Best of Central Amsterdam Private Tour with a local

Discover the Amsterdam most visitors walk straight past. This private walking tour takes you through the medieval heart of the city with a local guide who knows its stories, shortcuts and hidden corners. Start at Amsterdam Centraal, built on artificial islands in the IJ, and follow the Zeedijk, one of the oldest streets in the city, to Nieuwmarkt and De Waag, a 15th-century city gate. Nearby, stand outside the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company, the trading giant that made Amsterdam rich in the Golden Age. Then slow down along the quieter canals. At Groenburgwal you'll find the view that Claude Monet painted, before crossing to the floating flower market on the Singel. Slip through a doorway into the Begijnhof, a peaceful medieval courtyard hidden behind the busy shopping streets. Finish on Dam Square in front of the Royal Palace, where the city began as a dam on the Amstel River. Your guide tailors the route to your interests, from Golden Age history to architecture.