Thank You for Joining the Tour! 👋

** FOTO DUNA**

I hope you enjoyed discovering Amsterdam with me today.

A tour can only scratch the surface, so this page is here to help you keep exploring with confidence.

I’ve put together all of my favourite recommendations, useful links, and discounts in one place. Feel free to bookmark this page and use it throughout your stay.

⭐ Recommend us! 

If you enjoyed the experience, I’d really appreciate it if you could recommend us to your friends and others on TripAdvisor, or wherever you booked the tour. It really helps us stay relevant; it keeps me motivated as a guide, and I also get a small bonus for every 5-star review – so don’t forget to mention my name 😉

Share your experience:

And if you’d recommend us to friends or family visiting Amsterdam, that means more than you know.

Thank you—it genuinely makes a huge difference.

đŸš€ Explore Amsterdam by Water

We recommend BoatLocal.nl, where independent skippers open their boats (and their stories) to small groups.

Expect:

  • Boats that feel like floating living rooms
  • Skippers who know the city like an old friend
  • Beautiful routes
  • A slow, intimate pace — the opposite of the big tourist boats

👉 Book a boat

 

đŸ™ïž Continue Exploring with Our Tours

If today sparked your curiosity, we’d love to guide you again. Each tour is crafted with care, depth, and a commitment to storytelling.

In the Footsteps of Anne Frank: Amsterdam During WWII

A moving walk through the city’s wartime past. Explore historic Jewish neighbourhoods while hearing moving stories of occupation, resistance, survival, and hope. Follow Anne Frank’s early years in Amsterdam and gain a deeper understanding of how the Nazi occupation changed everyday life in the city forever.

👉 Book your spot here

Absolutely Amsterdam Tour

A broad, engaging journey through the city’s history, architecture, culture, and hidden corners — perfect if you want to understand how Amsterdam became Amsterdam.

👉 Book your spot here

đŸ„Ș Lunch Suggestions Near Dam Square

If you’re hungry after the tour, here are a few places we trust — not tourist traps, but genuinely good food in the heart of the city.

Bistro Berlage

(click  for directions)

Classic Dutch dishes served in a stunning Art Nouveau building
Located inside the historic Beurs van Berlage Commodities Exchange building at our meeting point, Bistro Berlage is a perfect spot for coffee, lunch, dinner, or drinks before or after the tour.
As a guest of FreeDam Tours, you’ll receive: 🎉 10% off all food
Simply show your tour confirmation (email or booking confirmation from the platform where you booked) and tell them you did the tour with me (Sergio) to receive the discount.

Reserve a table at Bistro Berlage

Cut Throat Barber, Brunch & Coffee (Wednesday to Sunday)

(click  for directions)

A lively brunch spot with great food, cocktails, and a unique vibe. Caribbean street food & cocktails conveniently located right by our meeting point on Beursplein. From Wednesday to Sunday, they serve delicious brunch and dinner inspired by Caribbean street food, alongside great cocktails and coffee. Amsterdam has long been shaped by cultures from around the world, including strong Caribbean and Surinamese influences that remain an essential part of the city’s food scene today. It’s a great way to continue discovering the multicultural melting pot Amsterdam is today.

Bakkerswinkel

(click  for directions)

A charming bakery and lunch cafĂ© in a historic canal house on Warmoesstraat. Famous for its freshly baked breads, pastries, scones, and afternoon tea, it’s one of my favourite spots for breakfast, brunch, or a relaxed coffee break in the city centre.

 

đŸ—ș Amsterdam Maps

Together with the rest of the guides at FreeDam Tours, we put together a collection of Google Maps featuring our favorite restaurants, bars, cafés, bakeries, nightlife spots, and hidden gems across the city. These are places we genuinely enjoy ourselves and regularly recommend to friends and family.

