Amsterdam, a beautiful city with an interesting past and also the capital of the Netherlands. Discover the oldest part of this city by foot during a relaxing audio tour. From the beautiful canals to the imposing palace on Dam Square, Amsterdam never ceases to amaze. You will be introduced to special places such as the Oude Kerk, the National Monument on Dam Square, the Rembrandthuis and the Beurs van Berlage. You will also pass Ships Chandlers, the only building in Amsterdam that still has all of its 17th-century stained-glass windows. Are you curious about the mysterious story of the Trippenhuis? Or would you rather walk through the Begijnhof in peace and quiet? Get a taste of the Amsterdam atmosphere and broaden your knowledge of this vibrant capital during the guided tour!
Why Visit: This bustling square sits on the exact spot where Amsterdam began - a 13th-century dam across the Amstel River.
The name says it all: Amster-dam. What tourists see as a busy plaza was once an actual dam that locals built to stop flooding. The Royal Palace isn't really royal - it's the old city hall where merchants ran their maritime empire. Street performers and tourists crowd the space where medieval fish markets once operated.
Local Secret: Hidden behind an inconspicuous wooden door lies Amsterdam's oldest courtyard, where medieval women lived independently for over 600 years.
Most visitors walk past the entrance on Spui without realizing they're missing one of Amsterdam's most peaceful corners. The Begijnhof housed religious women who weren't nuns - they could leave anytime but chose community life. House number 34 dates to 1528, making it Amsterdam's oldest wooden house. The tiny hidden Catholic church operated secretly during Protestant rule.
The Story Behind: In 1975, this became the world's first official coffee shop, launching Amsterdam's cannabis tourism industry.
Henk de Vries opened The Bulldog when selling cannabis was still illegal everywhere. He convinced authorities that regulated sales were safer than street dealing. The original red-light location started what became a billion-dollar industry. Today's coffee shop culture traces directly back to this single basement on Oudezijds Voorburgwal, where the audio guide Amsterdam reveals how one entrepreneur changed international drug policy.
Ever Wondered: How did 17th-century merchants create the world's most beautiful urban planning project while making themselves incredibly wealthy?
Amsterdam's Golden Age produced this UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece through pure capitalism. Rich merchants bought swampy land, dug canals, and built narrow houses to maximize waterfront property. The famous lean isn't architectural charm - it's physics. Heavy goods needed hoisting to upper floors, so builders tilted houses forward to clear lower windows.
What You'll Find: This square witnessed 800 years of Amsterdam's evolution, from medieval gatehouse to Jewish quarter to modern café culture.
The imposing Waag building started as a city gate in 1488. It became a weighing house where merchants traded goods, then Rembrandt painted anatomy lessons in its upper rooms. During WWII, this square saw heartbreaking deportations from the Jewish quarter. Today's relaxed café terraces occupy ground that holds centuries of triumph and tragedy.
Back in 1631: Amsterdam built its tallest church tower to compete with rival Dutch cities, accidentally creating the perfect viewing platform.
Rembrandt lies buried somewhere in this church - nobody knows exactly where. The 85-meter tower offers Amsterdam's best canal views, but the real story is below. Anne Frank heard these bells from her hiding place, finding comfort in their daily chimes. The self guided tour reveals how this Protestant church symbolized Amsterdam's break from Catholic Spain.
