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Canal Ring Architecture walk

Amsterdam Architecture tour

Canal Ring Architecture walk

Amsterdam Architecture tour

Europe’s most spectacular urban landscape

Canal Ring Architecture walk

Book tour
Book tour
  • Startingpoint
    Startingpoint

    We start and finish at the Herenmarkt, on the Brouwersgracht, Behind the ‘West Indisch Huis’, a 10 minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station​

  • Duration | Distance
    Duration | Distance

    2,5 hours | -/+ 3 km (1.4 ml)

  • Highlights
    Highlights

    - Westerkerk
    - A visit inside a canal house
    - The 'House with the Heads'
    - Narrowest canal house
    - Nieuwe Lutherse kerk
    - oldest bridge
    - crooked architecture

  • Price
    Price

    See Booking page

Schedule your
private Amsterdam Architecture tour

More Information
Tour Reviews
  • Startingpoint
    Startingpoint

    We start and finish at the Herenmarkt, on the Brouwersgracht, Behind the ‘West Indisch Huis’, a 10 minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station

  • Duration | Distance
    Duration | Distance

    2,5 hours | -/+ 3 km (1.4 ml)

  • Highlights
    Highlights

    - Westerkerk
    - A visit inside a canal house
    - The 'House with the Heads'
    - Narrowest canal house
    - Nieuwe Lutherse kerk
    - oldest bridge
    - crooked architecture

  • Price
    Price

    See Booking page

Book your
Amsterdam Architecture tour

More Information
Tour Reviews

Amsterdam’s Canal Ring: An Architectural Masterpiece

Uncover the secrets behind Amsterdam’s iconic canal ring on our in-depth architecture tour. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a testament to Dutch ingenuity and architectural brilliance.

The Amsterdam canals are an unique urban landscape. Miles of waterways stretch out underneath hundreds of bridges, forming a ring around the medieval city center. It’s easy to get lost here. Some visitors to Amsterdam complain that all the canals look exactly the same. We – naturally – disagree and are happy to help you get your bearings of the Amsterdam canal ring.

Renaissance Meets Lowlands

Discover how Italian Renaissance ideals were adapted to the unique challenges of the Dutch landscape. Learn about the innovative engineering solutions that transformed a swamp into a breathtaking urban canal system.

Architectural Evolution Through the Ages

From the early brick style to the ornate Baroque facades, witness the evolution of Amsterdam’s architecture. Our expert guides will illuminate the distinctive characteristics of each era and their impact on the city’s cityscape.

Canal House Insights

Step inside a beautifully preserved canal house and experience the opulent lifestyle of Amsterdam’s elite. Discover the intricate details of interior design, from ornate plasterwork to stunning landscapes on wall paper.

Engineering Marvels and Urban Planning

Explore the engineering feats that underpinned the creation of the canal ring. Learn about the challenges faced by architects and engineers in building on a watery foundation. Understand the urban planning principles that shaped this iconic district.

A Photographer’s Paradise

Capture the essence of Amsterdam’s architectural beauty with your camera. Our tour highlights the most photogenic spots along the canal ring, offering you the perfect opportunity to create stunning images.

Book your Canal Ring Architecture Tour today and immerse yourself in the architectural splendor of Amsterdam.

Tour reviews

  • 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  This was a fascinating and informative tour. The shocking reality of the Second World War is so close to the surface in Amsterdam; important historical events happened on almost every... read more corner. Tijs was an excellent and knowledgable guide about this difficult subject; he told us stories of bravery and loss, acts of rebellion and resistance, of the Hunger Winter, of families in hiding and people being shot by a sniper just days after Liberation Day. I am familiar with this period of history and this city and yet I still learned many new things, so I can't recommend this tour highly enough.

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    Traveler188590
    March 9, 2020
  • 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  Tijs gave my family a great tour of the Jewish Quarter in Amsterdam. He was organized, entertaining, informative. It was exactly what we were hoping - educational and a... read more very nice way to spend the morning learning more about Amsterdam.

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    avatar thumb MKRBethesda
    January 3, 2019
  • star rating  This was an amazing walking tour of Rembrandt’s steps, where he lived, about his work, the good and bad, etc. It was extremely informative and our guide was Tijs who... read more did an outstanding job. He was funny, and professional, and it was obvious he is passionate about history. Definitely worth doing! …

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    Viviana K
    August 1, 2020

Blog posts

Top 5 Photography Ideas For Amsterdam

In this blog Historical Amsterdam Tours has curated some of the most iconic spots, as well as several snappy ideas to capture this vibrant old city.

Read More »

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