Aris’ Personal Page

Welcome to my personal page, where you will find useful information, suggestions, and recommendations to help make your stay in Amsterdam even more memorable! All recommendations are hand-picked by me, your local friend here in Amsterdam 😊

THE GROUP PICTURE

I will post our picture (or have already done so) on our Facebook page. Click here to see it on your desk/laptop, and here to see it on your mobile phone!

RECOMMEND ME 🙂  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you enjoyed the tour and found my recommendations helpful, please don’t forget to recommend me on TripAdvisor , Google , Guru Walk, or wherever you booked the tour. It only takes you a few seconds. It truly helps me stay motivated as a guide, it’s good for your karma, and I get a bonus for every 5-star review. So don’t forget to mention my name. 🙂

MY HAND-PICKED RECOMMENDATIONS 📍

Chinese food: New King
Thai food: Bird
Indonesian food: Koeah
Dutch Food: Café Sonneveld

I’ve also created a personal interactive Google Maps recommendations list with all my favourite activities, parks, museums, bars, restaurants, viewpoints and other hidden gems. Click here to check it out! For the best experience, select “✔ distance” to see which recommendations are closest to your current location. This will enhance your experience greatly, wherever you happen to be in the city.

TICKETS FOR A CANAL CRUISE 

No trip to Amsterdam is complete without experiencing the city from the water. We’ve teamed up with BoatLocal, a platform that lets you explore every type of canal cruise imaginable—whether you’re looking for a shared ride, a private tour, something budget-friendly, or a truly exclusive experience. Whatever your style, you’ll find the perfect option. Click here to find yours.

OTHER AREAS TO EXPLORE

When exploring, don’t forget to use the Recommendations Map set on “✔ distance”!
All the places mentioned below are listed in this map.

Visit other areas of the city center, on foot or by public transport:

  • Go and see the southern and western part of the historical center and its must-see highlights: the Begijnhof silent courtyard and Tuschinski (my favorite building in Amsterdam!). Afterwards, go for lunch at the old-fashioned, typical Dutch lunchroom Van Dobben, or have an early (!) dinner at Koeah for great, authentic Indonesian food.
  • Visit the pittoresque Jordaan neighbourhood (especially the northern part, north of Rozengracht). Have some apple pie at Winkel 43, get a drink at Café Chris (400-year old brown bar), and have dinner at Dutch restaurant Sonneveld. At night, walk along the silent canals. In any case, you will see the beautiful and iconic Western Church looming over (picture above).
  • Stroll around peaceful Prinseneiland. This gorgeous neighbourhood is the best kept secret of Amsterdam. North of the busy and lively Jordaan you will find a quiet island neighbourhood where almost nobody goes except its inhabitants. See it as your own little private Jordaan. Keep it a secret though!

Visit the 19th-century neighborhoods around the city center by bike (!) or public transport:

  • Go to the classy Plantage neighbourhood. Visit the wonderful ARTIS Royal Zoo, and Botanical Garden, or visit the many sites of Jewish and WWII history like the Resistance Museum. Afterwards, go for a drink at Proeflokaal de Molen, a local brewery with a windmill next to it.
  • Explore the trendy and lively De Pijp neighbourhood to find multicultural food (such as Sonny’s falafel), the cute Sarphatipark, and a huge density of terraces, bars and local young people.
  • Visit the diverse Oud-West neighbourhood. Stroll around the Vondelpark (central park of Amsterdam), go to an arthouse movie classic at LAB111, and enjoy all types of cuisines at the Food Hallen.

INTERESTING READS

If you are interested in learning more about Amsterdam’s history and Dutch culture, I warmly recommend these two books:

‘Amsterdam: A History of the World’s Most Liberal City’ by Russel Shorto.

Why The Dutch Are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands by Ben Coates.

AMSTERDAM PLAYLIST

Turn on my compact, home-made playlist of oldschool Amsterdam classics to add an extra, musical layer of “Amsterdamness” to your stay, and make your experience complete!

Thank you so much for choosing FreeDam Tours. Enjoy the rest of your stay …and see you next time in Amsterdam!

Hugs, Aris.