Amsterdam Bike Tour: Off the Beaten Path
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rating: 
Trip Type: Bike & Mountain Bike Tours
Duration: 3 hours
Experience Amsterdam’s passion for all things two wheels on a 3-hour guided bike tour. Pedal through cool, lesser-known neighborhoods on a tour inspired by Pete Jordan’s book, “In the City of Bikes,” passing landmarks such as the Rikjsmuseum and Maritime Museum. Navigate pretty districts such as Jordaan, ride a ferry to see the city’s northern 'dijks' (dykes), and on route, discover quirky bike-related places, unusual trivia and incredible tales such as how Amsterdammers used their bikes to beat wartime Nazi blockades.
Numbers are limited to 12 on this small-group tour, ensuring personalized attention.
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Experience Amsterdam’s passion for all things two wheels on a 3-hour guided bike tour. Pedal through cool, lesser-known neighborhoods on a tour inspired by Pete Jordan’s book, “In the City of Bikes,” passing landmarks such as the Rikjsmuseum and Maritime Museum. Navigate pretty districts such as Jordaan, ride a ferry to see the city’s northern 'dijks' (dykes), and on route, discover quirky bike-related places, unusual trivia and incredible tales such as how Amsterdammers used their bikes to beat wartime Nazi blockades.
Numbers are limited to 12 on this small-group tour, ensuring personalized attention.
Meet your guide near Dam Square in central Amsterdam, put on your helmet and hop on your traditional Dutch bike.
Before setting off, get an introduction to Amsterdam’s obsession with two wheels and learn about Pete Jordan's hit book, In the City of Bikes. Hear how it inspired the tour and how you’ll pass some of the bike-related places mentioned in its pages.
Start by cycling through Amsterdam’s historical financial district, passing buildings such as the old Dutch East India Company offices. As you travel, gain quirky insights into the city’s long-held relationship not just with bikes, but with the sea, and how they're closely intertwined.
Leave the financial district behind and then head towards Amsterdam’s northern dijks, starting out through either the interesting old Jewish quarter or along the Amstel River.
Depending on the route you take, cruise through districts such as Jordaan with its pretty bridges and canals; and pass landmarks such as the Rijksmuseum, Amstel sluice gate, de Gooyer windmill and the waterfront Maritime Museum, housed in a resplendently restored 17th century naval storehouse.
Then, take a 5-minute ferry ride to north Amsterdam — an area many visitors never see — and hear tales of the 1944-1945 hunger treks, when thousands of Amsterdammers cycled north to find food during the wartime Nazi blockades.
Cycle around some of the dijks here and learn how they’ve protected against flooding, before returning by ferry to the city center.
Before your tour ends, hear more about Amsterdam’s passion for cycling, and see other places mentioned in Jordan’s book, including the bike parking station with stalls for over 500 bikes, and the famous intersections where 30 bikes or more can zoom by every minute!
Your tour then ends back at the original start point.
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