Private tour in Amsterdam Monique S
5.0
(11) reviews
4 hours
1
4 hours
1
Monique S.
5.0
Guide rating
153
Reviews
Tours delivered
11 hrs
Avg. response time
Nice to meet you! My name is Monique, which is a French name, but my roots are very much in the Netherlands. My grandfather came from a family of famous tulip traders and there’s even a bulb named after the family. I’ve always lived close to Amsterdam and fell in love with the city as a child. I moved here 25 years ago, and it’s still my favorite place in the world. What I love about guiding is that I get to open up Amsterdam for you. Because behind the beautiful canals, crooked houses and famous paintings are incredible stories. Those are the things that make a city come alive. I’m a journalist and creative writer by background, so curiosity and storytelling come naturally to me. Give me a Rembrandt, an old canal house, a hidden courtyard or a wonderfully strange piece of Amsterdam history and I’m happy. I love finding the details and stories that make you suddenly look at something with completely different eyes. The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are two places I especially love to guide. There is so much more to these paintings than what you see at first glance. The people, the emotions, the ambitions, the drama, the time they lived in. I love bringing that world closer and making art exciting, whether you know a lot about it or nothing at all. I also have a special interest in Amsterdam’s Jewish history, including WWII and Anne Frank. I find it especially meaningful to share this important part of Amsterdam’s story with my guests. But Amsterdam is also a city to enjoy! We can wander through beautiful neighborhoods, find hidden places, talk about Dutch life, stop for something delicious, dive into history or art or mix it all together. I’ve been guiding private tours for more than 10 years, and what I still enjoy most is the people I meet. Every guest brings different interests, questions and energy, and that’s what makes every tour different. So tell me what excites you about coming to Amsterdam. I’ll take it from there. Credentials: *Experienced tour guide (11 years) * A Bachelor’s degree in Journalism * A registration at the Chamber of Commerce * License to guide in Amsterdam *Official guide in the Rijksmuseum *Official guide in the Van Gogh Museum
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Monique S.
As someone that grew up in the area, I know how close to Amsterdam you can find a park full of old windmills. It is my pleasure to take you to this special spot that I've loved since I was a child. I will take you into the old mills and tell you all about them. You will finally understand why The Netherlands is so famous for them and how important they've been for the country. Next to that we'll taste some real Dutch cheese and see how the wooden shoes are made. For children there is also some old fashioned Dutch candy. Prepare for a small adventure outside of the city. If you would like to do this tour with more people, that is no problem. Just contact me. There will only be extra costs for the transport and access to the windmills.
Monique was such a great guide for our family. We loved this tour into the history of the Netherlands. How windmills worked and what early times were all about in this amazing place. Just a short train ride from the center of Amsterdam, but a world away. Monique was smart, engaging and so knowledgeable. What an amazing day. Highly recommended.
Monique was wonderful. She's incredibly informative while entertaining at the same time. We had a great time learning about the Zaanse Schans area while getting to try yummy chocolate & stroopwaffles. Everything went very smoothly through the entire tour.
This was our 2nd tour with Monique. It's a must do when visiting Amsterdam. Because this is a private tour, Monique took us there via train. The village is beautiful and strictly maintained. You will learn the history of the village and the windmills as well as the current use of the windmills. We got to see inside two of the several still-working windmills and learn how they still function today. The clog making demonstration was fun to watch as well! Thank you Monique!
Monique was so fantastic. We had the absolute best day with her. Everything was seamless from pick up, to tram, train, guided walking around and in the Windmills and then back into the city center. We are a family of 4 ( 2 kids 10 and 12) and she kept them engaged and taught them so many things. I highly recommend Monique and her tours. Thank you Monique for our favourite day of our vacation. I will definitely recommend to all my clients and friends.
My family and I thoroughly enjoyed this tour and Monique was the perfect guide! While on the train from Amsterdam, Monique gave us some background information and answered all of our questions. We visited two windmills and Monique introduced us to the millers who spend a good amount of time talking to us. The cheese tasting and clog making demonstration were a bonus! Monique is a terrific guide and lovely, lovely person and we highly recommend her and this tour!
Monique was an excellent guide who provided a fantastic tour of Zaanse Schans and the windmills of the Netherlands. Getting to see the inside workings of several different windmills was an unexpected surprise. We enjoyed tasting the stroopwafels, Dutch chocolate and cheese. We also enjoyed the train ride to Zaandijk. Monique's knowledge of the history of the Netherlands was vast and we enjoyed hearing her stories. By the end of the tour, we felt we had become good friends.
For this tour I will pick you up from your hotel and from there we'll go with a private driver to the Zaanse Schans. We walk past the picturesque wooden houses, see one of the first windmills and watch how wooden shoes (clogs) are made. Then there is time to taste cheese, Dutch chocolate and my favorite: Stroopwafels (cookies). The Windmills are pretty from the outside, but especially interesting on the inside. We visit a mill that makes paint and a mill that can saw wood. After this there is time for some souvenir shopping and/or a cup of coffee before we go back to Amsterdam.
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.
A private driver will takes in a car which is suitable for the group size. Usually this is a six seater.
Piet Heinkade, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
I can meet you at your hotel or cruise port if this one is located in the centre of Amsterdam.
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4 hours
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4 hours
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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