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Who we are

Your private
art architecture history culture guide
in Amsterdam

Explore Amsterdam with local private tour guides!
Tijs, Edgar, and Maarten are all locals who know the city inside and out.

Our tours focus on the city’s art, architecture and history. They’re an experience you won’t forget!
Book your private tour with us today!

Our Tours

Our guides

Historical Amsterdam Tours is a collective of private city guides. Three Amsterdam locals with an impressive curriculum on the city’s art, architecture and history

Tijs

Founder | Owner | Guide

Edgar

Guide | Art Historian

Maarten

Guide | Art Historian

Experience Amsterdam beyond the typical tourist trail with our curated private tours. Our knowledgeable guides, well-versed in the city’s rich history and vibrant culture, offer a personalized journey tailored to your interests.

Discover Amsterdam’s iconic landmarks and hidden gems, from the historic canals to the Dutch Masters of the Rijksmuseum, gaining a deeper understanding of the city’s unique character. Our private tour guides provide insightful commentary and local perspectives, ensuring an enriching and memorable experience.

For those seeking an authentic and exclusive exploration of Amsterdam, our private tours offer an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the city’s captivating past and present. Book your personalized Amsterdam adventure today.

view tours

Our guides

Historical Amsterdam Tours Private Guide Tijs

Tijs

Owner | Guide

Tijs is a seasoned traveller. He loves to show people around his beloved hometown, so he founded Historical Amsterdam Tours in 2015. He is happy to share his passion for Amsterdam with you.

Historical Amsterdam Tours Private Guide Edgar

Edgar

Guide | Art Historian

Edgar’s knowledge about the city keeps surprising us. He is an art historian. This makes him the ideal private guide to lead you along the canals and around the museums  of Amsterdam.

Historical Amsterdam Tours Private Guide Maarten

Maarten

Guide | Art historian

Maarten has a degree in art history and literature. You will enjoy having Maarten as your private tour guide in Amsterdam. He knows the city like the back of his hand.

Historical Amsterdam Tours Private Guide Tijs

Tijs

Founder | Guide

Tijs, a seasoned Amsterdam tourism professional with a passion for history, founded Historical Amsterdam Tours.
 
Leveraging his academic background and experience at the Amsterdam Tourist Office, he delivers insightful, personalized tours.
 
His extensive historical library fuels engaging narratives that bring Amsterdam’s past to life.
 
Historical Amsterdam Tours offers small-group experiences, ensuring a more intimate and enriching exploration of the city.
Amsterdam Canal Ring Architecture tour
Tijs is a fantastic, energetic and fun guide. Our group consisted of 30 international guests. They loved the walk through Amsterdam guided by Tijs. Defenitelly can recomment Historical Amsterdam Tours!
JanesMonkey
Jordaan Tour

Edgar

Art Historian | Guide

Explore Amsterdam with Edgar, a private guide with an art history background at the University of Amsterdam.

He combines his knowledge of art, tourism, and finance to offer insightful tours. Discover Amsterdam’s museums and canals with a deeper understanding.

Book your personalized tour with Edgar today.

Edgar: your private art historian in the Rijksmuseum
Edgar was our tour guide and met us at Centraal Station. We were guided around the city for the next two hours and it was delivered in perfect English. You can tell Edgar is very passionate and knowledgeable about history and art, and loves living in Amsterdam itself. He is very approachable and tells a memorable story!
Peter B
Medieval Amsterdam Tour

Maarten

Art Historian | Guide

Immerse yourself in Amsterdam’s rich cultural heritage with Maarten, an accomplished private guide. Maarten, an art historian and literature scholar, brings a unique depth of understanding to your exploration of the city. His specialization in visual arts and cultural history ensures an insightful and engaging tour.

Discover Amsterdam’s iconic landmarks and hidden gems through Maarten’s expert lens, gaining a deeper appreciation for its artistic and historical significance.

For a personalized and enriching experience, reserve your private tour with Maarten today.

Maarten was our tour guide. Very punctual, friendly and informative. Booked for my partner who is a finance professional and he loved it. Other positives: well structured and researched; happy to answer questions; and good value!
Sightseer778726
Financial History Tour

What others say about us

  • star rating  Excellent bespoke tour of highlights of the Rijksmuseum. Edgar Foley was a great and knowledgable guide! He put the history of Dutch Art in the Golden Age and... read more earlier in context.

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    ColinP975
    May 31, 2023

    star rating  Surprised and Delighted - What a wonderful tour - we thoroughly recommend it. Tijs was knowledgeable, full of interesting stories and extremely courteous and polite. A fascinating tour and to be able... read more to see inside Huis Bartolotti was the icing on the cake! Thank you Tijs.

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    emmaH205UX
    March 27, 2023

    star rating  We made this tour as we prefered to get a more real-live impression of Rembrandt than just looking at his paintings in the Rijksmuseum. And Tijs fullfilled this expectation absolutely.... read more Even if the city looks pretty different today and not all buildings are existing anymore his storytelling makes the 17th century getting back to life before your eyes. He shares a lot of knowledge and you recognize that he is really into his topic and loves to share that.
    So if you want to get to know Amsterdam from a different view, this is your tour.

