Historical Private Walking Tour Amsterdam
Amsterdam, the capital of Netherlands is known for its canals and boat tours, as well as the museums that exhibit the paintings of artists like Van Gogh, Rembrandt etc. But, it is equally well-known for many of the historical and cultural monuments that are part of both the Dutch and European history. There are many walking Amsterdam private tours that give a historical and cultural overview of the city. Bear in mind that this is a city that has existed for almost 400 years. There is enough art and architecture that are very much part of the daily life of the citizens. Shared below are some of the historical sites to be seen by anyone visiting the city.
Dam Square
The Dam square is located at the centre of the city, it is a town square that has historically significant monuments and structures. It is an important stop or starting point in many private walking tour Amsterdam. There is a World War II memorial erected in 1956, that was designed by J.J.P. Oud, which is now a national monument. Located on the west side of the square is the Royal Palace of Amsterdam or the Koninklijk Palace. Besides, there is the Nieuwe Kerk or the New Church which is a 15thcentury Gothic structure.
Magna Plaza
Behind the palace is the Magna Plaza department store, it was originally the main city post office. This is a 19th-century structure that is now converted into a shopping centre. It was designed by Cornelis Peters and was built between 1895 to 1899. It is an exquisitely designed building and gives a special ambiance to the shopping experience in the mall.
Torensluis Bridge
This bridge spans across the Singel Canal and is a very wide one. The purpose of this bridge is to give access to the dungeons that were located here in the past. You can also see the edges of the tower foundation of which the dungeons were part of. This bridge also features the statue of Multatuli who was a 19th century social critic of the Dutch colonial practices.
Theatre Museum
The theatre museum consists of two buildings, and here you can know about the development of theatre in the Netherlands. The two buildings are Herengracht 168 and the Bartolotti house or Herengracht 170-172. The former has neoclassical features and it was designed by Philip Vingboons in 1638. The latter is a Dutch renaissance house with stucco interiors and the structure curves with the canal.
These are some of the sites that you should visit in your cultural and historical Amsterdam private tours.