Skip to content
  • Home
  • About us
  • Our tours
  • Blog
Menu
  • Home
  • About us
  • Our tours
  • Blog
  • Home
  • About us
  • Our tours
  • Blog
Menu
  • Home
  • About us
  • Our tours
  • Blog

Canal Ring Architecture walk

Canal Ring Architecture tour

Canal Ring Architecture walk

Canal Ring 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 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

    1 person: €120,- | 2 persons: €140,- | 3 persons: €160,- | 4 persons: €180- | 5 persons: €200,- | 6 persons: €220,-

Schedule your
private Canal Ring 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 hours | -/+ 3 km (1.4 ml)

  • Highlights
    Highlights

    Westerkerk, House with the Heads, narrowest canal house, Nieuwe Lutherse kerk, oldest bridge, crooked architecture.

  • Price
    Price

    Available from €60,- p.p. (minimum 2 persons)

Book your
Canal Ring Architecture tour

More Information
Tour Reviews

Canal Ring Architecture Tour 

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 in a swamp

During the Canal Ring Architecture Walk we explain the link between the the Italian renaissance and the Amsterdam canals. Lustrous architectural ideals and urban design from Italy versus the sobering terrain conditions of the lowlands – the muddy mouth of the river Amstel and its boggy polder landscape. How did the Dutch come up with and manage to execute this revolutionary expansion plan?

Boomtown Amsterdam

We start where the canal ring itself started: at the Brouwersgracht, on the Herenmarkt: a place full of stories. Here we take you to the Amsterdam of the 1500s, when the city was bursting at the seams and seriously neeeded to expand. We explain how the iconic shape of the canal ring was born. We also talk about the difficulties that the engineers stumbled upon while building it.

Warehouse of the world

In the late 1500s the city of Amsterdam had managed to place itself into the center of Northern-European trade. The legacy of this role as spider in a web of trade routes can be seen all over the city, especially along the canals. We explain how the many warehouses functioned and how new innovations in trade led to the sudden enormous success of Amsterdam.

Canal Ring Architecture 

On the Canal Ring Architecture Walk we highlight the abundance of architectural styles that make Amsterdam so unique: from Flemish Mannerism to Dutch Renaissance, Baroque and the French Louis styles. Why do the houses look the way they do? On this tour you will learn to understand how all these architectural styles are related and also how it was possible that the canal ring remained intact throughout four centuries.

Visit a canal house

On this architectural walk you will visit one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful canal houses: The Bartolotti house. This city palace dates back from the early 1600s. Behind the front door it reveals one of Amsterdam’s best preserved rococo interiors and a lush Amsterdam canal house garden. We offer this unique opportunity in collaboration with cultural heritage foundation Hendrick de Keyser. Experience what it’s like to be living along the canals.

Religious Amsterdam

Along the Singel we talk about religion in Amsterdam. Lutherans, Calvinists, Jews and Catholics: all possible denominations found a home along the canals. Learn how Amsterdam’s tolerance towards people of different religions was unique in 17th century Europe. Understand why you see so many churches without a church tower and why the back of the iconic Wester Church is so much prettier than the front. Discover how religious Amsterdam is today.

Living along the canals

What have René Descartes, Rembrandt van Rijn, John Adams and Anne Frank in common? They all lived along Amsterdam’s historical canals. Besides them famous, as well as obscure merchants, bankers, politicians, writers, captains of industry spend their days there. We will make you acquainted with some of these illustrious characters.

In Dutch society the ‘Canal Ring’ has become synonymous for the urban elite of the country: a closed biotope of the political and intellectual upper class. Learn from a local how this small group shaped (and continues to shape) the image of the Canal Ring in The Netherlands.

Backdrop for festivities

Today the Amsterdam canals form the backdrop of several national celebrations like Kingsday, Gay Pride and various open air concerts. Get the stories behind the picturesque facades with your own private local guide.

Tour reviews

  • star rating  Tijs was amazing. His knowledge is outstanding and the tour was fun, interesting and informative. We would definitely recommend him to anyone needing a tour guide in Amsterdam. He tailor... read more made the itinerary to our interests and it was an even more enjoyable than I...More

    tripadvisor logo
    Merle K
    August 30, 2019
  • 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
    Mickiewicz K
    August 4, 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
    A Tripadvisor Member
    December 1, 2020
  • star rating  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!

    tripadvisor logo
    jansmonkie
    May 15, 2019

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 »
Play Video

Related tours

Jewish Amsterdam

Including Portuguese Synagogue

Rembrandt Walk

Including Amsterdam Map

Financial History Tour

Including visit bank vaults

Rijksmuseum Tour

Including museum tickets

WWII Tour

Including National holocaust memorial
OUR PARTNERS
All rights reserved: Historical Amsterdam Tours © 2022
Terms and Conditions
Chamber of Commerce: 62972510 | VAT number: NL001935557B96
Book a tour Book a tour