Our Dutch programme is Amsterdam, and it is three tours: a walking tour through the Anne Frank story and the Jordaan, a guided visit to the Rijksmuseum, and a guided visit to the Van Gogh Museum. Small, deliberately, and each one built around a collection or a story that repays having someone explain it. Amsterdam is the city where a guide matters most for the museums. The Rijksmuseum holds eight thousand objects across four floors and most visitors see the Night Watch and little else; the Van Gogh Museum is chronological and makes far more sense when someone walks you through the sequence. Both run on timed entry and sell out in high season. The tours are led in English and last one and a half to two hours each, which means two of them fit comfortably in a day with lunch in between. Prices are per person in US dollars, and the meeting point is confirmed when you book.

Amsterdam

All three tours are in the city centre and reachable on foot or by tram. The two museum tours are in the Museumplein, a few minutes apart, so pairing them on the same day is easy. The Anne Frank walking tour covers the Jordaan and the wartime history of the neighbourhood; check the tour page for what admission it does and does not include, since the Anne Frank House itself sells its own tickets on a separate system.

• Amsterdam Anne Frank Walking Tour — 2h — from $80
• Amsterdam Rijksmuseum Guided Tour — 1h 30min — from $120
• Amsterdam Van Gogh Museum Guided Tour — 1h 30min — from $136

When to go

April and May are the best-known months because of the tulip season and Kings Day on 27 April, which is worth planning around in either direction: the city is memorable and completely full. June to August is warm and long-lit but at peak crowd and peak hotel price, and museum slots go early. September and October are the quiet recommendation, still mild, far fewer queues. Winter from November to February is cold, wet and dark early, but the museums are indoors and at their emptiest, which makes it the easiest time to get the slot you want. Amsterdam rains in every season, so bring a jacket for the walking tour regardless of the month.

Frequently asked questions

Are the museum tickets included?

Where the visit requires admission, the ticket and the timed entry slot are booked as part of the tour and reserved in your name. Each tour page lists its inclusions in detail. Do not buy a separate ticket for the same museum, because your own entry time will not match the guided group’s slot.

Does the Anne Frank tour go inside the Anne Frank House?

Check the inclusions on that tour page before you book. The Anne Frank House releases its own tickets on a separate online system, on its own release schedule, and they go very quickly. The walking tour covers the neighbourhood and the history around it, and we will tell you plainly what is included when you enquire.

What language are the tours in?

English. If you need another language for a private group, ask us with your dates before booking and we will check whether a guide is available rather than confirm and sort it out later.

Can I do the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum on the same day?

Yes, and it is the most common way people book them. Both are on the Museumplein, each tour runs about ninety minutes, and there is a break between the two slots for lunch. Book both at once so we can set the entry times to line up instead of leaving a three-hour gap.

Are the tours suitable for children?

Yes, and the price categories on each tour page show the child rate where one applies. The Van Gogh Museum tends to hold children’s attention better than the Rijksmuseum. The Anne Frank walking tour deals with the Holocaust directly, so consider the age of your children and tell us when you book so the guide can pitch it appropriately.

Three Amsterdam tours, bookable on their own pages in US dollars. Combining Amsterdam with Paris, London or Italy? Send us your dates and we will line the bookings up across cities.