Rijksmuseum & Amsterdam City Center - Exclusive Guided Tour

At a glance

Rijksmuseum & Amsterdam City Center - Exclusive Guided Tour is a 5h 30m private experience in Amsterdam, Netherlands, operated by Babylon Tours Amsterdam. Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 11 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor. Prices start from $229.05 per person, and free cancellation is available. Included: Tour Guide Exclusively For You (Does NOT apply if you choose "SAVE! BOOK SEMI-PRIVATE" option), Private Transportation Included Between Tour Locations If Necessary, Duration 5.5 Hours (Including A Lunch Break).

Quick facts

Duration

5h 30m

Group

Private tour — only your group

Languages

Portuguese, English, Italian, French, Dutch, Spanish

Pickup

Meet at the start point

Confirmation

Instant confirmation

Ticket

Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Cancellation

Free cancellation (see policy)

Overview

Itinerary

1. Stop 1 · 2h 30m

   Split the day between the canals and cobblestones of the city’s historic center and the masterpieces hanging in the Rijksmuseum. This tour will begin at the Rijksmuseum, Holland’s version of the Louvre, and learn about the highlights of its 8000 or so objects on display, including works by iconic Dutch artists like Rembrandt. Visit the impressive and expansive collection that curates Dutch history over the centuries. For those who aren’t familiar with Dutch culture, explore its rich and vibrant past through a selection of paintings and artifacts from the 8000 objects on display. Explore familiar names like Rembrandt while discussing lesser known items like 17th century dollhouses and Vermeer’s portrait of domesticity, “The Milkmaid.” There’s even a fascinating 19th century library containing more stories than we could ever tell. By the end, you’ll have a good overview of the museum’s collection and you may even know how to pronounce its name correctly.
   
   After lunch, enjoy a historical walk. Learn about the capital city, known for its openness, charming bridges and leaning houses. Wander the canals and get your bearings as you learn about the medieval gate and Amstel River that helped shape Amsterdam.

2. Stop 2 · 10m

   Starting at our designated meeting point of St Nicholas’ Basilica, we will firstly discuss the history of the city’s primary Roman Catholic Church. Built at the end of the 19th century at a time when Roman Catholics could once again profess their faith in public after three centuries of prohibition, the building is a blend of different architectural styles and artistic movements.

3. Stop 3 · 10m

   We will then make our way towards the Schreierstoren, often known as the Tower of Tears or Weeper’s Tower. Originally part of the medieval city wall of Amsterdam, this tower is mainly known for the belief that women wept there for their husbands who would leave from the port to go to war or to fish.

4. Stop 4 · 10m

   We will then walk through an area known to be the Chinatown of Amsterdam. Zeedijk is a street in the old centre of Amsterdam and consists of a number of Asian markets, restaurants and shops, as well as the Zeedijk Buddhist temple, known to be the largest Chinese style Buddhist temple in Europe.

5. Stop 5 · 10m

   From here, we will make our way to the lively nightspot and market square, Nieuwmarkt which is found in the old city centre. This spot has been a centre for commerce and socialising in Amsterdam since the 17th century as the square’s location just inside the old city gate made it a convenient spot for traders and shoppers looking for fresh produce.

6. Stop 6 · 10m

   During our time at Nieuwmarkt, we will also see what is known as “De Waag”, a 15th century building that is one of Amsterdam’s oldest remaining non-religious buildings. Originally a city gate and part of the walls of Amsterdam, the building has also served as a guildhall, museum and firestation, among other things.

7. Stop 7 · 10m

   Moving on, we will see both the Trippenhuis & Klein Trippenhuis. While the Trippenhuis is Amsterdam’s widest home, spanning an enormous 22m, the Klein Trippenhuis is one of Amsterdam’s narrowest houses located right across from the Trippenhuis.

8. Stop 8 · 5m

   Step into the courtyard of the Dutch East India Company’s headquarters, the birthplace of the world’s first multinational corporation

9. Stop 9 · 5m

   Marvel at one of the narrowest houses in Amsterdam, a reminder of how high land taxes once encouraged tall, narrow architecture.

10. Stop 10 · 5m

    Amsterdam’s first purpose-built Protestant church, designed by Hendrick de Keyser. Its elegant tower is one of the city’s defining landmarks.

11. Stop 11 · 10m

    Next we will pass by Rembrandt’s house, a historical building and art museum in which the Painter Rembrandt lived and worked between 1639 and 1656. The collection of the museum contains Rembrandt’s etchings and paintings of his contemporaries.

12. Stop 12 · 10m

    Following, we will go to what is known as the Stopera, a building complex housing both the city hall and the Dutch National Opera and Ballet. The construction of this building was at least 60 years in the making.

13. Stop 13 · 5m

    A rare 17th-century canal house located at the junction of three canals, with façades facing in three directions.

14. Stop 14 · 10m

    Following, we will see one of the oldest hofjes, or almshouses in Amsterdam, Begijnhof. It consists of a group of houses built around a secluded courtyard and garden, known to have provided homes for the Beguines – a group of unmarried women who lived together under vows of chastity. Today it is also the site of two churches.

15. Stop 15 · 10m

    One of the tour’s last stop includes the Dam Square. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the most well-known locations in the city, as it includes the Royal Place, New Church and National Monument.

16. Stop 16 · 5m

    Admire the “Golden Bend” of the Herengracht, lined with the city’s richest and most ornate canal mansions from the Dutch Golden Age.

17. Stop 17 · 5m

    Pause outside the Anne Frank House, where the young diarist hid during WWII. Next door rises the Westerkerk, with the tallest church tower in Amsterdam.

18. Stop 18 · 5m

    Look up to spot quirky gable stones, carved with allegories and trade emblems, decorating some of the city’s most ornate façades.

19. Stop 19 · 5m

    Discover the largest hofje in Amsterdam, once built as almshouses around a tranquil courtyard for the city’s poor and elderly.

20. Stop 20 · 5m

    A 17th-century Protestant church built for the Jordaan district. Its unusual cross-shaped floor plan reflects the new ideals of Reformation worship.

21. Stop 21 · 5m

    End at one of the city’s prettiest canal corners. Visit Het Papeneiland, a brown café from 1642, said to serve the best apple pie in town.

Meeting point

Good to know

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
• Notes: Rijksmuseum may be subjected to occasional closures without previous warning from the museum management. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an appropriate alternative if the museum opening time is delayed more than 1h from the tour starting time. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. No large bags or suitcases are allowed inside the museum, only handbags or small thin bag packs are allowed through security. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line' or 'No Wait' access. Some specific rooms inside the museum are subjected to a very quiet or restricted right to speak inside, in this cases your guide will provide the information about this places before entering the specific rooms where this rule applies. Some collections may vary along the year.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Frequently asked questions