Private tour in Amsterdam Ralph d

Amsterdam's maritime Golden Age: private tour

5.0

(1) review

-
Hours icon 4 hours 30 minutes
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 4 hours 30 minutes
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Ralph d.

5.0

Guide rating

14

Reviews

Tours delivered

5 hrs

Avg. response time

Hi! I'm Ralph, your bilingual guide (born and raised in the UK, Dutch parents). Welcome to Amsterdam - it's a fantastic place to visit! I've lived here in Amsterdam for almost forty years, so I've seen a lot of changes - but the city is just as astonishing, beautiful, wonderful and unique as it was when I arrived in 1986. I'm an environmental scientist by training and a translator and musician by trade. I've always had a very wide range of interests including art, architecture, medicine, history, trade, language, technology, and industrial archaeology. Amsterdam has played a central role in all of these fields for many centuries, especially during its Golden Age, so the city and the surrounding areas offer an enormous wealth of fascinating insights, locations, stories and experiences. Over the last forty years I've always enjoyed showing family, friends, and visitors around this amazing city - on foot, by bicycle, by car, and especially by boat (I also have a skipper's licence). Now I look forward to sharing my extensive knowledge and enthusiasm with you, as your private guide! I have my own car (with a large sun roof), so I can meet you anywhere and take you anywhere. I can skipper a boat for you. I love meeting people. I'm a good communicator and an attentive listener. I'm flexible, so you can alter any itinerary to your liking or specific requirements. And I'm keen to hear about your own special interests. I would enjoy doing the research to ensure you get the tour YOU want! - BSc Environmental Sciences (UEA, UK) - Sworn translator (Dutch - English) - KVB1 (skipper's licence)

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Ralph d.

Overview of your Amsterdam tour

From about 1550 to 1700 the Netherlands dominated global trade, and its huge navy was feared, admired, and respected all over the world. How did a small city like Amsterdam, in a tiny country like the Netherlands, achieve this? By equipping trading ships to engage in full-scale wars; by building better ships, more quickly; by pursuing profit above political or religious conquest; by enthusiastically engaging in slavery; by devoting capital, resources, and recruits to the VOC enterprise; by inventing the stock exchange; by aggressively monopolizing the most profitable markets; and by ruthlessly quelling any local opposition. This tour will visit three locations that are still redolent today of the power, ambition, innovation and extraordinary riches that marked Holland's Golden Age and funded the magnificence of today's Amsterdam. I give commentary throughout. Naturally, I can customize this tour according to your request.

Your Amsterdam tour itinerary

- Collect by car from pickup point. Drive to the National Maritime Museum, housed in the original 1643 Naval Armoury. Visit the museum and the full-size replica VOC ship moored alongside. (1. 5 hrs) - Walk to the 'pakhuizen' on Entrepotdok, the largest 17th-century warehouse complex in Amsterdam. (30 mins) - Drive to Zaandam, home of the Netherlands' own 16th-century 'industrial revolution', to visit the Zaanse Schans, a remarkable open-air museum that has several working windmills including a sawmill. (2 hrs) - Drive back to pickup point.

Want to customize this tour?

Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.

Transport details
Type: Private Transportation / Category: Other

By car and on foot. My car is a gold-coloured Renault Twingo 1, a classic compact 2-door car that has a surprisingly roomy interior and excellent all-round visibility. It has no A/C, but it does sport a very large sunroof! I keep it clean, I do not smoke, and I have no pets.

What's included
Private Guide
Private Transportation
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses.
Food Drinks Snacks
Tickets: Amsterdam Maritime Museum, Zaanse Schans
Meeting location

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: The cruise ship terminal is an excellent place for me to pick you up.

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
City Highlights
History
Museums
Architecture
Art And Culture
Tour reference number
1350670
Languages
Dutch
English
French
Activity level
Light
Accessibility
Kid Friendly

Traveller reviews

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Amsterdam best suited for?

This private tour in Amsterdam is perfect for travellers interested in history, particularly the maritime Golden Age of the Netherlands. It's also ideal for those who enjoy a mix of driving and walking tours, as well as families, since it's kid-friendly. With Ralph d. as your guide, you'll gain deeper insights into Amsterdam's rich history.

Can this private tour in Amsterdam be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

Where does the tour start and end?

Is transportation included?

Is this private tour in Amsterdam suitable for cruise ship passengers as a shore excursion?

What languages is this tour offered in?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 4 hours 30 minutes
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 4 hours 30 minutes
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-3 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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