Church Nieuwe Kerk, and past the former main post office, to Torensluis Bridge. See one of the tiniest houses of the city and learn more about the colonial times at the statue of Multatuli on Torensluis Bridge.  Stroll past romantic canal-side houses and cross Spui Square to get to the pearl of Amsterdam – Begijnhof. With its entrance hidden in a narrow side street, this very special hofje is waiting for you to be discovered. On the way back to Dam Square you will see the river that the city owes its name to: the Amstel. The city tour ends at the national monument that was originally built to remember the victims of World War II but is now a memorial to all victims who lost their lives in any war worldwide.

Amsterdam: Anne Frank Walking Tour

7. Amsterdam: Anne Frank Walking Tour

Join a walking tour through Amsterdam and learn about Anne Frank during the Second World War. Meet your guide at Waterlooplein and discover the most important sights related to Anne Frank and other Jews in Amsterdam during World War 2 including the Jewish Quarter, the Portuguese Synagogue, and the Jewish Council headquarters. Explore the heart of Amsterdam's Jewish neighborhoods, including the historic Jewish Quarter and the picturesque Plantage district. Learn about the centuries-old history of Jewish life in Amsterdam and the significant role that the community has played in shaping the city's culture and heritage. Walk through the narrow streets and alleys of the Jewish Quarter and you will see many historic buildings and landmarks, including the beautiful Portuguese Synagogue and the Jewish Historical Museum. Discover historical monuments and buildings that are still marked by traces of war. Learn about life during the Second World War and the struggles people endured like the February strike and the hunger winter. You'll also hear stories about the experiences of Amsterdam's Jewish community during World War II and the Holocaust, and the enduring legacy of this tragic period in history. Hear the story of Anne Frank, her family, and what they had to endure during this dark period of time. Learn about her diary, how it was published by her father after the war, and how it became one of the best-selling books of all time.

Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum and Canal Cruise Combo Tour

8. Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum and Canal Cruise Combo Tour

Combine 2 of Amsterdam’s must-do experiences with this tour of the Canal Belt by boat and entry to the legendary Rijksmuseum. Admire the beautiful canal boats and merchant houses from the water on a 1-hour canal cruise that takes you along some of the historic waterways. Dug in the Dutch Golden Age spanning the 17th century, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. Feast your eyes on the decorative façades of the canalside buildings, and marvel at all the different styles of gables, such as clock, spout and neck gables. Pass iconic architecture, including the Skinny Bridge over the Amstel River, the legendary home of the World War 2 diarist Anne Frank, the imposing Westerkerk, and the old Port of Amsterdam. Then, disembark to enjoy skip-the-line entry to the Rijksmuseum. See masterpieces by the Dutch masters of the 17th century, including Rembrandt’s “The Nighwatch” and Vermeer’s “The Milkmaiden.”

Amsterdam: Open Boat Canal Cruise with Local Guide

9. Amsterdam: Open Boat Canal Cruise with Local Guide

Cruise through Amsterdam aboard an eco-friendly electric boat. Relax as you take in unobstructed views from the open river boat. Listen to live onboard commentary as you discover sights like the Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum from the water. Hop aboard the boat that at central-located boarding point that is just a stone's throw away from the Anne Frank House. Glide through the city's canals that are linked with 17th-century buildings and the 18th-century, redbrick Rijksmuseum. Cruise past the Hermitage Museum, and go under the Skinny Bridge. Capture pictures of the chic Amstel Hotel and the charming Grachtengordel district. Have the option to purchase a refreshing drink from the onboard bar as you sail.

Amsterdam: Anne Frank and Jewish Quarter Tour

10. Amsterdam: Anne Frank and Jewish Quarter Tour

Learn about Amsterdam's struggles during the Nazi occupation of the early 1940s. Find out how the people endured important events such as the February Strike and the hunger winter. Hear the story of Anne Frank, her family, and their strife during this dark period of time. See notable points of interest such as the Portuguese Synagogue, the Jewish Historical Museum, and the Headquarters of the Jewish Council. Discover sites like the Dokwerker and the Auschwitz Monument. Learn more about the Jewish history of Amsterdam. Get interesting information about the background of the original Jewish quarter and its evolution over the centuries. Explore the centuries-old Jewish quarter of the city. Explore the heart of Amsterdam's Jewish neighborhoods, including the historic Jewish Quarter and the picturesque Plantage district. You'll learn about the centuries-old history of Jewish life in Amsterdam and the significant role that the community has played in shaping the city's culture and heritage. As you walk through the narrow streets and alleys of the Jewish Quarter, you'll see many historic buildings and landmarks, including the beautiful Portuguese Synagogue and the Jewish Historical Museum. Hear stories about the experiences of Amsterdam's Jewish community during World War II and the Holocaust, and how the Jewish community lived and survived during and after the Second World War.

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What people are saying about Grachtengordel

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 16,865 reviews

I thought this tour included a visit to Anne Frank house but it didn’t. You have to book the house separately… Apart from that this was a very interesting & heart wrenching tour of the Jewish community & the area where they lived. Jack was a great guide & educated us all showing great compassion for what the Jews had had to endure. I never realised the extent of the heinous crimes that the Nazis committed against the all over Europe not just In Germany.

Amazing experience! We had the best morning! Rad, our tour guide, was great! We had a private tour as we were the only ones and it was fab! Very informative and lovely way to see Amsterdam!

Excellent tour of the Jewish Quarters and history behind World War 2 and the Holocaust. Our tour guide, Earon was excellent and made the tour great despite the cold weather.

Joao is a brilliant guide. We loved the Tour and the perfekt guiding and personality of him.

Very interesting visit and excellent guide (Kiran)!! All family loved it!