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What if we told you that New York, Wall Street, and even parts of American food culture began here in Amsterdam?
On this small-group walking tour, discover the surprising connection between the Netherlands and the United States through food, finance, migration, and history.
This experience blends storytelling with tastings of classic Dutch specialties while exploring how a small trading republic helped shape the modern world. Learn how New Amsterdam became New York, how the Dutch helped create the first stock market, and how foods like cookies, doughnuts, waffles, and coleslaw crossed the Atlantic.
Along the way, visit landmarks such as the West India House, Begijnhof, the Anne Frank House area, the famous Fault in Our Stars bench, and charming Noordermarkt, where the tour ends with traditional Dutch apple pie.
Led by a passionate local guide, this tour is perfect for curious travelers who want history, culture, and food in one memorable experience.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Easy to reach: 8-minute walk from Dam Square 5-minute walk from Rokin Metro Please arrive 10 minutes early.
Noordermarkt / Jordaan Near Anne Frank House, Amsterdam
Itinerary
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1Amsterdam Canal Ring
Start underground in the cellar of a historic Amsterdam canal house, where you’ll enjoy your first Dutch tasting and get introduced to the Dutch Golden Age. This is where the big story begins: Amsterdam as the commercial powerhouse that helped build the modern world. Learn how Dutch merchants founded New Amsterdam, the colony that later became New York City, and how a tiny country ended up shaping one of America’s greatest cities.
25 minutes • Admission ticket included -
2Herenmarkt
Visit the historic West India House, headquarters of the Dutch West India Company. This is the company that helped found New Amsterdam and expand Dutch influence across the Atlantic. Hear the story of Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch governor of New York, and how Dutch trade, ambition, and pragmatism helped shape early America.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
3Begijnhof
Walk through the historic center and step into Begijnhof, one of Amsterdam’s oldest hidden courtyards. Here you’ll hear about the Pilgrims, who lived in the Netherlands before sailing to America, and how Dutch ideas around tolerance, trade, and religious coexistence influenced the early Atlantic world.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
4Canal Ring (Grachtengordel)
Stroll through Amsterdam’s iconic UNESCO canal belt while hearing the story of how this city became the financial capital of the 17th century. This is where you can introduce one of the tour’s most memorable ideas: the Dutch helped build modern capitalism. You’ll talk about: • the world’s first stock market • the rise of the Dutch East India Company • the birth of tradable shares • and Tulip Mania, often called the world’s first speculative economic bubble It’s a fascinating stop that connects Amsterdam directly to Wall Street and the financial mindset that still shapes the world today.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5The Jordaan
Along the route, your guide will connect Dutch food culture to American food history. Guests will discover how classic foods crossed the Atlantic and became part of American life: • Cookies from the Dutch koekje • Doughnuts from Dutch oliekoeken • Coleslaw from koolsla • Waffles and pancakes brought by Dutch settlers • Dutch tavern and beer culture carried into early New York This part of the tour makes the history feel personal, playful, and delicious. Duration: spread throughout the tour
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
6Anne Frank House
Walk into the Jordaan and stop near the Anne Frank House, one of Amsterdam’s most important landmarks. Here your guide will share the story of Anne Frank, Nazi occupation, and the profound impact of World War II on the Netherlands. This is also where the story becomes two-way: after the war, America helped rebuild Europe, including the Netherlands, through postwar aid and global influence. A meaningful and reflective moment in the tour.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7
Stop near the famous Fault in Our Stars bench, a small but fun moment connecting Amsterdam to American storytelling and pop culture. It’s a reminder that the relationship between Amsterdam and America didn’t end in the 1600s — it continues today through books, film, tourism, and shared imagination.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8Noorderkerk
Finish in the charming Noordermarkt, one of the most beloved corners of the Jordaan. Here you’ll enjoy traditional Dutch apple pie while wrapping up the story of how two nations influenced each other — through food, commerce, migration, memory, and culture. A warm and satisfying ending to a thoughtful, tasty walk through Amsterdam.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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