podtour
The Red-Light District and the Old Harbour
The Red Light District is also a neighbourhood of sailors, churches and residents. Walk the Zeedijk for the stories beyond its windows.
From the Old Harbour to the East India Company: audio walk in Amsterdam
From Admiral De Ruyter's house and the building shaped like a ship's bow to the room where the VOC was run: the old Chinatown of the stokers, the shipyards that burned one Christmas Eve, the tower where sailors set off, an Armenian church, the street that was meant to become a motorway, the church that held the dead of the hunger and the house of the cannon dealers.
What this walk is about
From the quayside to the boardroom. Admiral De Ruyter's house: he lived with the shipyards on his doorstep, yet couldn't get the better of a neighbour who wouldn't give up his grave. A building shaped like a ship's bow where, the story goes, the first fleet to the Indies set sail; the old Chinatown of the stokers and the restaurant where Josephine Baker posed; the Lastage, which burned one Christmas Eve, and the tower where sailors climbed into the boats for Texel. An Armenian church you could see from the street while Catholics worshipped in hiding; a street that was meant to become a motorway and a house that stopped it; the first church built as Protestant, which in 1945 held the dead of the hunger; the Trip brothers, who sold cannon, and the little house a legend credits to their coachman. And finally, East India House and the room that stopped being called the VOC room in 2024.
- Start
- The Admiral Who Lived Beside the Ships
- Finish
- The Room That Changed Its Name
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about The Golden Age and the VOC and colonial history with names. Written for adults and teenagers.
- 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
The Admiral Who Lived Beside the Ships
- 2
A Ship-Shaped Building and a Fleet That Sailed Elsewhere
- 3
Stokers, Peanuts and Josephine Baker
- 4
The Christmas Eve the Lastage Burned
- 5
The Tower of Departures
- 6
The Church You Were Allowed to See
- 7
The Motorway That Never Came Through
- 8
A Palace for the De Pintos
- 9
The Church That Held the Hunger Dead
- 10
The First Protestant Church and Monet's Painting
- 11
Cannons, Ammunition and The Night Watch
- 12
The Coachman's House: A Legend with the Wrong Date
- 13
The Room That Changed Its Name
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
The Jewish Quarter: Sephardim, Spinoza and Resistance
Walk the old Jewish quarter through the lives of its neighbours and those who never returned. Rembrandt, Spinoza and the workers of 1941 share these streets.
The Plantage under Occupation
Occupation transformed life in the Plantage. Follow the traces of persecution and the people who helped others survive.
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.