Amsterdam Jewish Quarter Walk & Anne Frank House Tour

Summary

Stories of courage and memory in Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter

You’ll follow a local guide through Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter, hearing stories at sites like the Portuguese Synagogue and National Holocaust Memorial. Learn about resistance during WWII and pause at the Anne Frank House for reflections that linger long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

We’d barely crossed into the Plantage area when our guide, Eva, paused by a quiet canal — she just stood there for a second, letting us listen. I could hear bikes rattling past and someone’s radio drifting out of an open window. She started telling us about Amsterdam’s Sephardic community, how their synagogue was once the biggest in Europe. I tried to imagine it full of voices and candles, but honestly, it’s hard to picture from the outside. Eva pointed at the stonework — said it’s still an active place of worship, even after everything that happened here.

I didn’t expect to feel so much at the National Holocaust Memorial. The air felt heavier there, maybe just in my head, but even the trees seemed quieter. We stopped by the Dutch Resistance Museum too — Eva explained how people risked everything during the Nazi occupation. There was this old man sitting on a bench nearby who nodded along as she talked about the February Strike; he must’ve heard these stories before or maybe lived them? I wanted to ask but didn’t.

The walk wasn’t long — maybe two hours? — but we covered so much ground: past little bakeries (the smell of fresh bread almost made me late catching up), over to Rokin where trams clanged by, then finally ending at New Market Square near the Anne Frank House. Eva told us how Otto Frank published his daughter’s diary after the war. She read a line from it right there; I got goosebumps. It’s strange how you can be surrounded by tourists snapping photos and still feel completely caught up in someone else’s story.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Amsterdam Jewish Quarter history

• Learn about Jewish community history
• Visit Portuguese Synagogue area
• See Jewish deportation monument
• Learn about Jewish resistance
• Pass National Holocaust Memorial
• Explore Plantage area history
• See Spinoza monument
• Walk to Dam Square and Royal Palace
• End tour at Anne Frank House

Top questions

How long is the Jewish Quarter walking tour in Amsterdam?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours.

Does this Amsterdam tour include entry to the Anne Frank House?

No, it ends near the Anne Frank House but does not include entry inside.

Is hotel pickup included for this walking tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected hotels only.

Which sites are visited during this Amsterdam Jewish Quarter tour?

You visit places like the Portuguese Synagogue, National Holocaust Memorial, Dutch Resistance Museum area, Rokin, and New Market Square.

Can infants join this walking tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed on this walking tour.

Is public transportation nearby for this Amsterdam tour?

Yes, public transportation options are available close to the meeting points.

What’s included

Your day includes a private walking tour with a local guide through Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter, hotel pickup and drop-off from selected hotels if needed, and plenty of time to pause at each site — from memorials to historic squares — before finishing near the Anne Frank House.