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    muellerrike
    May 23, 2022
  • star rating  Tijs was an excellent tour guide - funny, engaging and incredibly knowledgeable. The private tour was a fantastic experience and made the museum so much more accessible to someone who... read more isn’t an art expert. Would 100% recommend!

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    Hbf99
    May 16, 2022

    star rating  Edgar took my colleagues + I on a tour of multiple areas of Amsterdam and shared so much history + culture with us when we walked.

    I remembered so... read more much of it because it was so well-paced and shared that I've shared a lot of it with friends who have visited since!

    Thanks Edgar and thanks to Historical Amsterdam Tours!

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    chrisfolwell
    May 11, 2022

    star rating  A brilliant tour with a great guide - Edgar took my colleagues + I on a tour of multiple areas of Amsterdam and shared so much history + culture with us when we walked.

    I remembered so... read more much of it because it was so well-paced and shared that I've shared a lot of it with friends who have visited since!

    Thanks Edgar and thanks to Historical Amsterdam Tours!

    tripadvisor logo
    Chris F
    May 11, 2022
  • star rating  A very relaxed and experienced guide. Willing to talk and answer questions. The best investment knowledge is to buy high and sell low

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    Mickiewicz K
    August 4, 2021

    star rating  A very relaxed and experienced guide. Willing to talk and answer questions.
    The best investment knowledge is to buy high and sell low

    tripadvisor logo
    mickiewiczk
    August 4, 2021

    star rating  A very relaxed and experienced guide. Willing to talk and answer questions. The best investment knowledge is to buy high and

    tripadvisor logo
    Mickiewicz K
    August 1, 2021
  • star rating  We’ve lived in Amsterdam for 10 years and finally took the time to learn more about the fascinating history. The financial tour did not disappoint - learning about both the... read more financial innovations of the Dutch, but also the uncomfortable truths in its history. Thank you, Thijs, for the engaging tour! …

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    Ramela S
    July 20, 2021

    star rating  We’ve lived in Amsterdam for 10 years and finally took the time to learn more about the fascinating history. The financial tour did not disappoint - learning about both the... read more financial innovations of the Dutch, but also the uncomfortable truths in its history.
    Thank you, Thijs, for the engaging tour!

    tripadvisor logo
    RTJS
    July 20, 2021

    star rating  We’ve lived in Amsterdam for 10 years and finally took the time to learn more about the fascinating history. The financial tour did not disappoint - learning about both the... read more financial innovations of the Dutch, but also the uncomfortable truths in its history. Thank you, Thijs, for the engaging tour!

    tripadvisor logo
    Ramela S
    July 1, 2021
  • star rating  Tijs is one of the people that makes us wish the day to have more than 24 hours! :) Not only a guide who makes the fascinating Amsterdam even more... read more fascinating! His vision for the city reveals the past, the present, and create great perspectives for the future. With all the secrets of each street, you learn not only about Nederlands but also its World's Influence. Knowledge, culture, amazing angles for photos and a real lesson of lively history in just one day, I can imagine how wonderful it would be if we had the privilege to spend a week with our new Dutch Friend! Absolutely recommended, I have no doubt he will be an essential part of my tours!

    tripadvisor logo
    RafaTraveller
    December 22, 2020

    star rating  Tijs is one of the people that makes us wish the day to have more than 24 hours! :) Not only a guide who makes the fascinating Amsterdam even more... read more fascinating! His vision for the city reveals the past, the present, and create great perspectives for the future. With all the secrets of each street, you learn not only about Nederlands but also its World's Influence. Knowledge, culture, amazing angles for photos and a real lesson of lively history in just one day, I can imagine how wonderful it would be if we had the privilege to spend a week with our new Dutch Friend! Absolutely recommended, I have no doubt he will be an essential part of my tours! …

    tripadvisor logo
    RafaTraveller
    December 1, 2020

    star rating  Tijs is one of the people that makes us wish the day to have more than 24 hours! :) Not only a guide who makes the fascinating Amsterdam even more... read more fascinating! His vision for the city reveals the past, the present, and create great perspectives for the future. With all the secrets of each street, you learn not only about Nederlands but also its World's Influence. Knowledge, culture, amazing angles for photos and a real lesson of lively history in just one day, I can imagine how wonderful it would be if we had the privilege to spend a week with our new Dutch Friend! Absolutely recommended, I have no doubt he will be an essential part of my tours! …

    tripadvisor logo
    A Tripadvisor Member
    December 1, 2020

Why book a private guide?

Knowledged and experienced

A private guide can provide you with detailed information about the city's attractions and history, as well as insider tips on where to go and what to do.

Convenience

With your own private guide, you can customize your sightseeing experience according to your needs and interests. Private tours are efficient and relaxed at the same time: your tour, your pace.

Personalized Service

With an experienced private guide, you'll get personalized attention and advice. You'll be able to ask questions and learn more about Amsterdam in an intimate setting.

Access to Local Experiences

A private city guide can help you access unique local experiences that you would otherwise miss out on. From hidden gems to unique local cultural events, they can show you the best of Amsterdam.

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Historical Amsterdam

6 unique tours in Amsterdam

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