Jan lives in Weesp, a small town close to Amsterdam. For around 25 years, he’s been working in various parts of Amsterdam and therefore knows the city very well.
He has a strong interest in the cultural history of Amsterdam and the Netherlands, and he loves to share this interest with others.
Here are his answers to our questions:
Q: How did you become a tour guide?
A: A friend of mine introduced me to Thijs, the owner of Amsterdam Food Tours. He thought it would be a perfect fit for me, and I experienced that he was right. I appreciate the personal contact with the small groups we guide and enjoy sharing my knowledge about the city with them.
Q: Why would you recommend doing a food tour?
A: Doing a food tour is one of the best ways to discover the cultural history of the city in an informal setting. During a food tour with a small group of participants, you will discover interesting and unexpected highlights that you will not experience during other tours. The different tastings are of high quality, and the tours also provide insight into the cultural history of Amsterdam and the Netherlands.
Q: What would be your number 1 tip for someone who has only a few days to spend in Amsterdam (besides a food tour)?
A: Besides the obligatory highlights, I would recommend doing a tour through the city by tram. You can decide which direction you want to travel and where to get out, spend some time in one of the beautiful parks like Vondelpark, and then take another tram line in another direction.
Q: What is your favorite food, and where in Amsterdam do you most like to eat it?
A: I love Indonesian food. Many years ago, I lived in another part of the country while I worked in Amsterdam. At that time, my favorite restaurant was Kantjil & de Tijger. I recently visited the restaurant again for the first time in many years. I was delighted to experience that the quality of food was still as it used to be!
Q: What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned during your time as a (food) tour guide?
A: In the 17th century, the so-called Golden Age, many ships had to be supplied with food and drinks for the long journey to Asia. I knew that in those days people drank beer instead of water. But I was surprised to learn that clean water had to be imported by ship from surrounding cities to the breweries because of the poor water quality in Amsterdam.
Q: What other tours do you provide, besides the food tours?
A: I work on an ecological farm where I provide cheese-making workshops and farm tours. Many of our guests have never visited a farm, and learning about the process of cheese-making and doing it themselves is a real highlight for them!
After starting as a tour guide for Amsterdam Food Tours, Jan discovered just how much he loves to share his knowledge of the city and its cultural and historical background with our guests. For him, it is a real pleasure when people are enthusiastic to learn about our beautiful city and to enjoy delicious food together.
Want to discover the real Amsterdam with us?