Amsterdamsel Tours
Amsterdamsel Tours
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About
Please send all requests via our website reservations form for the quickest response. Our small network of expert historians-turned-storytellers make the old city talk, and these walls do have tales to tell! Explore Amsterdam (and other Dutch cities) with this small company, the only female-owned tour operator in town (hence the name AmsterDamsel, of course).
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Amsterdamsel Tours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
165 reviews
Excellent
143
Very good
20
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Michael M
Philadelphia, PA67 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
We booked Larae, owner of Amsterdamsel Tours, for the Essential Amsterdam - A Half-Day Adventure tour based on a review we read from Rick Steve’s Amsterdam book. She was in contact with us before the tour and picked us up at our hotel. Before we set out on our walk, Larae checked in with us to see where we had already been in Amsterdam; what we wanted to see; and, what we wanted to learn. She essentially customized our tour on the spot and gave us a wonderful afternoon touring this amazing city and answering any and all questions we had. As a person who identifies as Queer, I can also say she is truly LGBTQ-friendly and incorporated sights specific to our community. My spouse and I have been on many a private tour, and Larae was one of the best! Cheers!
Written April 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BertA
1 contribution
Oct 2022
My two groups (each of 8 people) did walking tours on Oct 4 with Amsterdamsel. Larae led one group; her colleague Frank took the other, which included me. Frank was very knowledgeable, friendly and very accommodating to our interests and questions. I know those who toured with Larae definitely enjoyed their tour as well. We did the 1/2 day tour--wish we had time for the full day. I would definitely recommend an Amsterdamsel tour to introduce you to Amsterdam!
Written October 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
beckymcdowell51@gmail.com
San Antonio, TX1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Couples
I never enjoyed a more complete tour than the one I just had in Amsterdam. Larvae was professional, knowledgeable, interesting and just plain funny for the whole four hour tour. Even when the tour ended she was very helpful in answering questions about what we had planned. If you ever have the opportunity to use her you should, she is great.
Written August 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Linda B
1 contribution
May 2022 • Friends
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and very pleasant. One of our friends had injured her knee and we were afraid we would need to cancel a walking tour. Our guide suggested a wheel chair and she happily adapted our tour to accommodate! I feel she went above and beyond to help us experience and learn about Amsterdam. I highly recommend Amsterdamsel Tours!
Written May 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Elizabeth O
12 contributions
Sep 2022 • Friends
Frank, our tour guide, was absolutely wonderful! Really enjoyed our walking tour of Amsterdam. Frank, was not only very knowledgeable, but very engaging as well. He seem to know the perfect pace to keep with us and when to stop. I feel like after this tour I had a much better concept of what Amsterdam is all about. I highly recommend this tour! Definitely one of the highlights of our time in Amsterdam.
Written September 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Marilyn W
Ottawa, Canada1 contribution
May 2013 • Couples
This trip almost exceeded our expectations -- the weather was the only disappointment. Larae was a wonderful tour director, knowledgeable about each city we visited over ten days. She made all 48 of the travellers on the Trafalgar Bus Tour feel welcome, and created an atmosphere of camaraderie for all of us, despite our different ages, genders and backgrounds. She arranged for special guides in Amsterdam, Orval, Bruges, Ghent, and Waterloo, who were excellent. She gave us great information about the places we were going to see while we were on the bus to Volendam, Rotterdam, Delft, Trier, and the previously mentioned cities. The meals that were included on the tour were excellent. The restuarants gave us a sense of the night life in Amsterdam and Brussels, while the dinner at a hotel in the mountains of Trier and a B&B near Bruges were delicious and in beautiful settings. All in all it was an amazing experience, and one we would recommend highly to anyone interested in that part of Europe. Marilyn W.
Written July 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dr Nina V
Navsari, India6 contributions
May 2014 • Family
Hi! I am Dr. Nina Piyush Vaidya and I would like to share my experience of our trip to Netherlands, Austria. Czech and Germany.
I started planning before three and a half month and the day wise itinerary was ready before a month. I did all my reservations through internet and it came to an unbelievable low price with utmost comfort.
We are a family of five adults and we rented a car from Car trawler. Our car was Skoda Octavia Wagon from SIXT with big dickey. Renting a car proved to be like a boon to us. We could explore the most beautiful places on our own. We could do this with utmost comfort and no stress of carrying luggage.
You need to have your national plus international driving licence to drive the car in Europe. If you are a resident of a country where there is right hand drive, do not worry, you will get acquainted within 2-3 hours of driving. Instead of renting a car with navigator which costs you 10Euros/day extra (we were to hire the car for 26 days), we bought our own navigator.
