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No minimum number of attendeesNo minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
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Free booking and cancellationFree payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
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My name is Dominika and I am in love with Amsterdam. I moved here over 8 years ago, you will never meet anyone more obsessed with the city than I am. I am a language teacher, a content creator and a podcaster. I've been showing the life in Amsterdam in my social media, for years. My podcast about Amsterdam is loved by my Polish audience. Now I want to show you around the city.
Amsterdam - the world's playground
Amsterdam is a very special city - it has always been very open and tolerant, but at the same time protective of its residents. I want to show you why the people of Amsterdam are bold and confident, what kind of life they lead today, and why. We will talk about the famous tolerance and openness that Amsterdam is famous for.
I would love to tell you about all those events in the past that shaped the city as it is today. Why do so many people come here to play, and what are the consequences?
When I say "playground", you're probably thinking: party! But there is so much more to it. My tour is about the history, colonialism, slavery, WW2, sex work, LGBT+ rights, and about what Amsterdam used to feel like, look like and smell like.
I will also tell you about the current problems we're struggling with.
Let's meet in front of the main entrance to the central station - the exit that leads to the city, NOT the waterfront. I will be holding a pink folder in my hand and a white umbrella with hearts on it. Also, I am very short, so look for a tiny person.
Here we will talk about the origin of Amsterdam, about the harbour, Noord and the Dutch expeditions.
Oude Kerk is the only building in Amsterdam that remains in the same state as it was when Rembrandt attended it. Located in the Red Light District, right next to sex workers.
The stock market, together with a bank and currency exchange centre, were all created to make Amsterdam the mighty and financial centre. Money transactions were very important in a republic that traded with everybody!
Here I will tell you about de Nieuwe Kerk - a place for coronations and royal weddings - and the history of the Royal Palace. This is also the place to discuss WW2 - the German occupation, the story of Anne Frank and the shooting at the Dam Square.
One of the problems that the city struggled with in the past a lot were fires. That is why - starting from the XV century - wooden houses and thatched roofs have been banned. But there are a few old wooden buildings that have been preserved and are really interesting to look at.
The dark chapter of Amsterdam history - colonialism and slavery. We will look at a landmark that is strongly connected to the colonial past. A great opportunity to talk about Keti Koti and modern challenges the city encounters.
Athenaeum Illustre - the predecessor of the university of Amsterdam. Here I will tell you about the Dutch Golden Age and the love people had for art and science.
This is where Prinsenhof was located - a place for esteemed guests, later a city council location. Oudezijds Voorburgwal is a very charming canal, with a lot of landmarks.
Sex work is legal in the Netherlands, but the whole matter is very complicated. Especially today, when the city is trying to fight crime, abuse and noise pollution.
Amsterdam's got the oldest Chinese district on the European mainland. Located right next to the Red Light District, in de Zeedijk, with the biggest religious building in Europe, built in the Chinese style.
This brown cafe is the oldest meeting place for non heterosexuals - run by "The Queen of Zeedijk", a legend, an icon, Bet van Beeren. Amsterdam is considered a gay capital - I will tell you why.
The end point of our tour, right next to the Central Station.
Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).