Amsterdam "Golden Age" and Zaanse Schans Daily Walking Tour

⇒ Amsterdam Central Station

Central Train Station building from 2nd half of 19th century set up on 6059 wooden poles built up in Dutch neoclassical architectonic style.

⇒ Amsterdam’s the smallest house

Officially the smallest house in Amsterdam at canal Singel; Trivia and curiosities about bridges and narrow, tall and leaning houses; Story about meaning of “grachnen” (the canals of Amsterdam), their history, purpose, maintenance…

⇒ St Nicholas Basilica

The biggest Catholic temple in The Netherlands dating from 2nd half of 19th century.

⇒ The Weeping Tower

Once part of the medieval wall built around the city of Amsterdam from 15th century the location from which Henry Hudson set sail on his journey to Northern America.

⇒ Fo Guang Shan Temple and China Town

Buddhist (Chinese) traditional temple, of its kind the second biggest in Europe in the heart of Amsterdam’s Chinatown.

⇒ De Waag (The Customs House)

City’s “weigh-building” (Customs House) and headquarters of several guilds, dating from begin of 15th century former one of the three gates to the inner part of the City of Amsterdam

⇒ Museum Ons’Lieve Heer Op Solder (Our Lord on Attic Secret Church)

“Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder” — most famous “secret church” in Amsterdam, restored in nowadays serving as museum.

⇒ Red Light District and Old Church

Short break from walking — 30 minutes moderation about prostitution and drug policy in The Netherlands. Stories about history of prostitutions, how it looks like today, “Yes and no” about light drugs, friendly recommendations how to enjoy it but not break the law… Old Church, coffeeshops, cabins with prostitutes, museums, restaurants , theaters … Amsterdam contradictories at one place

⇒ Dam Square ( New Church, King’s Palace, National Monument, Museum Madame Tussaud, Hotel Krasnopolski)

Central and the oldest Amsterdam’s square , birthplace of the city with focus on buildings in surround

• Royal Palace
• Former City Hall from the middle of 17th century, one of the three official place of residence of Dutch Royal Family build up on 13 659 wooden poles.
• New Church
• The sacral building (initially)erected in 15th century, former worship church of Dutch Reformed Church still in use for wedding and crowning ceremonies of the members of Dutch Royal family.
• National Monument
• A national remembrance, the stand 22 m (75 feet) high from 1956, commemorates the casualties of World War II and subsequent armed conflicts

⇒ Anne Frank House ( incl. Western Church)

Get to know more about life, secret shelter, suffering, human solidarity and famous diary of young teenage Jewish girl Anne translated in 57 world languages, during Nazi German occupation of Amsterdam

Note

Entrance tickets for Anne Frank House is possible to book only on line and at least 6 weeks in advance. This tour doesn’t consist Anne Frank House entrance tickets.

⇒ Begijnhof

Hidden place and memorial area dedicated to “Beguines”, semi-closed sisters order similar to nuns with another “secret Catholic church”, the oldest wooden house in Amsterdam, “English Church”, legend about most famous order’s member sister Cornelia Arens, story about Miracle of Amsterdam from year 1345.

⇒ Sint Luciensteeg and Stone Tablets

Former City Orphanage (Burgerweeshuis) from 1580 and Sint Luciensteeg street, place with exposition of plenty of stone gables, stone tablets referring about house identities in the course of medieval ages

⇒ Flower market

Biggest and most famous flower and garden accessories market in the city. Right place for flower lovers and good opportunity to obtain many different kind of tulip bulbs and other kinds of flower of seeds …All at one place and for the best prices in the city

⇒ Munttoren (The Coin Tower)

The tower originally erected at 15th century at the meeting point of river Amstel and one of the oldest canals in Amsterdam, Singel. Tower served as one of the main gates to the inner part of the medieval city also place where coins were minting during 17th century.

⇒ Rembrandt’s Square

Monument honored to the great painter Rembrandt van Rijn and 3D exposure of the most famous his masterpiece “The Night Watch”.Interesting facts and trivia about this masterpiece and artist’s private life

⇒ Former Jewish Quarter ( inc. Portuguese Synagogue, Jewish National Museum, Auschwitz Monument, Gassan Diamonds Factory, Rembrandt’s House, National Name Holocaust Monument…)

“Jodenbuurt” alias “Plantage” (The Jewish Quarter), city area where from the end of 16th century until WW2 many Jews were lived. Most famous and important buildings for Amsterdam’s Jewish community through centuries along with Holocaust monuments and memorials.

(More information about specific monuments an program could be additionally provided additionally)

⇒ River Amstel and most famous bridges and buildings placed along the river, leaning houses, stone tablets and many more …

OPTIONAL

... transport to Zaanse Scans area by the train ( ca. 15 min)...

⇒ Zaanse Schans widmill area from 17th and 18th century

Picturesque and colorful windmills area with green-white wooden village houses, clogs and cheer workshops, museums and 10 still working ( and visitable) windmills from 17th and 18th century situated on river Zaan once the first and biggest industrial zone in (medieval) Europe with more than 600 windmills.