
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.
We meet in front of Amsterdam Centraal Station at Restaurant Loetje, Stationsplein 10
This is where the tour ends as well.
2.5 hours | -/+ 3 km (1.4 ml)
– The story of Henry Hudson
– The original harbour of the infamous Dutch East India Company
– The Naval dockland
– Amsterdam’s Silicon Valley
– Maritime Museum
See booking page for options
We meet in front of Amsterdam Centraal Station at Restaurant Loetje, Stationsplein 10
This is where the tour ends as well.
2.5 hours | -/+ 3 km (1.4 ml)
– The story of Henry Hudson
– The original harbour of the infamous Dutch East India Company
– The Naval dockland
– Amsterdam’s Silicon Valley
– Maritime Museum
See booking page for options
Explore the legendary rise of the Dutch Empire on our Historical Amsterdam Old Harbour Tour. Led by expert Dutch historians, this walking tour dives into how a medieval fishing village transformed into the world’s most powerful maritime hub.
How did a “swampy outpost” dominate global trade in just a few decades? Our tour answers the big questions about the Dutch Golden Age, focusing on:
The Herring Revolution: Discover how a humble fish and innovative gutting techniques fueled the Dutch economy.
The VOC (Dutch East India Company): Learn the secrets of the world’s first multinational corporation and its impact on global commerce.
Invention & Innovation: Understand the “cascade of inventions” that allowed Dutch ships to outpace their rivals.
Walk the path of admirals and explorers. This tour features key architectural and historical sites, including:
Michiel de Ruyter’s House: Visit the residence of the Netherlands’ most famous naval hero.
Tsar Peter the Great’s Shipyard: See where the Russian leader learned the art of Dutch shipbuilding.
The Shipping House (Scheepvaarthuis): Admire this Amsterdam School masterpiece, a monument to nautical history.
Entrepotdok: Explore the 500-meter-long warehouse complex—once the world’s largest.
Authentic Sailors’ Taverns: Pass by historic “waterholes” where 17th-century crews once gathered.
Our journey doesn’t stop at the 17th century. We bridge the gap between old-world exploration and modern technology:
The 19th Century Renaissance: See how the Industrial Revolution and steam power revitalized Amsterdam’s ports.
National Maritime Museum: View the replica of an 18th-century merchant ship.
The Marineterrein: Witness the city’s future as it reinvents its maritime heritage for the tech-driven 21st century.
Expert Guides: Led by passionate historians, not just storytellers.
Deep Context: Go beyond the “what” and learn the “how” of Amsterdam’s status as the world’s primary warehouse for cargo, ideas, and information.
Photogenic Routes: Discover the hidden corners of the Old Harbour that typical tourist maps miss.
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!
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 could have imagined. All in all an unforgettable day.
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! …
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… read more can tell Edgar is very passionate and knowledgeable about history and art, and loves living...More
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. …

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.