"The redlight district, the coffee shops, the beer bicycle, yes its all here in Amsterdam and we are famous or infamous for it. But if that is what you are looking for, wrong site.
Special Amsterdam Tours is just what the name says, we specialize in special tours that you will not find anywhere else and that all have to do with the fascinating history of Amsterdam. You can find below some of our weekly tours. We are for the more seasoned traveller who really wants to get to know the city.
Our guides are true Amsterdammers. They all share their love of the city and intertwine their personal history with the tours they offer.
We also offer personal tours and can offer you or your company tailor-made tours. All tours have a limited number of participants so you won’t feel lost and there is plenty of space for interaction.
After all, you are in Amsterdam, one of the most beautiful, historical and fascinating cities in the world.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or quieries."
- Henk
LGBT History Tour Amsterdam : Homo Monument and Gay marriage
Amsterdam as front runner in LGBT rights in the world
The Netherlands was the first country in the world with a monument for LGBT victims and the first country where same sex marriages were legal. In the roaring 80's and 90’s Amsterdam was the GAY capital of the world.
The tour takes you on a trip through historic Amsterdam and goes from the 17th Century until 2001 the year of GAY marriage. We start at the Homo monument and end at “het Mandje”, the oldest gay bar in the world on the Zeedijk.
Your guide Henk witnessed the roaring 80's and 90's himself and is a great historian and story teller according to earlier participants.
Every Friday at 3 pm, starting at the Homo monument.
Henk is the tourguide for the LGBT History Tour and also available for public speaking. He is available for your fundraiser, school assembly or conference as long as you interested in a fascinating story . To book Henk, please get in touch, he has a LGBT story for every crowd.
Duration 2 hours
Euro 39,--
Starting at the Homo monument, the first in the world and finishing of with drinks and talks at "het Mandje" on the Zeedijk.
LGBT art and culture tour : at the Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum and its art collection is one of the most spectacular in the world...
The tours takes you through the most important museum of the Netherlands and its collection. The Dutch Masters are known to be among the best art in the world. In fact this museum was built around Rembrandts masterpiece the Nightwatch.
Henk enlightens you about the Golden Age when the Dutch ruled the waves but more importantly created a vast collection of paintings that we can still admire today. How did this small country achieve that and what has protestantism to do with it?
In the collection Henk will point out pieces in Dutch history and the art collection that have a connection with LGBT.
Your guide is Henk and in the Rijksmuseum he shares his knowledge and passion with you about Dutch masters and art.
Every Thursday at 11 am, starting at the Rijksmuseum.
Henk is the tourguide for the LGBT History Tour and the LGBT art and culture tour and also available for public speaking. He is available for your fundraiser, school assembly or conference as long as you interested in a fascinating story . To book Henk, please get in touch, he has a LGBT story for every crowd.
Duration 2 hours
Euro 25,- (you will have to purchase yourself the entrance ticket for the museum Euro 17,50)
Amsterdam & the Royal Family
200 years, 4 kings and 4 queens…
Weddings and the inauguration of the new Monarch. Amsterdam has a long history with the Orange-Nassau family. The tour fills you in about the centuries' long relationship between the family and the Dutch Republic, and now with the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
We will walk along important landmarks such as the Palace on Dam Square and Westerkerk, where Queen Beatrix got married. Amsterdammers cheered for the royals dressed in orange, though the family has also been booed at times. And who knew that the first Dutch King was a Frenchman?
Since the time it was a Republic in the 17th Century, Amsterdam has always had a mixed and special relationship with the Orange-Nassau family. While the elite of Amsterdam was Republican, the royal family remained popular with the poorer classes.
200 years, 4 kings and 4 queens. 400 year the Orange-Nassau family and the The Netherlands. All you ever wanted to know.... Political murder, jewelery robbery, bi-sexuality, illigitimate children, independence war.
Every Thursday at 3 pm, starting at the Queen Wilhelmina statue on the Rokin.
Duration 2 hours
Euro 25,--
Queen Wilhelmina on a horse, guides Henk and Eve look up. Starting point of the tour. 4 Kings and 4 Queens in 200 years. King Willem I, King Willem II, King Willem III, Queen Emma, Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana, Queen Beatrix and King Willem Alexander...
Historical Walking Tour of Amsterdam
Between canals, churches and a palace, the history of Amsterdam...
Immerse yourself in the history of Amsterdam during this walking tour of the city center. Spend 2 hrs in the company of an engaging guide and small group of maximum 10 persons.
We start at the statue of Queen Wilhelmina on Rokin and walk to the Palace on Dam square that was not build as Palace but started out as our city hall. You will learn about the Jewish population of Amsterdam as well about hidden cathlic churches in Amsterdam. Pass the first protestant church build in Amsterdam after the reformation, you will learn about the origins of the canal district.The Dutch Royal family as well as many fascinating stories you never knew about Amsterdam.
Duration 2 hours
Euro 39,--
Westerkerk, the first protestant church in Amsterdam, Rembrandt is buried here, Palace or is it City hall, Keizers canal with homo monument, New Church for the inauguration of the new Monarch...
Architecture : Amsterdam School style, a walk in de Baarsjes.
Between the two world wars Amsterdam develeped its own very unique architectural style know as Amsterdam School.