NETHERLANDS
DAY:1 We picked up our keys for our rental apartment and of the car from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, with all the necessary information. It was 11 am; we entered our apartment address in our navigator and started following the instruction. It was the first day and very first experience of left handed driving so instead of reaching our destination within 30 minutes we took two and a half hours. It was a very good learning experience and there after everything went on smoothly. I speculated this & so I kept half day free for driving orientation. We started our tour from 4pm. We visited the flower market- a unique market with lots and lots of varieties of flowers, flower bulbs, attractive pots and everything related to flowers. You name the colour and that coloured flower was there in that market.
At around 6:30 in the evening we took Canal cruise for 75 minutes (we had e-tickets with us) and experienced true Amsterdam. Then we walked around in the beautiful, electrifying city of Amsterdam till late night.
DAY:2 We took our breakfast at our apartment, I prepared lunch and packed it. We started for Keukenhof Flower fields at about 9:30am and reached there at around 10 am. We were having the online tickets for car parking and the garden so we could enter the garden without standing in a queue (You get concessions if you buy online combo tickets and these tickets are open tickets so there is no compulsion to visit that place on a particular day. Ours was valid till 31st Dec 2014.) We entered from the extra entrance and thoroughly enjoyed Wilhelmina, Juliana, area around bulb information and the area around main entrance of the garden. Then we had our lunch at a beautiful resting area made near a water body. There were small dining tables with chairs set on a wooden projection on the water and the whole area was surrounded by innumerable, colourful tulips. What else you need!!!!! Post lunch we went for Oranje Nassau, Willem-Alexander, Beatrix and the Wind mill along with the flower fields on its back side. The magical display of tulips was just beyond imagination. We enjoyed every moment in Kukenhof tulip garden. The photos shown on net are just information. There is a lot more to see, enjoy & experience in that garden. We also blossomed along with tulips in that garden. It was 5 pm and we started for our apartment in Amsterdam. We had evening free for Amsterdam city so we went to visit the Red Light District. Our children did not accompany us for this. If you can walk around with zero thought level of your mind, it is a worth visiting place. I could not detach myself so I got disturbed.
DAY:3 We took our tea at apartment, packed breakfast and lunch with us and started at 8 am. We reached Madurodam, Hague at 9am, had our breakfast and entered the amazing world of miniature architecture. Each and every building surprised us. The trains actually running on the tracks, buses actually running on roads, planes landing on airports, cruises sailing on water and what not!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything very tiny, cute but accurate!!!! It took two and a half hours and then we proceeded for Panorama Mesdag, a unique 3D panorama theatre-must visit place. At around 1pm we left for Delft to visit the Royal Delft pottery factory. I got information from internet that they actually show us the process of making the pottery and if you wish you can try your hand. It was not so, you can just visit the factory. It was good but not worth spending 11 Euros/px. I found it too expensive. We proceeded for Volendam, had our lunch on reaching Volendam. It was a beautiful Dutch countryside drive till Volendam but our joy knew no boundaries when we reached our destination. Volendam is extremely beautiful, typical Dutch cultured town. We walked till the jetty and caught a ferry for Marken, another Dutch country side town on the other side of Volendam. (We had e-tickets so could skip standing in a queue). Marken was a real good experience. We visited the wooden shoe factory-must visit place. Our Netherland trip specifically planned during these days was for Flower Parade. Today was 2nd and the Flower Parade was to start on 3rd. We knew that on the previous day evening an exhibition of all the decorated stages and cars was held at Noordwijik-The host town. We left Volendam after having our evening tea and snacks for Noordwijk. The best decision!!!! The exhibition was unbelievable. I have gone through the ‘you-tube’ videos and images of Flower Parade but those were not even 50% of the actual one. An amazing experience, electrifying atmosphere. I had to pinch myself repeatedly to confirm that I am not dreaming!!!!! To our surprise the replica of actual Flower Parade started at around 9:30pm with beautifully dressed bands and amazingly illuminated cars & stages. Apart from various bands there were other performers on road and on the huge stages as well. According to our actual plan we were to watch flower parade the next morning from Sassenheim. We came to Noordwijk for the exhibition and we were so lucky that we could watch the Flower Parade in a much better way. It ended around 11:00 pm and we started for our apartment in Amsterdam.
DAY:4 After having our tea & breakfast we started for our Amsterdam city tour. The local transport services including the tram service are very good in Amsterdam so we purchased 24 hour day pass for all of us and started our tour. We visited Beginhof, Dam square, Central Station, The Heineken experience and ICE bar( we just had a look as we are non-drinkers), Rambrandtplein Square, Leidseplein Square and walked around the canal. We ended our city tour sitting leisurely at Vondel park-huge park with so many things to do- cycling, skating, ground play, running, walking, sitting, picnic, photo shoot etc.
