Absolutely Amsterdam - the Essential Introductory Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Discover the fascinating history of the most liberal city in the world with FreeDam Tours. On this unique tip-based* sightseeing & storytelling tour, you will discover how freedom and tolerance shaped the city and its people throughout the ages.
Your super-local guide will combine beautiful sightseeing with exciting storytelling, and with the clever use of pictures and maps, you will learn everything you need to know about Amsterdam in one tour: history, modern life, culture, art, fun facts, and personal stories for a unique insider’s perspective on life in Amsterdam.
Be prepared to challenge all your preconceived ideas about this city because after this tour you will never look and think of Amsterdam the same way!
* Tip-based means you only pay a small booking/marketing fee to the platform and you can tip your guide directly what you think the tour was worth. That motivates us to give the best possible tour and you always get the best value for your money!
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Our guides support their tours with pictures, paintings and maps that help bring history back to life!
A unique souvenir
On the tour you will be treated to typical Dutch Cookie
Super Local Guides who are are also happy to share share their (restaurant) recommendations with you
What To Expect
Beurs van Berlage
In front of the stock- and commodities exchange buildings, built where the Amtel river used to flow, we discuss the origins of Amsterdam and how water and finance influenced the city.
Damrak
In the old harbor, we discuss the origins of the Red Light District, the role of the Church, and how the holy and the profane have found surprising ways to work and profit from each other over time & the state of prostitution in the 20th and 21st Century: how and why prostitution became a legal profession, how the neighbourhood has changed over time and the current challenges facing the most infamous neighbourhood of Amsterdam.
Options
Summer Evening Tour
Tip-Based Tour
Reviews
3,530 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great experience to know the history of Amsterdam!
h3iann,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fernando is a very good guide, he's funny and gives some great tips on how to really explore the city ✨ id absolutely recommend the experience!
Amazing walk guided tour --- with Jaap!
lorianom835,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely fantastic. The guide, Jaap, was extremely entertaining and told us lots of interesting things about Amsterdam, its history, culture, and architecture --- an excellent way to discover and appreciate Amsterdam!
Informative with a knowledgeable and humorous guide
Peter K,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very informative tour with a knowledgeable and humorous guide. Covered the highlights of the old city. Highly recommend.
The guide provided the...
Jacqueline P,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The guide provided the history of the city which was interesting to learn. We enjoyed the walking tour and would recommend for anyone wanting to hear the history.
Amazing Amsterdam local walking tour David
Sharon W PV,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00David was our guide and he was fantastic, witty, funny and provided so much interesting facts and history about Amsterdam we never knew. Very well worth booking. Recommend doing this tour when you first arrive so historic sights are more meaningful. Thank you David!
First time in Amsterdam.
Terry F,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Our guide, Daan was fun and very knowledgeable! I would highly recommend this tour! We felt like we saw everything we wanted to.
Really interesting. Time flew by
emilye921,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fun and interesting. Carl, our guide, was a born and bred Amsterdammer who expertly wove personal anecdotes into his entertaining whistle-stop introduction to this lovely city's history. Be warned: he is tall and walks you around deceptively fast, but it didn't mar the experience for me, and I'm unfit. I found myself googling many of the interesting things he'd mentioned after the tour had finished. The meeting point - a statue of a bull - is reassuringly specific and unmissable. I liked the communication beforehand, via email, with very clear directions, from Viator who I had booked through. I liked the fairly small group size: there were only 13 of us. No idea what the maximum is. Maybe I was just lucky. My only slight criticism was that I didn't know how much to tip Carl at the end, on top of the booking fee paid online. I would have preferred a set ticket price so that everyone knew exactly where they stood.
A fab intro to the city
Pearman3,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gianni was a fantastic host and guide. It was a well-paced tour that gave us a really good overview of Amsterdam and its people. We learned a lot about its history and about how it is today. A great way to start our three day stay.
Great intro to Amsterdam
Mdcahill,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Carl was a great, informative guide. He was knowledgeable and had a fun sense of humor. We were a small group so he asked us if we wanted to see anything specific. He answered all our questions and was clearly knowledgeable.
Interesting and hilarious walking tour.
Hockeymum3boys,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Not only was the tour interesting and informative, it was also hilarious at times. Dani is an excellent and personable guide.
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Operated by FreeDam Tours