Amsterdam Jewish History Tour

A walking tour with stories of Jewish Amsterdammers across five centuries

Early Bird Special!

Booking tickets at least 4 weeks out?
Use the code BADASS-EARLY-BIRD for 20% off!

Get the full story of Jewish life in Amsterdam

Hear the stories of the Jewish people who shaped Amsterdam, but are sometimes overlooked. The horror of the Holocaust sometimes blocks out everything else. However, tours that only discuss World War II erase the many Jewish Amsterdammers who’ve made the city thrive. This small-group walking tour through Amsterdam’s historic Jewish neighborhood showcases stories of true grit, dazzling intelligence, and effective activism throughout history.

Steps for Badass Solo Travelers:

Group tours require a minimum of 2 guests. For solo travelers:

  1. First, check if your preferred date already allows you to book a single ticket. If not,
  2. Reserve your solo traveler ticket below:

Explore Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter

There’s more to the old Jewish neighborhood than many people see. Our route hits the known highlights and quieter corners of Amsterdam’s Jewish quarter. We go by the Jewish Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue, and the Holocaust Name Memorial, but we also see its secret sites, like a hidden park, an unseen canal house, and an 18th-century synagogue on a quiet residential street.

Stories from the 17th century through today

Our tours don’t stick to the twentieth century, and they’re are not a list of facts or anecdotes. Our guides are engaging performers who connect with guests using the stories of individual people. These stories go in chronological order from the community’s founding through the dawn of the 21st century, so guests understand the evolution of Jewish Amsterdam. You’ll learn how Amsterdam came to be known as the Jerusalem of the West, and how Jewish Amsterdammers helped create the unique city you see today.

See Amsterdam's highlights

You’ll see the historical sites of the Jewish Quarter while hearing Amsterdam’s full history through the lens of its Jewish community.

Jewish neighborhood landmarks include:

  • Uilenberg Synagogue
  • Gassan Diamond Factory
  • Rembrandt’s House
  • Waterlooplein Market
  • Jewish Museum
  • Portuguese Synagogue
  • Wertheimpark
  • Holocaust Name Monument 
  • Shadow Canal
  • Carré Theater
  • Jewish Resistance Monument
  • Spinoza Monument
Map of amsterdam's jewish quarter with the route of the badass tours' jewish history tour

Duration

2

Hours

Minimum

2

People *

Maximum

12

People

* Traveling Solo?

  1. Check if your preferred date already allows you to book a single ticket. If not,
  2. Book your individual ticket here, and we’ll add you to an upcoming tour!

All taxes & fees included!

Price (age 14+)

40

Euros **

** Stadspas holder or CJP member? Email for a discount.

Price (age 4 - 13)

30

Euros ***

*** Under 4’s = Free. (This tour covers heavy topics.)

Private Tour from

250

Euros ****

**** Your own private tour, €250 – €350 (1 – 15 guests)

Select a date and time to book your tour!

Free Cancellation: 100% refund if you cancel at least 48 hours prior to the tour

Early Bird Special!

Booking tickets at
least 4 weeks out?
 
Use the code
BADASS-EARLY-BIRD
for 20% off!

Select a date and time to book your tour!

Free Cancellation: 100% refund if you cancel at least 48 hours prior to the tour

Early Bird Special!

Booking tickets at
least 4 weeks out?
 
Use the code
BADASS-EARLY-BIRD
for 20% off!

Duration

2

Hours

Minimum

2

People *

Maximum

12

People

* Traveling Solo?

  1. Check if your preferred date already allows you to book a single ticket. If not,
  2. Book your individual ticket here, and we’ll add you to an upcoming tour!

All taxes & fees included!

Price
(age 14+)

40

Euros **

** Stadspas holder or CJP member? Email for a discount.

Price
(age 4 - 13)

30

Euros ***

*** Under 4’s = Free. (This tour covers heavy topics.)

Private Tour
from

250

Euros ****

**** Your own private tour, €250 – €350 (1 – 15 guests)

Wheelchair Accessibility

Accessibility icon
This tour is wheelchair-friendly and step-free. However, throughout the route, there are some bridges and roads with an incline. Please see the photos below. Should you require any assistance during the tour, our guide will be happy to help you.
 