TIPS FOR AMSTERDAM:
• Amsterdam is a costly city especially during Tulip season
• Driving in the city becomes frustrating at times because of the cyclist and narrow internal roads. It is better to visit the city by tram. Tram services are excellent.
• Parking is very costly. If you are going to visit only Amsterdam then do not hire a car. If you are going to visit Netherlands and other European country than complete your city tour and near city excursions first through local transport and then hire a car. That will save you much of your money.
• Flower Parade and Vespa Scooter Bulb tour are two MUST DO THINGS in Netherlands but you cannot do both in same visit because usually Flower Parade is held towards the end of flower season so you find the bulb fields empty.
• You can further save your money by staying at the out skirts of Amsterdam or in towns like Sassenheim, Noordwijk etc. We thought that by staying in proper Amsterdam we would enjoy more but the transport services are so good that staying any where would end up with enjoyment plus you save money.
• Spare at least half day for Volendam and Marken. They are true DUTCH EXPERIENCE!!!!
I started planning before three and a half month and the day wise itinerary was ready before a month. I did all my reservations through internet and it came to an unbelievable low price with utmost comfort.
We are a family of five adults and we rented a car from Car trawler. Our car was Skoda Octavia Wagon from SIXT with big dickey. Renting a car proved to be like a boon to us. We could explore the most beautiful places on our own. We could do this with utmost comfort and no stress of carrying luggage.
You need to have your national plus international driving licence to drive the car in Europe. If you are a resident of a country where there is right hand drive, do not worry, you will get acquainted within 2-3 hours of driving. Instead of renting a car with navigator which costs you 10Euros/day extra (we were to hire the car for 26 days), we bought our own navigator.
NETHERLANDS
DAY:1 We picked up our keys for our rental apartment and of the car from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, with all the necessary information. It was 11 am; we entered our apartment address in our navigator and started following the instruction. It was the first day and very first experience of left handed driving so instead of reaching our destination within 30 minutes we took two and a half hours. It was a very good learning experience and there after everything went on smoothly. I speculated this & so I kept half day free for driving orientation. We started our tour from 4pm. We visited the flower market- a unique market with lots and lots of varieties of flowers, flower bulbs, attractive pots and everything related to flowers. You name the colour and that coloured flower was there in that market.
At around 6:30 in the evening we took Canal cruise for 75 minutes (we had e-tickets with us) and experienced true Amsterdam. Then we walked around in the beautiful, electrifying city of Amsterdam till late night.
DAY:2 We took our breakfast at our apartment, I prepared lunch and packed it. We started for Keukenhof Flower fields at about 9:30am and reached there at around 10 am. We were having the online tickets for car parking and the garden so we could enter the garden without standing in a queue (You get concessions if you buy online combo tickets and these tickets are open tickets so there is no compulsion to visit that place on a particular day. Ours was valid till 31st Dec 2014.) We entered from the extra entrance and thoroughly enjoyed Wilhelmina, Juliana, area around bulb information and the area around main entrance of the garden. Then we had our lunch at a beautiful resting area made near a water body. There were small dining tables with chairs set on a wooden projection on the water and the whole area was surrounded by innumerable, colourful tulips. What else you need!!!!! Post lunch we went for Oranje Nassau, Willem-Alexander, Beatrix and the Wind mill along with the flower fields on its back side. The magical display of tulips was just beyond imagination. We enjoyed every moment in Kukenhof tulip garden. The photos shown on net are just information. There is a lot more to see, enjoy & experience in that garden. We also blossomed along with tulips in that garden. It was 5 pm and we started for our apartment in Amsterdam. We had evening free for Amsterdam city so we went to visit the Red Light District. Our children did not accompany us for this. If you can walk around with zero thought level of your mind, it is a worth visiting place. I could not detach myself so I got disturbed.