đŸœïž Lunch Map

đŸ· Dinner Map

đŸŒ± Vegan Restaurants & Bakeries Map

đŸ» Bars & Coffeeshops Map

đŸŽ¶ Nightlife Map

 

❀ Some of my Favorite Places in Amsterdam

Here are four places that reveal something essential about the city — places I return to again and again.

1. The Begijnhof

A hidden courtyard that feels like stepping into another century. Quiet, contemplative, and full of history, including a ‘hidden Catholic church’ you can visit for free. Tip: it’s opposite the actual church 🙂

2. De Pijp

De Pijp is one of Amsterdam’s liveliest neighborhoods — multicultural, creative, and full of energy. It’s often called the city’s hipster district, but really it’s a mix of students, artists, young families, and long‑time locals.

  • Albert Cuyp Market: The busiest street market in the Netherlands. Fresh stroopwafels, Surinamese snacks, Turkish sweets, Dutch fish stalls — a perfect snapshot of Amsterdam’s diversity.
  • International Food: De Pijp has some of the best food in the city: Ethiopian, Thai, Lebanese, Japanese, vegan bakeries, craft coffee — endless options in just a few blocks.
  • Sarphatipark: A small, peaceful neighborhood park where locals picnic, read, and recharge. A perfect break from the busy streets around it.

De Pijp is ideal for wandering, snacking, and soaking up everyday Amsterdam life.

3. Vondelpark

Amsterdam’s Green Living Room. Vondelpark is the city’s most beloved green space — a place where Amsterdammers come to breathe, picnic, cycle, nap in the grass, or simply watch the world go by. On sunny days it feels like the entire city gathers here; on quiet mornings it’s peaceful, leafy, and almost meditative.

4. NDSM Wharf 

Amsterdam’s Creative Playground. NDSM Wharf sits across the IJ River in Amsterdam‑Noord, and it feels like stepping into a different city — raw, artistic, industrial, and full of creative energy. Once one of Europe’s largest shipyards, it’s now a playground for artists, makers, and festival‑goers.

  • IJ‑hallen Flea Market Once a month, the massive shipyard halls transform into one of Europe’s biggest flea markets. Hundreds of stalls, vintage treasures, antiques, clothes, oddities — it’s chaotic, colorful, and unforgettable.
  • STRAAT Museum A gigantic street‑art museum housed in a former warehouse. Murals the size of buildings, bold colors, global artists — it’s one of Amsterdam’s most unique cultural spaces.
  • Festivals & Events NDSM hosts some of the city’s best festivals: electronic music, food festivals, art fairs, open‑air cinema, and waterfront events that spill across the old shipyard.
  • Sweeping Waterfront Views From the wharf, you get wide, cinematic views of the IJ River, the A’DAM Tower, the Eye Film Museum, and the skyline of Central Amsterdam. It’s one of the best free viewpoints in the city.

🚱 How to Get There

Getting to NDSM is half the fun — the journey feels like a mini‑adventure.

  • Go to the waterfront side of Amsterdam Central Station
  • Take the free F4 ferry to “NDSM”
  • Ferries run every 10–15 minutes
  • The ride takes about 14 minutes
  • Stand on the right side for the best skyline views

It’s free, easy, and gives you a beautiful look at Amsterdam from the water.

 

đŸŽ€ Personal Recommendations

My favorite (typically Dutch) bars:

CafĂ© ‘t Smalle — A tiny, historic brown cafĂ© from 1786 with candlelight, wood paneling, and a terrace right on the canal in the Jordaan. Perfect for a quiet drink with real Amsterdam charm.

CafĂ© de Dokter — The smallest bar in Amsterdam, founded in 1798. Candlelit, dusty, charming, and full of character. A true brown‑cafĂ© gem.

Waterkant — A lively Surinamese‑inspired waterfront bar under a parking garage (yes, really). Great drinks, great food, and a big terrace right on the canal.

CafĂ© Brandon — A classic Jordaan brown cafĂ© with wooden interiors, friendly staff, and a timeless Amsterdam vibe.