You can find additional resources for wheelchair accessibility in Amsterdam via our partners at Able Amsterdam.

Tour Distance: 2.19 km | 1.36 mi

Question: What if I’m not Jewish? Can I still join?

This tour is for everyone regardless of religion or cultural identity! You don’t have to be Jewish to find meaning in this experience — this is a journey through history, resilience, and the human spirit that speaks to everyone. As we explore Amsterdam, you’ll not only learn about the Jewish community’s profound impact on the city but also gain a broader understanding of Amsterdam’s rich and complex history. With Jewish Amsterdammers’ stories of success, tragedy, and hope, you’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for the city and the people who’ve shaped it.

Schedule

Calendar icon

Daily:
10am or 2pm

Want a different time and have a group of three or more?
Contact us!

Minimum of 2 guests per tour.

Having trouble finding a single ticket at the time you want? Invite a friend and open a tour at that time!

You can also already book your solo ticket, and we’ll let you know if we have a spot on a tour!

Pro Tip: We post Instagram and Facebook stories 2 days in advance if we have any openings in a scheduled tour.

Considerations

Weather icon

Tours go rain or shine.

(But if looks too dicey, we’ll contact you in advance.)

Wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather! Factoring in wind, standing outside for two hours on even a mild day can get quite chilly, so bundle up just to be sure.

Need a sample first?

We hear you.

Something from our Amsterdam Jewish history walking tour that we can’t wait to share:

The story behind this philosophical giant is more complicated than you may have ever heard. How did the community he was born into influence his beliefs? And how did Amsterdam affect his ultimate fate?

A view of the spinoza statue outside amsterdam's city hall

Something from our Amsterdam Jewish history walking tour that we can’t wait to share:

A view of the spinoza statue outside amsterdam's city hall

The story behind this philosophical giant is more complicated than you may have ever heard. How did the community he was born into influence his beliefs? And how did Amsterdam affect his ultimate fate?

Meeting Point

Keizersbrug, crossing the Oudeschans and overlooking the Montelbaanstoren

For FAQ's sake...

Click here or email us to request a different time.

The tour goes through the Jewish Quarter and Plantage Neighborhood. Stops include Waterlooplein, the Esnoga (the Portuguese Synagogue), the Jewish Museum, Wertheimpark, the Shadow Canal, the Holocaust Name Monument, the COC, the Carre, the Spinoza statue, and the Jewish Resistance Monument.

The per-person ticket is a public group tour, where other people may join you on your walking tour. The private tour is just for you and your friends/family.

Absolutely. There are a couple of things for parents to be aware of. The history of Amsterdam’s Jewish Community includes the Holocaust, and we talk about its victims and survivors, though we do not go into violent details. It’s also two hours of walking around and hearing stories, which can be a challenge for younger children. You will know best if this suits your family, but please reach out if you have any questions.

For now, our public tours (the per-person tickets) are only available in English. For other languages, please email us.

As a German refugee, Anne Frank lived in a neighborhood far south of the traditional Jewish neighborhood and her family hid in her father’s factory in the older part of the canal belt, so neither are near the historic Jewish neighborhood. We also feel that Anne Frank told her own story so well that her book has been translated into 70 languages and made into movies and TV programs around the world. The Anne Frank House also does a superb job of telling her story. We focus on the amazing Jewish Amsterdammers you may not have heard of, even if their impact is all around you.

Unfortunately, many “Jewish walking tours” focus solely on the Holocaust. While this is obviously an important topic that we cover on our tour as well, we feel it is inappropriate to ignore the four hundred years of Jewish Amsterdammers. Jewish Amsterdammers have contributed to the culture, arts, cuisine, and international business that made – and make! – this wonderful city unique. Unlike others, our tour starts in 1593 and ends in the 21st century.

We stop outside both places with fun stories about the people connected to them. Our group tour (with the per-person price) does not go into either building. If you would like to be guided through those buildings as well as the historic Jewish Quarter, please look into our Customized Private Tour.

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