There’s a lot of debate about the free walking tour in Amsterdam business and the nuisance that it’s causing. One of the many reasons is that these free tours often have 30, 40 or even more participants per group.

Locals have been trying to get them banned but have been unsuccessful thus far. This article lays out the case on why you shouldn’t do a free walking tour in Amsterdam and why it’s better to pay for one.

1 | Free Walking Tours Are Not Really Free

Whilst advertised as free online, they aren’t free. Every attendee is expected to pay at the end of the tour. Social pressure often forces people to pay the same as that they’d do for a normal paid tour.

Do you know how the “free” tour business model actually works? It’s like this:

• You visit the website of the company that offers “free walking tours”.
• You make a reservation and the company requires you to give all your personal details which they’ll use for marketing purposes.
• Then the company sells the tour to a guide, so the guide actually needs to pay for your personal data and booking.
• And then the guide hopes to get a little bit of money on the end of the tour.

So, the company that offers free walking tours is always the one that wins. They always get the biggest cut and they sold your personal data (sometimes without permission).

2 | Free Tours Cause Nuisance

Free walking tours in Amsterdam cause a lot of nuisance among the residents. Their extremely large tour groups block the cycle- and walking paths. Their tour guides speak too loudly causing noise irritations. Furthermore locals are often annoyed by the falsehoods that they hear when walking past free tour groups, often with a foreign guide.

In addition, companies offering free guided tours in Amsterdam are usually foreign and often unaware of Amsterdam regulations. Partly because of this, it is very common that these types of companies organize guided tours with 30, 40 or 50 participants. These numbers are simply too high for the narrow streets and alleys of Amsterdam.

Rather take a paid tour in Amsterdam with less participants and therefor less/ no nuisance.

3 | Poorly Intelligible

Because of the larger sizes of free tour groups it’s often quite difficult to hear the guide speak. And because foreign guides don’t speak the language they often don’t get the nuances of Dutch society because.

4 | Guides Are Not Dutch

Most guides who host a free walking tour in Amsterdam are foreign. The big majority was not born and raised in the Netherlands. Meaning that they don’t have the same background as local tour guides – who usually offer paid tours. Many foreign guides often cannot explain everything about Dutch culture, simply because they have not had the same cultural background as real Dutch guides.

5 | Free Tour Companies Try To Sell You Stuff

Free tour companies worldwide are commercial marketing-machines. They require you to provide all you personal details which they’ll use to sell you more stuff. Think of other tours or tickets for attractions you don’t want. This is how they make money. This is how they try to scam you.

Rather pay for a tour (in Amsterdam), so you know you get quality delivered without secret conditions. You also pay in restaurants, bars and in hotels, right? Why not for a tour then?

6 | You Get What You Pay For

If you consider to join a free walking tour in Amsterdam, realise that you get what you “pay for”: Very basic information like “this is Dam Square” or “this is Central Station”. While you actually want to hear all the important and secrets facts of certain highlights. You can read about this basic stuff like the names or definitions in travel books instead of doing a tour.

You probably spend at least 1000 euro for your Amsterdam trip, why not spend a normal amount – say 20 euro or 2% – for a proper tour with a local guide from a company that respects Amsterdam?

7 | Information Is Often Made Up

An often heard complaint from local residents is that (foreign) guides who host free walking tours in Amsterdam make up information or exaggerate details completely. Instead of learning about the city that they are representing, they take up some key points and fill up the blanks with rumours or false information.

8 | Free Tours Do Not Respect Local Rules

When problems arose in Amsterdam’s Red Light District because the area became more crowded, local tour operators came together with the municipality to set new voluntary rules. Together, they wanted to improve the area. The new rules entailed; smaller tour groups, no tour after 11 pm, guides should inform customers about the local etiquette, no standing still in certain narrow streets and busy spots, etcetera.

From the start of the debate, the largest free tour operator in Amsterdam – Sandemans New Europe – indicated that they would not adhere to these voluntary rules or join the conversation with the City of Amsterdam. They did not want to improve the area. They only changed their tune when the government forced them with new laws.

