Amsterdam: Anne Frank House & Jewish History Private Walking Tour

Anne Frank & Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter: A Private Walking Tour

You get a private guide walking you through Amsterdam's Jewish quarter, from the Portuguese Synagogue to the Anne Frank House, with stops at memorials, the Hortus Botanicus, and Dam Square. Apple pie and coffee are included, plus either real entry to the Anne Frank House (if booked 7+ weeks ahead) or a VR alternative. The walk is about 2km and takes a few hours, unrushed.

Prices and availability checked: 2026-08-23

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want the Anne Frank story and Amsterdam's Jewish history explained by someone who knows the context, without arranging tickets or navigating the sites alone. The private format means you move at your own pace and can linger on the parts that matter most to you.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Start at Portuguese Synagogue
• See Jewish Historical Museum synagogues
• Hear about 1941 February strike
• Pass the Hortus Botanicus garden
• Visit Auschwitz Memorial at Wertheimpark
• Wander Plantage neighborhood
• Learn about hiding in Amsterdam Zoo
• Enter Holocaust memorial
• Walk over Dam Square
• Walk around Westerkerk church
• See Anne Frank House exterior
• Unguided tour inside Anne Frank House

The Experience

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.86 (333 reviews)

So your guide's pointing out the Westerkerk tower and suddenly it clicks — that's the one Anne could see from the annex. You're standing in the Plantage neighborhood, the most beautiful part of the canal district, and the whole story shifts from something you read in a book to a place where actual people lived, hid, and some didn't make it out. The tour starts at the Portuguese Synagogue, one of Amsterdam's most stunning buildings, still used by the Jewish community today, and from there you walk through the streets where families fled Southern and Eastern Europe starting in the 16th century, looking for safety. Your guide walks you through what that meant — the February Strike of 1941, the hidden children, the people who sheltered in the Amsterdam Zoo during the occupation.

You'll pass the four Jewish synagogues near the Jewish Historical Museum (you see them from outside), wander past the Hortus Botanicus, and stop at the Auschwitz Memorial in Wertheimpark. Then there's the Holocaust memorial where over 100,000 names are carved into the walls — that one stays with you. The Anne Frank House itself comes at the end, and here's the thing: if you book seven weeks or more ahead, your guide gets you actual entry tickets for an unguided visit inside. Book closer than that and you get a VR experience instead, which is included in the price, so there's no surprise cost. Either way, you see the house from the outside first, hear about the secret annex and how the Westerkerk bells rang every fifteen minutes — the same bells Anne heard through the walls.

The walk covers about two kilometers, so it's not a marathon, and somewhere in the middle you stop for one of Amsterdam's famous apple pies with coffee or tea. A tram ride is optional and included if you want it. Kids can join from age ten up, and the pace works for most fitness levels. Your guide handles the history — the awful parts and the survival stories — so you're not reading plaques or guessing at context. It's a private tour, so it's just you and whoever you bring, which means you can ask questions without holding up a group, and the guide can adjust the rhythm if something hits harder than expected.

What’s included

• Your tour includes a private guide leading you through the Jewish quarter, entry to the Anne Frank House (unguided) or a VR alternative if tickets aren't available, a traditional Dutch apple pie with coffee or tea, and an optional tram ride.
• The guide covers the Portuguese Synagogue, the Jewish Historical Museum synagogues (exterior), the Hortus Botanicus, the Auschwitz Memorial in Wertheimpark, the Holocaust memorial with 100,000 names, Dam Square, the Westerkerk, and the Anne Frank House.
• No additional purchases are required.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bespoke Amsterdam Experiences

Traveler reviews

4.86★★★★★★★★★★

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Top questions

Do I need to book the Anne Frank House tickets separately?

No. Your guide assists with ticket purchase subject to availability. If you book 7 weeks or more in advance, tickets are usually secured. If not, you get a VR experience of the house instead, included in the price.

Can children go on this tour?

Yes, kids can join from age 10 and up. Infants can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap.

What's included in the price?

Private guide, apple pie with coffee or tea, optional tram ride, and either Anne Frank House entry or a VR experience of the house. No additional purchases required.

Is the walk difficult?

No. You cover about 2 kilometers (1.5 miles) and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Service animals are allowed.

What if I book less than 7 weeks before the tour?

If Anne Frank House tickets are sold out, you'll receive a VR experience of the house instead, included in your tour price.

Where does the tour start?

Next to the Portuguese Synagogue, one of Amsterdam's most beautiful buildings.

Is this tour only about Anne Frank?

No. It covers the broader Jewish history of Amsterdam from the 16th century, WWII hiding stories, the February Strike of 1941, and memorials. Anne Frank and the Westerkerk are the final stops.