CafĂ© Het Papeneiland –  A tiny, historic brown cafĂ© sitting on one of the most beautiful corners of Amsterdam. Cozy, candlelit, and perfect for a beer or a slice of apple pie while the canal views do all the work.

My favorite restaurants:

Dutch:

Moeders: A cozy, quirky restaurant filled with photos of mothers on the walls. Classic Dutch comfort food — stamppot, stews, meatballs — served with warmth and humor.

The Pantry: A small, friendly spot near Leidseplein serving Dutch classics like hutspot, rookworst, and poffertjes. Great for something authentic but simple.

Indonesian:

Kartika Warm, family‑run, and consistently excellent. Their rijsttafel is generous, balanced, and perfect for first‑timers.

Toko Barsema (takeaway with limited seating, much cheaper than a restaurant!)

With Stunning interiors:

Mata Hari: Named after the famous Dutch dancer and World War I spy who became a sensation in Paris. The only nice bar (and restaurant) in the Red Light District! Soft lighting, vintage décor, and big windows overlooking the canal. Great cocktails, friendly staff, and a warm, slightly bohemian atmosphere make it a perfect spot to unwind after exploring the city.

Secret Garden: A lush, jungle‑themed Nikkei restaurant on Reguliersdwarsstraat, known for its vibrant atmosphere, great cocktails, and Japanese‑Peruvian dishes served in a stylish “hidden oasis” right in the city center.

Best sunset spot:

Hannekes Boom: Near Central Station Colorful, laid‑back, waterfront bar built from reclaimed wood. Great for sunset, outdoor drinks, and a lively local crowd.

Best rainy-day activity:

The Rijksmuseum: A world‑class museum that can easily fill 2–3 hours. Rembrandt, Vermeer, ship models, dollhouses — and plenty of quiet corners to wander.

STRAAT Museum: A massive indoor street‑art museum at NDSM Wharf. Colorful, bold, and great for wandering when the weather is miserable.

My favorite Dutch snack:

bitterballen: Small, round croquettes roughly 3 to 5 centimeters in diameter, traditionally featuring a rich, velvety beef or veal ragout filling encased in a shattering, golden breadcrumb crust. They are traditionally eaten during borreltijd (Dutch happy hour) alongside a cold blonde beer or jenever. Served in most bars, like Proeflokaal A. van Wees: a historic former distillery offering excellent traditional beef, vegan, and even shrimp bitterballen.

Also at Eetsalon Van Dobben, a legendary, classic fast-food institution famous for its signature, crunchy snack-style bitterballen and croquettes.

Hidden gem most tourists miss

The Roof of the NeMo Museum: a huge, free rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city. Most people think you need a museum ticket — you don’t. Just walk up the steps. Open till 5:30pm.

Visit some of the many ‘secret courtyards‘ the Jordaan is famous for.

 

⚠ What I’d Avoid

Overpriced Stroopwafels: Avoid the €8–10 stroopwafels sold in tourist shops. The best ones are fresh, warm, and cost a fraction of that at local bakeries or markets.

Tourist Trap Restaurants: Especially around Dam Square, Leidseplein, and the Red Light District. Look for places where locals actually eat, or use the recommendations we gave you.

Renting a bike if you’re not confident: Amsterdam cycling is fast, dense, and rule‑heavy. If you’re not used to city cycling, it’s safer (and more relaxing) to walk or take trams.

Madame Tussauds: Unless you have a deep desire to stare at wax celebrities, skip it. Amsterdam has world‑class museums filled with real art, real history, and real stories — why queue to see a wax version of someone you can watch on YouTube?

Buying a ticket for the A’dam Lookout. Just have a drink or a bite in the Madam restaurant and get free access to the roof instead!

 

Tot Ziens! đŸ‡łđŸ‡±

Thanks again for joining me today.

Have an amazing stay in Amsterdam, and hopefully I’ll see you again on another FreeDam Tours experience.

– Duna
FreeDam Tours