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Hear the stories of the Jewish people who shaped Amsterdam but are sometimes overlooked. The horror of the Holocaust has a gravity, but tours that only discuss World War II erase the Jewish Amsterdammers who made our city vibrant. This small-group walking tour through Amsterdam’s historic Jewish neighborhood showcases stories of true grit, dazzling intelligence, and effective activism throughout history.
Our route hits the known highlights and quieter corners of Amsterdam’s old Jewish neighborhood. We go by the Jewish Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue, and the Holocaust Name Memorial, but we also see a hidden park, an unseen canal house and an 18th-century synagogue on a quiet residential street.
Our guides are engaging performers who connect guests to Amsterdam’s historic Jewish community through the stories of individual people. Through them, you 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.
Yes, 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 all. 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. The Jewish community has played an integral role in shaping Amsterdam, and their stories are woven into the fabric of the city’s culture and identity. With stories of tragedy and hope, you’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for the city and the people who’ve shaped it.
Duration
Minimum
Maximum
Price Per Adult
Price Per Youth
Private Tour from
** Stadspas holder or a student? Contact us for a discount.
*** Youth = Under 18. This tour mentions violence, sex and some difficult topics.
**** Your own private Jewish History Tour, starting at €250 for up to 5 guests (max. 15 guests)
Select a date and time to book your tour!
* Traveling Solo?
Book your individual ticket here, and we’ll let you know as soon as we can put you on an upcoming tour!
Select a date and time to book your tour!
* Traveling Solo?
Book your individual ticket here, and we’ll let you know as soon as we can put you on an upcoming tour!
Duration
Minimum
Maximum
Price Per Adult
Price Per Youth
Private Tour from
** Stadspas holder or a student? Contact us for a discount.
*** Youth = Under 18. This tour mentions violence, sex and some difficult topics.
**** Your own private Jewish History Tour, starting at €250 for up to 5 guests (max. 15 guests)
Tour Distance: 2.19 km | 1.36 mi
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Saturdays
Sundays
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.
Interested in a different time and have a group of three or more? Contact us!
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.
The two-hour walk starts on the Keizersbrug, goes through the old Jewish quarter and some of the Plantage neighborhood, and ends at the Jewish Resistance Monument.
We hear you.
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?
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?
Keizersbrug, crossing the Oudeschans and overlooking the Montelbaanstoren
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 Spanish, German, or Dutch, 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.
Self-Guided Digital Tour
Use your phone to explore Amsterdam! This self-guided tour uses audio, images, maps, and text to introduce you to the women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and Jewish people who made Amsterdam what it is.
Private Walking Tour
Get a personalized tour that covers the interests you’re curious about and the neighborhoods you want to see. Choose pick-up/drop-off locations, any combination of our hidden history topics, and themes such as artists, politicians, and rebels.
Private Museum Tour
See the highlights and hidden icons of Amsterdam’s world-renowned Rijksmuseum in a private guided tour that explores who creates art and what stories it’s used to tell. And don’t worry about museum tickets. We’ve got you covered.
Small-Group Walking Tour
The women who shaped Amsterdam are more complex than traditional tours would have you believe. Go to Amsterdam’s historic sites to hear stories of women who fought, wrote, calculated and led through the city’s chaotic and complicated past.
Small-Group Walking Tour
The world’s first gay marriage was officiated by the Mayor of Amsterdam at its City Hall. But did you know that the city’s LGBTQ+ history stretches centuries? Meet historical Amsterdammers across the gender spectrum and sexual orientations.
Small-Group Walking Tour
This historical tour through the busy Jewish quarter and residential Plantage neighborhood offers a selection of stories from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Jewish and women’s history. It’s the perfect way to get an alternative view of Amsterdam.
