podtour
Western Canals: Anne Frank and the Westerkerk
There is more behind these canal houses than wealth. Follow the stories of people who found refuge in Amsterdam, and others who were denied it.
From the Dam to the Begijnhof: audio walk in Amsterdam
The gateway to Amsterdam: a dam and a toll, the great city loyal to the King of Spain that changed sides in 1578, a town hall built to celebrate peace, a tower that was never finished, the afternoon of 7 May 1945, orphans who climbed like cats, and the last Catholic courtyard.
See the walkFree route
What this walk is about
You start in the square that gave the city its name: a dam on the Amstel. Here you'll find out why Amsterdam stayed loyal to Philip II when other cities no longer were, and how it changed sides almost without bloodshed, with a hat as the signal and a pair of clean shirts sent back. The great building on the square began life as a town hall and a monument to peace with Spain; in its sentencing chamber people were condemned to death, and a Bonaparte turned it into a palace. The church next door was left without a tower, so it was said, so as not to out-shout the town hall. On the corner of the Kalverstraat, two days after the liberation, shots were fired into the crowd. Along the pilgrims' street: orphans who clambered over the rooftops in 1566, a host that, according to tradition, came out of the fire intact, a procession that learnt to walk in silence, and nuns who stayed. You finish at the Begijnhof, the women's courtyard that survived everything.
- Start
- A Dam and a Discount
- Finish
- The Last Catholic Courtyard
- Who it is for
- A good starting point for your first visit. A walk for anyone curious about traces of Spain. You don’t need any prior knowledge.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
A Dam and a Discount
- 2
The City That Changed Sides in an Afternoon
- 3
The Tower That Could Not Shout Any Louder
- 4
A Town Hall for Peace with Spain
- 5
The Sentencing Room and the Giant Holding Up the Sky
- 6
The King Who Wanted a View of the Square
- 7
Two Hours on the Corner: 7 May 1945
- 8
The Orphans Who Climbed Like Cats
- 9
The Communion Wafer in the Fire
- 10
The Procession That Could Not Look Like One
- 11
The Nuns Who Did Not Leave
- 12
The Last Catholic Courtyard
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Amsterdam, before you go
Canals, bridges and narrow façades invite aimless walks. Enjoy them attentively: between the water, trams and bicycles, the best place to look is a clear patch of pavement.
More walks nearby
From the Mint Tower to the Golden Bend
From a small boy's statue to the grandest canal houses, follow the money through southern Amsterdam.
The Jordaan: Courtyards, Warehouses and Uprisings
The Jordaan worked for the grand houses along the canals. Its warehouses, courtyards and squares tell stories of hardship, solidarity and rebellion.
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist. When we launch, your chosen city is yours to explore.
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Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
Podtour manages your launch request with your consent. You can withdraw it and exercise your rights as explained in our privacy policy. Privacy details.
One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.