
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 start in front of the Rembrandt House Museum on Jodenbreestraat 4
We end at the Dam.
3 hours | -/+ 3 km (1.4 ml)
Visit to the Rembrandt House Museum (and Etching workshop), Rembrandt square, Original locations of Rembrandt paintings, The Anatomic Theatre, Royal Palace
See booking
We start in front of the Rembrandt House Museum on Jodenbreestraat 4.
We end at the Dam
3 hours | -/+ 3 km (1.4 ml)
Visit to the Rembrandt House Museum, Rembrandt square, Original locations of his paintings, The Anatomic Theatre, Royal Palace
See Booking page
Experience the 17th-century “Dutch Golden Age” through the eyes of its most famous resident, Rembrandt van Rijn. Led by professional art historians, this tour goes beyond the museum walls to explore the real-life locations where the Dutch Master lived, worked, and created his masterpieces.
Discover the architectural landscape of the 1600s that still stands today. Our journey connects Rembrandt’s life with his contemporaries and the intellectual heart of the era:
The Inner Circle: See where friends and famous contemporaries like Jan Six and the philosopher Spinoza lived.
A City in Flux: Learn how Amsterdam’s rapid expansion during the Golden Age provided the backdrop for Rembrandt’s career.
Rembrandt’s life was a dramatic arc of immense wealth and sudden bankruptcy. We visit the poignant sites that shaped his personal world:
Romance & Loss: Stand where he announced his marriage to Saskia van Uylenburg and visit the burial grounds of three of his children.
Financial Ruin: Visit the locations tied to his 1656 bankruptcy and the later years of his life.
First Commissions: See the site where he painted his first major group portrait.
Equipped with high-quality reproductions, your guide will perform an “on-site reconstruction” of Rembrandt’s most iconic works. We visit the original intended locations for:
The Night Watch (Militia Company of District II)
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp
The Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild
Maarten & Oopjen
What was Rembrandt really like? We explore the complex personality that both fueled his creativity and alienated his patrons.
The Rebel Artist: Learn about his tumultuous relationships with Amsterdam’s authorities and the women in his life (Saskia, Geertje, and Hendrickje).
Posthumous Fame: Discover how Rembrandt’s reputation evolved. Was he always a “Great Master”?
Rembrandt Square (Rembrandtplein): Uncover the history of the iconic statue and whether the artist ever actually set foot in the square that now bears his name.
Academic Insight: Skip the tourist traps with a private guide who specializes in 17th-century Dutch art.
Historical Context: Understand not just what he painted, but why it mattered in the socio-political climate of the Golden Age.
Tailored Experience: A private walk allows for deep-dive discussions into Rembrandt’s unique use of chiaroscuro and impasto techniques.
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!
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.
Exploring the canals of Amsterdam on foot with Tijs as the tour guide was one of the highlights of my first visit to the city. Tijs not only has thorough... read more knowledge of the city's history and architecture (spanning both ancient and modern times, e.g. "The...More
I've been in the Tijs's "Amsterdam Jewish in WW2" tour. I live in Amsterdam for quite some time and was walking near these spots without knowing so many tears... read more and much grief around. These people's stories, historical facts and humankind experience should be never forgotten....More
My family of 5 adults never has more than a long weekend to explore the cities of Europe and Tijs truly surpassed our expectations, This knowledgable, fun and experienced guide... read more remained with us from early morning until late at night ( I believe we would...More

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.