DAY:3 We took our tea at apartment, packed breakfast and lunch with us and started at 8 am. We reached Madurodam, Hague at 9am, had our breakfast and entered the amazing world of miniature architecture. Each and every building surprised us. The trains actually running on the tracks, buses actually running on roads, planes landing on airports, cruises sailing on water and what not!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything very tiny, cute but accurate!!!! It took two and a half hours and then we proceeded for Panorama Mesdag, a unique 3D panorama theatre-must visit place. At around 1pm we left for Delft to visit the Royal Delft pottery factory. I got information from internet that they actually show us the process of making the pottery and if you wish you can try your hand. It was not so, you can just visit the factory. It was good but not worth spending 11 Euros/px. I found it too expensive. We proceeded for Volendam, had our lunch on reaching Volendam. It was a beautiful Dutch countryside drive till Volendam but our joy knew no boundaries when we reached our destination. Volendam is extremely beautiful, typical Dutch cultured town. We walked till the jetty and caught a ferry for Marken, another Dutch country side town on the other side of Volendam. (We had e-tickets so could skip standing in a queue). Marken was a real good experience. We visited the wooden shoe factory-must visit place. Our Netherland trip specifically planned during these days was for Flower Parade. Today was 2nd and the Flower Parade was to start on 3rd. We knew that on the previous day evening an exhibition of all the decorated stages and cars was held at Noordwijik-The host town. We left Volendam after having our evening tea and snacks for Noordwijk. The best decision!!!! The exhibition was unbelievable. I have gone through the ‘you-tube’ videos and images of Flower Parade but those were not even 50% of the actual one. An amazing experience, electrifying atmosphere. I had to pinch myself repeatedly to confirm that I am not dreaming!!!!! To our surprise the replica of actual Flower Parade started at around 9:30pm with beautifully dressed bands and amazingly illuminated cars & stages. Apart from various bands there were other performers on road and on the huge stages as well. According to our actual plan we were to watch flower parade the next morning from Sassenheim. We came to Noordwijk for the exhibition and we were so lucky that we could watch the Flower Parade in a much better way. It ended around 11:00 pm and we started for our apartment in Amsterdam.
DAY:4 After having our tea & breakfast we started for our Amsterdam city tour. The local transport services including the tram service are very good in Amsterdam so we purchased 24 hour day pass for all of us and started our tour. We visited Beginhof, Dam square, Central Station, The Heineken experience and ICE bar( we just had a look as we are non-drinkers), Rambrandtplein Square, Leidseplein Square and walked around the canal. We ended our city tour sitting leisurely at Vondel park-huge park with so many things to do- cycling, skating, ground play, running, walking, sitting, picnic, photo shoot etc.
TIPS FOR AMSTERDAM:
• Amsterdam is a costly city especially during Tulip season
• Driving in the city becomes frustrating at times because of the cyclist and narrow internal roads. It is better to visit the city by tram. Tram services are excellent.
• Parking is very costly. If you are going to visit only Amsterdam then do not hire a car. If you are going to visit Netherlands and other European country than complete your city tour and near city excursions first through local transport and then hire a car. That will save you much of your money.
• Flower Parade and Vespa Scooter Bulb tour are two MUST DO THINGS in Netherlands but you cannot do both in same visit because usually Flower Parade is held towards the end of flower season so you find the bulb fields empty.
• You can further save your money by staying at the out skirts of Amsterdam or in towns like Sassenheim, Noordwijk etc. We thought that by staying in proper Amsterdam we would enjoy more but the transport services are so good that staying any where would end up with enjoyment plus you save money.
• Spare at least half day for Volendam and Marken. They are true DUTCH EXPERIENCE!!!!
Written June 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Brian E
Montgomery, AL25 contributions
Jan 2016 • Family
This is the second time I have used Amsterdamsel tours with Larae. I have been to numerous cities, and I have used numerous tour guides. She is by far the most engaging, entertaining, and enjoyable guide. She has great stories, and can make everything so personable. I was traveling with my wife and 2 daughters aged 19 and 17. She covered old Amsterdam through modern times with grace and humor. My daughters are fascinated by WWII, and her tour was fantastic. WE went to coffee houses and the red light district, and she was able to cover all these topics with diplomacy and dignity. If you do not contact her, you have made a mistake. Brian, Montgomery, Alabama
Written January 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hello Brian! Thanks for coming back, and your kind words! I enjoyed seeing you and your family. Best guests ever!
Written February 10, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ineedavacationtoo
Virginia1 contribution
With only one day to hit the highlights of Amsterdam, our tour group was fortunate enough to have the expertise of Larae M. (the original Amsterdamsel) as our guide. Larae was extremely familiar with the city and was quickly able to guide our phenomenal bus driver through the traffic laden city with ease. Her knowledge of the history, architecture, areas, and arts of the city was superb. Her wit and enthusiasm allowed us to have a wonderful and fun perspective of this fascinating area of the Netherlands. The students on board, as well as the adults, enjoyed her company and her knowledge as we spent the afternoon seeing the highlights of the city and outlying areas before touring Anne Frank's house which was the final stopping point for our tour.
We would highly recommend seeing Amsterdam with Larae!
We would highly recommend seeing Amsterdam with Larae!