We will start with coffee at the restaurant meneer van Loon on the Curacaostraat and then have a walk through the district know as de Baarsjes. One of Amsterdam undiscovered burroughs with fine architecture. We learn about the social developments that are at the root of this style. You will see several fine examples of this style during the walk and learn what defines Amsterdam School buildings and how it stil inspires architecture. We go from a primary school to a mosque and apartment buildings. To this day apartments and homes in Amsterdam School style are the most sought after homes for buyers.
But join us at this unique different view of Amsterdam and enjoy walking with us.
Duration 2 hours
Euro 39,--
Please feel free to contact us for possibilities and questions. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Corantijnschool, Edel and de Westermoskee.
Amsterdam in the 19th Century.
Industrialization, slums and beauty.
In the 19th Century Amsterdam expanded once again. The now popular burrough "de Pijp" was a new developed area for the many poor people who flocked to Amsterdam for work. Your guide' great aunt was one of those people who went to Amsterdam for a better future.
It was also a time with revolutionary new insights, technology, social movements and great art. The tours gives you an insight in this fascinating period.
We start the city tour with a visit and coffee at "koffie huis de Markt" an original Dutch brown cafe on the Albert Cuyp, visit the market and the burrough and end at the Rijksmuseum where you will get a vieuw of some of the most stunning paintings of that era.
But join us at this unique different view or Amsterdam and enjoy walking with us.
Duration 2 hours
Euro 39,--
Please feel free to contact us for possibilities and questions. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Girl in white kimono by Breitner, model Geesje Kwak.
A walk in the ........ Vondel park...
Take a walk in the most famous park in the Netherlands. Take a walk with us in the Vondelpark.
We will start at the meeting point just left after you pass the cross over road. We then start with a walk through the Vondelpark. Our most famous park that is over 150 years old. You will learn about the history of the park when it was for the elite of Amsterdam only and when it became a safehaven for hippies in the 70's , the art you will see and of course its a park, some of our oldest trees and anecdotes.
But join us at this unique different view or Amsterdam and enjoy walking with us.
Duration 2 hours
Euro 25,--
Picasso statue, cycling in the park, getting a snack. While the park was for the Amsterdam elite in the 19th Century. Now its become the outdoors for all Amsterdammers...
Weekend in Amsterdam, Euro 975,-- pp
Includes apartment, tours, museums, breakfast and dinners.
For those of you who love to be taken care of and experience the city like a local. We offer our special weekends with your own local guide Henk. You will experience Amsterdam in a new way, personal wishes and interest can be added to your weekend.
Day 1: Thursday
We check you in, in your own 1930's vintage apartment in Amsterdam West, the cool new hip upcoming burrough of Amsterdam. Where your host and guide will hand you the keys of this lovely apartment with geraniums growing on the balcony.
For dinner, we experience the cities best know culinary tradition, the Dutch-Indonesian rijsttafel and then set of for a night time tour of the famous red light district.
Day 2: Friday
One of your guide's specialty is 17th Century Dutch art and we spend this morning at the greatest museum of that period, the Rijksmuseum. Where we will see masterpieces of painters such as Hals, Vermeer and Rembrandt, with attention to the Dutch English King William III.
After a good lunch and rest you are invited to join the LGBT History Tour that starts at the Homo monument and ends with drinks at het Mandje. The oldest gay bar in Amsterdam. You can also pick one of the other tours, such as the Royal Tour or the City History Tour.
If you like to explore the cities nightlife, your guide Henk can enlighten you.
Day 3. Saturday
The morning is for sleeping in or your own pleasure. We take lunch at the Blue tea house in the Vondelpark (Bauhause style) a hot spot for the young and creative crowd of Amsterdam and take a walk in the Vondelpark. We end the afternoon with a tour of the city from a canal boat- probably the best way to appreciate the charms of this so-called "Venice of the North". Your last night is free for your own explorations.
Contact us if you are interested : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Homo monument, Westerkerk, drinks at het Mandje, interior apartment. Your guide and host, Henk.
Your guides
Amsterdam Special Tours is all about Amsterdam and so are our guides. We have a passion for the city and its history and there is always a personal connection to our guides and Amsterdam.
Henk
Henk has been living in Amsterdam since 1989 and has a very personal relationship with Amsterdam. As a true Amsterdammer he loves his city and can complain a lot about how it's being run.
Sam
Sam was born in Amsterdam and is a real Amsterdammer. Infused by his mother with history and stories, he is now studying history at Amsterdam University.
Like his uncle Henk, he is a raconteur and story-teller pur sang.
Eve
Eve lives and breathes Amsterdam. As she says herself, she was born in the wrong city and thats why she moved as soon as she could to Amsterdam. Where she met her man and raised her four children.
Eve will lighten up your tour with the history she knows and the sparkle she brings to the group.
Special Amsterdam Tours tailor-made for you
Special Amsterdam Tours also provides private and company tours. We can also organize special tailor-made tours for you as long as they have to do with Amsterdam and its history.
Would you be interested in a tour about 19th Century Dutch painters, such as Breitner? We can show you his girl in kimono and the story behind it. It hangs in the Rijksmuseum.
How about a tour in our national museum that King William III refused to open? Do you want us tell you why? And how his great grand daughther Queen Beatrix reopened it after renovations a 100 years later?
We have the Special Amsterdam Tour for you. Please feel free to contact us for possibilities and questions. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Links
Airbnb LGBT History Tour Amsterdam
Airbnb Amsterdam & the Royal Family
Facebook Royal family and other Tours
Youtube channel Special Amsterdam Tours
Twitter @LGBTHistoryTour