From this story alone you get that these free walking tour in Amsterdam operators do not have the interests of locals at heart. For them it’s just cramming as many people into a group as possible and making money.

9 | Big Size Tour Groups

The goal of a free walking tour is always to get as much people in the tour as possible. This is what the business model is based on. Because of the extremely large size of the groups you won’t have easy access to the tour guide. It’s very difficult to ask questions or you might not be able to hear the stories due to the distance and surrounding noise.

10 | You Are Not Paying Taxes

Free tours work on a tips basis. In the Netherlands there are no taxes on tips. Free tours often cause hindrance and nuisance for locals. Public space that gets disrupted by these free tours.

10 Tips

• Join our activities in Amsterdam. We do not offer free walking tours because of all the above points. Free tours have a negative impact on Amsterdam and other cities in the world.
• Choose a company, like us, that respects the local etiquette. We were the first company to sign the covenant/agreement with the local government and residents to improve the city centre by following certain measures.
• Pick a organisation, like us, who has Dutch tour guides. The main advantage is that they were born and raised in the Netherlands, therefore have the best understanding of the Dutch culture and they all speak perfectly English – which is mandatory on primary schools, high schools and universities.

• Take tour guides, like ours, who have a license and permit from the City of Amsterdam.
• If you purchase a service like a guided tour, you have more customer rights.
• If you are dissatisfied about a paid tour, you can always make a complaint, request a refund and possibly share your experience on review sites like TripAdvisor.

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The post 10 Reasons Not To Take A Free Walking Tour In Amsterdam in 2026 appeared first on Tours in Amsterdam.

The Netherlands went through a lot during the Second World War, between 1940 and 1945. This list contains 5 interesting facts about Amsterdam in WWII and 5 frequently asked questions about the history of Amsterdam.

Second World War Facts

Why did WWII start?

The Second World War began on September 1st, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. This was the beginning of a six-year conflict that would involve nearly every nation in the world. The primary cause of the war was Germany’s aggressive expansionism, which led to the invasion of other countries such as Czechoslovakia and France. Britain and France declared war on Germany in response to the invasion of Poland, and thus began a conflict that would claim the lives of millions of people. In addition to expansionism, other causes of the Second World War include nationalism, the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, and the failure of previous diplomatic efforts to prevent conflict.

What happened in Amsterdam In WWII?

The German occupation of the Netherlands and Amsterdam can be divided into three parts. After the invasion on May 10, 1940 to June 22, 1941, the ‘better than expected occupation’ part took place; Germans implemented a ‘velvet glove’ approach and the economic exploitation remained limited.

From June 22, 1941 to June 6, 1944, as the war progressed less and less in Germany’s favour, economic exploitation of the Dutch increased and the occupation became grimmer.

The third and final part started on June 6, 1944 and lasted to May 4, 1945. Hunger and shortages culminate during the Hunger Winter. German occupying forces increasingly lose their grip and also become increasingly incalculable. Leaders exert a moderating influence, but destruction is still being wrought. Throughout the German occupation the persecution of Dutch Jews was ever present.

When did Nazi Germany invade Amsterdam?

The war started for Amsterdam with the sound of propellor engines on May 10, 1940, around 3:00 am. German bombers flew over Amsterdam on their way to attack Schiphol Airport. But in a sense the World War II had already begun for Amsterdammers as early as August 1939, with the mobilisation.

The Netherlands maintained its neutrality, but the army was put on alert. 75 schools were used to house soldiers. 50,000 inhabitants had to make their homes available to soldiers.

Yearly on the 4th of May, Remembrance day is held on Dam Square in Amsterdam.

Why was Holland neutral in WW2?

At the start of World War 2 the Netherlands was a neutral country like it had been for over a century. This policy had kept them out of the bloody First World War. The Dutch sat on the sidelines as other countries in Europe first experienced slaughter on an industrial scale. The Dutch would only fight when attacked.

Was Amsterdam bombed in WWII?

