Tours

Centraal Station - Anne Frank House

Since most visitors arrive in Amsterdam by train, it's a good idea to start our tour from the Central Station. Amsterdam's Central Station was built at the end of the 19th century in Neo-Gothic style. Exiting the building, you come out onto the always busy Stationsplein, the great open space in front of the Station, from where you can get trams going everywhere. To your left you can see St. Nicholas Church, in the distance. Inside this church is the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Maximilian's crown, the symbol of Amsterdam.

If you continue walking straight ahead and across the bridge, you get to the Damrak, a wide avenue from where there are plenty of possibilities to make a tour along the canals. This avenue is always full of tourists and takes you alongside Beurs van Berlage, the big building on your left, in the direction of the Dam. This used to be the Stock Exchange, but is now used as a concert hall. Across from Beurs van Berlage is the famous warehouse De Bijenkorf which reaches all the way to the Dam.

On Dam Square, the real historical heart of Amsterdam where in the 13th century the river Amstel was dammed, you find the Royal Palace, the War Memorial and the 15th-century New Church.

To follow our route to Anne Frank's House, take Raadhuisstraat which you'll find behind the Royal Palace and Magna Plaza. You will now cross a number of bridges, pass the post office on your left, and after crossing three major canals, the Singel, the Herengracht and the Keizersgracht you will see the famous Westerkerk, whose bells were so beloved by Anne Frank, on your right hand side. Westerkerk is on Westermarkt, where apart from the Homo Monument, you can also see a little Statue of Anne Frank. If you pass the front of the church to the right, along the Prinsengracht, you will find Anne Frank's House at number 263.

Centraal Station – Rembrandthuis

This tour, like so many tours, starts at Central Station, where after crossing the bridge you take Zeedijk. You will see St. Nicholas Church, with the crown of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Maximilian, the symbol of Amsterdam (look at the flag of the city), inside. Follow Zeedijk till you get to the Waag (De), or St. Anthony Gate, which was restored not long ago and where on the first floor you can still find the ancient anatomy hall, which is now used, among other things, for exhibitions and lectures.

The Waag can be found on the Nieuwe Markt, where a vegetable market takes place on Saturdays and antiques are sold on Sundays, and even during the week you can find some stalls. Continue and take Kloveniersburgwal, to the south of Nieuwe Markt. In the 16th century this was the outer canal of the eastern part of the city, and here you can find one of the most beautiful canal houses in Amsterdam, the Trippenhuis at no. 29. A bit further on there the Dutch East India Company building, dating back to the Golden (17th) Century.

Turn into Nieuwe Hoogstraat wander through this nice little street full of cafes, restaurants and little shops. At the end of the street you'll find St. Antoniebreestraat, turn right here and continue till you get to Zuiderkerk, the first church to be built in Amsterdam for Protestant services only. This church is very close to Zwaneburgwal, from where you can see Waterlooplein, with its wonderful flea market. You are now in what was historically Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter and which is still called this, even though there are not many Jews here nowadays. You'll find a number of interesting buildings, such as De Nederlandse Opera, the opera house; Mozes en Aäronkerk; close to the Portugees-Israëlitische Synagoge and across the road, the Joods Historisch Museum (Jewish History Museum). St. Antoniebreestraat runs into Jodenbreestraat, with Rembrandt's House, at number 4-6. Rembrandt lived here for over 20 years, and just the great collection of etchings makes a visit to this museum more than worthwhile.