Private Amsterdam Walking Tour: Canal Ring and Hidden Courtyards
Walk the Canal Ring and discover the courtyards locals know
A private walking tour of Amsterdam with a local guide, limited to four people, covering the Canal Ring, hidden back streets, and landmarks like the Royal Palace and Begijnhof. The small group size lets you enter places that turn away large tour groups, and you can tailor the route to your interests. A break at a local café is built into the three-hour walk.
Step-by-step itinerary
Private walking tour of Amsterdam
- Walk through Amsterdam's Grand Canal Belt
- Break at local cafe in old Jewish district
- Visit Begijnhof hidden church courtyard
- See Southern Church Protestant view
- Stop at Nieuwmarkt Square and market
- Visit old Dutch East Indies HQ courtyard
- Choose route: Dam Square and canal belt or 9 streets area
- Amsterdam Canal Ring 30m
- Begijnhof 30m
- Southern Church 10m
- New Market Square 10m
- De Bijenkorf 10m
- Royal Palace Amsterdam 30m
What’s included
- A highly experienced and friendly local guide who speaks English.
- access to places that restrict large tour groups, like the Begijnhof courtyard.
- a café break in a neighborhood café.
- tourist tax included in the ticket price.
Next departure: 18 Jul 2027
Information
Walk Amsterdam's Canal Ring and back streets with a local guide in a group of four: stop for coffee in a neighborhood café and explore the Begijnhof's hidden church.
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The experience
The tour starts at a time and place you choose. Your guide walks you through the Canal Ring, explaining why it was built and how it shaped the city, then branches into one of two routes depending on the day and weather. One path takes you through the old Jewish district to the Begijnhof, a large enclosed courtyard where a hidden Protestant church sits inside. A place big tour groups cannot enter. From there you either explore the Nine Streets area of the canal belt or head toward Dam Square and the Royal Palace, with the option to wander into the Jordaan neighborhood and its own hidden courtyards.
You'll stop at New Market Square, where on Saturdays the market sells fresh stroopwafels, and your guide explains the old city gate's history, from weighing house to autopsy venue. Another stop takes you to the courtyard of the old Dutch East Indies headquarters. On weekdays you can enter the courtyard itself to hear how the Dutch dominated the spice trade and shaped modern capitalism. A break at a local café is included, chosen from places that welcome small groups but turn away the large ones.
Because the group stays under four people, your guide can adjust the pace and content to what interests you. Tell them beforehand if you want to focus on a particular era, neighborhood or theme, and they'll weave it into the walk. The route itself shifts with the day of the week and the weather, so no two tours follow exactly the same path.
Top questions
Can I change the start time or starting point for the tour?
Yes. The start time and starting point can be changed if you wish, so you can arrange the tour around your own schedule and location in the city.
What is the Begijnhof and why does it matter on this tour?
The Begijnhof is a large enclosed courtyard in Amsterdam that holds a hidden Protestant church inside. Because it restricts large tour groups, only small private tours like this one can enter. It's a place most visitors to Amsterdam never see.
Will the tour include a coffee break?
Yes. A break at a local café is included in the tour, and your guide chooses from cafés in neighborhoods like the old Jewish district that welcome small groups.
Does the route change, or is it the same every time?
The route branches depending on the day of the week, the weather, and the pace of your group. One path goes through the old Jewish district to the Begijnhof and the Nine Streets. Another heads to Dam Square and the Royal Palace, sometimes including the Jordaan area.
What happens if I'm interested in a specific part of Amsterdam's history?
Tell your guide about your interests when you join the tour, and they can tailor the content to include what matters to you, whether that's the spice trade, the canal system, the Jewish district, or another era or neighborhood.
Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?
The tour is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby. It's suitable for all physical fitness levels, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.
Operated by That Dam Guide. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 8 days ago
Private Amsterdam Walking Tour: Canal Ring and Hidden Courtyards
3h · EN
from € 125.75 per person
≈ US$ 141 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.