Discover Dutch food and history with a private guide

See and taste the best of Amsterdam in a private group

Opt for a private version of the Grand Dutch Food & History Tour for a fully personalized experience. Enjoy flexible start times, optional hotel pick-up and transfer services, and the comfort of exploring at your own pace.

Private tours are also available in multiple languages, including German, French, Portuguese, and Hebrew, in addition to English and Dutch. Please contact us to check availability before booking.

About the tour 

The Grand Dutch Food & History Tour is a delicious, fun, and insightful way to explore Amsterdam, its’ heritage and Dutch culture through Dutch food. Designed for small groups and led by experienced local Dutch guides, this walking tour combines high-quality tastings with engaging storytelling through some of the city’s most charming neighborhoods.

As you stroll through and around the 17th-century Jordaan—famous for its narrow streets, historic character, and lively local culture, you’ll experience a side of Amsterdam that most visitors miss. Along the way, you’ll also enjoy beautiful views of the city’s iconic canals, including the picturesque Brouwersgracht, often considered one of the most scenic in Amsterdam.

What you’ll eat and drink

• Begin with homemade Dutch apple pie and a drink of your choice in a classic Amsterdam ‘brown’ café
• Visit a 125-year-old butchery shop to learn about and collect handcrafted Dutch charcuterie
• Enjoy a Dutch wine tasting, paired with the charcuterie, artisanal bread and Amsterdam pickles, served in an elegant private tasting space at one of our boutique partner locations (non-alcoholic options available)
• Try the iconic Dutch haring and crispy kibbeling at a traditional fish shop from Volendam
• Savor an exclusive Dutch cheese tasting, accompanied by a carefully selected glass of wine, in a private room of a specialty store that supplies Michelin-starred restaurants (non-alcoholic options available)
• Conclude with bitterballen and a drink—such as a locally crafted beer—at the stylish bistro-restaurant housed in the historic former headquarters of the Dutch West India Company, where the decision was once made to establish a new colony named New Amsterdam—now known as New York

Please note: Tastings vary slightly depending on the day due to food partners opening schedules. Each tour offers the same amount of food and drinks. On Wednesdays and Saturdays a market visit is included. For more information feel free to contact us.

Find the tastings per each day below:

Tuesday to Friday: Tastings as described above (market visit on Wednesdays)
Saturday: Apple pie, Satay Ajam – Indonesian chicken skewer (market), charcuterie, wine tasting, fish, cheese
Sunday: Apple pie, baguette with charcuterie, Satay Ajam, cheese, bitterballen
Monday: Apple pie, baguette with charcuterie, Dutch shrimp croquette, Satay Ajam, cheese (at a restaurant instead of the cheese shop)

Tour Highlights

• Explore the historic Jordaan and Amsterdam canals
• Discover Dutch food and Amsterdam history in one tour

• Small groups for a relaxed and personal experience

• Includes 4 inside and 2 outside tastings that together form a full, satisfying meal

• Visit traditional food producers and specialty shops

• Discover how Amsterdam’s history, trade, and culture are reflected in Dutch food

Practical details

• Duration: 3.5 hours (2 km easy walking)
• Stops: 6 food stops
• Tour days: Monday to Sunday
• Group size: up to 10 (contact us for larger groups)
  
• Food and (standard) drinks included. Special drinks such as cocktails are optional.
  
• Dietary accommodations: Vegetarian, pescatarian, and gluten-free diets can be accommodated, as well as nut allergies, no beef, and alcohol-free lifestyles. A vegan version of this tour is available upon request at an additional charge per person.
• Languages: English (Dutch, French, German, and Spanish available on request)
• Starting point: Cafe ‘t Papeneiland
• End point: Cafe Nieuw Amsterdam
  
• FAQ

Customization options

Since this is a private tour, there are various customization options available.

You can choose your own start time. Tours can start any time between 10:30am and 3 pm.

You can make use of our free pick-up/drop-off services if you are located within a 10-minutes walk of the start and/or end point of the tour. For further distances the extra charge is €50 per one way plus the cost of transfer if used.

You can request a vegan tour at an additional cost per person.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation is free of charge and refundable when you cancel at least 2 weeks before the tour date.

Maps

Want to book for a group of more than 10? Please contact us by sending an email to [email protected] and we’ll be in touch with you.