Amsterdam was first bombed in WWII, on the 11th of May. On the second the day of the invasion a single Junkers Ju 88 bomber dropped four bombs on the centre of Amsterdam at the Herengracht. In total 44 civilians died and 79 were injured. After this incident the next serious bombing of Amsterdam was done by the allied forces.

On July 17, 1943 158 civilians were killed and 119 injured when allied bombers accidentally hit residential areas in Amsterdam Noord (North) instead of the intended war industry targets close by.

Why did Germany attack the Netherlands?

The Netherlands (and Belgium) were located in a strategic position between Germany and France. The route was logical for both the Germans and allies as fortifications were weak compared to the actual border between France and Germany. The Germans also wanted to turn Europe into an impenetrable fortress. Leaving the Netherlands open for an Allied counter attack was simply out of the question.

1 | Anne Frank: A Name Known Around The World

Anne Frank is the most famous Dutch person in the world, but she was actually born in Germany. Like many German jews her parents decided to leave Germany because of the rising antisemitism and its bad economy.

Her world famous diary actually might never have been published had it not been for Miep Gies, who found the diary and handed it to Otto Frank. She later said that if she had read the journal beforehand, she would never have given it but would have destroyed the pages.

According to Miep Gies, everyone who helped hide the Frank family would have faced the Germans because their names were in the book.

2 | Dutch Resistance

This is a fact about Amsterdam in WWII that not many people know. On a per capita basis the Netherlands had the most people hiding from the occupying forces. Nor have there been so many worker strikes in any other occupied country.

The most famous worker strike was the February Strike in 1941 when the Dutch demonstrated against the persecution of Dutch Jews. This act of public resistance, which was violently struck down, is still remembered every year in Amsterdam.

3 | The Bombing Of Rotterdam

Rotterdam used to have a beautiful historic city centre just like Amsterdam still has today. It was completely destroyed by a German air raid on May 14, 1940 between 13:27 pm and around 13:40 pm.

The bombing led to the surrender of Rotterdam the same day and under the threat of bombing other cities, starting with Utrecht, the Netherlands surrendered to the Germans on May 15. Other historical city centres like Amsterdam’s would be spared the horror of Rotterdam.

4 | Homosexuality During World War 2

Unlike in Germany, no people were arrested or prosecuted in the Netherlands for being homosexual. There were cases of Jews and resistance fighters being arrested who were dealt with extra severely after their homosexuality became known.

One of those Gay resistance fighters was anti-fascist Willem Arondoes. Arondoes led a group of resistance fighters that bombed the public records of Amsterdam. The records there were used by the Nazis in the persecution of Dutch Jews. Before being executed Arondoes loudly proclaimed:

“Let it be known that homosexuals are not cowards!”

Cafe ‘t Mandje Zeedijk: Tolerance & Resistance

Cafe ‘t Mandje was the first cafe in Amsterdam where regular and homosexual people mingled and partied together. The cafe is located on the Zeedijk in Amsterdam Red Light District and close to the then Jewish quarters.

German soldiers were not allowed to go in the area, because they’d get too distracted. Cafe owner (a lesbian herself) Bet van Beeren – aunt of Diana van Laar – hid several jews in the attic of the cafe.

Her brother is said to have stored resistance weapons in the basement. Whilst regular German soldiers weren’t allowed in the area higher officers used to actually go for a drink in this cafe!

5 | Dam Square Shooting

On May 7, 1945, two days after the liberation of the Netherlands people were out celebrating the allied victory on Dam Square, Amsterdam’s main square. Then suddenly around 3:00 pm German soldiers suddenly started opening fire into the big crows of partygoers.

German soldiers were stationed at a corner of Dam Square and fired from the balcony. In total 32 people were killed and 231 injured. A bloody start for a city that regained its freedom.

If you’d like to know more about the May 7th shooting incident we recommend this Dam Square Shooting article.

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Do you know other facts about Amsterdam in WWII? Drop them in the comment section below and share it with the world.

The post 10 Special Facts About Amsterdam In WWII appeared first on Tours in Amsterdam.