Written April 16, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SDF049
Toronto, Canada12 contributions
Nov 2011 • Business
We were a group of 4 adults with 36 high school students. Larae was the absolute best; she engaged everyone with her knowledge, humour and warmth. Everyone was riveted by her commentary and sad when the tour was over. 11 overseas trips to Europe- Amsterdamsel was one of the very best!
Written December 4, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Deb I
Appleton, Wisconsin8 contributions
How do you get a response or schedule? I’ve sent multiple emails ?
BertA
1 contribution
That is frustrating, I know--you won't get a reply to an email. However, if you scroll down on the website for Amsterdamsel, you'll find a Question section that asks for your name, email, etc. That's how I communicated with Larea, successfully.
Elisabeth M
Barcelona, Spain7 contributions
Buenas,
Como debo hacer para reservar el día y habla en Español y ver que ruta se realiza?
Gracias
dinakiszko
Province of Neuquen, Argentina229 contributions
En la página por internet, hay varios y hay que registrarse.
Hernan B
Stockholm, Sweden3 contributions
Buen día, el guía habla español? Gracias
dinakiszko
Province of Neuquen, Argentina229 contributions
Si, hay que buscarlos en la Plaza Dam
Alvaro M
Guadalajara, Mexico
¿esta empresa dispone de free tours?
Amsterdamsel Tours
Amsterdam, The Netherlands11 contributions
Gracias por su pregunta. No somos la empresa que hace visitas guiadas gratuitas. Hemos experimentado guías y les pagan bien por su maravilloso trabajo. Algunas críticas han aparecido que hablan de otra empresa que ofrece visitas guiadas gratuitas. Lo siento por la confusión.
Juan C
Puebla, Mexico6 contributions
Hola! El tour free es realmente gratis? Solo tengo que llegar a la plaza o tengo que hacer una reservación.
Amsterdamsel Tours
Amsterdam, The Netherlands11 contributions
Gracias por su pregunta. No somos la empresa que hace visitas guiadas gratuitas. Hemos experimentado guías y les pagan bien por su maravilloso trabajo. Algunas críticas han aparecido que hablan de otra empresa que ofrece visitas guiadas gratuitas. Lo siento por la confusión.
Juan C
Puebla, Mexico6 contributions
Hola! El tour free es realmente gratis? Solo tengo que llegar a la plaza o tengo que hacer una reservación.
Amsterdamsel Tours
Amsterdam, The Netherlands11 contributions
Estimado Juan,
Gracias por su mensaje. Mi empresa no ofrece tours gratuitos. TripAdvisor está colocando comentarios sobre tours gratuitos en mi página incorrectamente. Hay una empresa dando "tours gratis", pero los guías pagar la empresa para cada turista, y cada turista debe propina para que puedan sobrevivir, lo siento decir.
Disfrute de su estancia en Amsterdam!
JavierA1966
Madrid, Spain220 contributions
Buenas tardes
Por favor, en relación al Tour por Amsterdam, hay que hacer algún tipo de reserva previo? Entiendo que el precio es gratuito y que al final hay posibilidad de dejar propina, es así? Es en Español el TOUR? gracias
cris50_10
Saladillo, Argentina259 contributions
el tour es en español y se reserva en la pagina de Sandemans ,para el free tours,se imprime el ticket o se muestra en el telefono,y la propina es voluntaria.Muy buen nivel los guias.
loreley_12
Buenos Aires, Argentina343 contributions
Hola!pensamos visitar Amsterdam en julio proximo.me interesa hacer este tour.podrian informarme respecto al lugar de encuentro.O d'onde encontrar los horarios segun la 'epoca del año..Cerca de qu{e atraccion turistica parten?(o algun punto de referencia)Cualquier otra informaci{on,se los agradecere
ceciliat80
córdoba179 contributions
Hola buen día me podés indicar como puedo contactarme con Amsterdamsel tours para ver que excursiones ofrecen?, me gustaría saber la de los canales y algo en la ciudad, gracias
Alicia G
Buenos Aires, Argentina10 contributions
Cómo debo hacer para contratar una guiada gratuita en Español por Ámsterdam?
Gracias
Alicia
Amsterdamsel Tours
Amsterdam, The Netherlands11 contributions
Gracias por su pregunta. No somos la empresa que hace visitas guiadas gratuitas. Hemos experimentado guías y les pagan bastante por su maravilloso trabajo. Algunas críticas han aparecido que hablan de otra empresa que ofrece visitas guiadas gratuitas. Lo siento por la confusión. Estamos pidiendo TripAdvisor para complacer a eliminar los comentarios accidentales sobre visitas guiadas gratuitas, porque no son lo que ofrecemos.