podtour
From the Dam to the Begijnhof
A dam gave Amsterdam its name. Walk from Dam Square to the Begijnhof through changes of rulers, faith and everyday life.
The Jordaan: Courtyards, Warehouses and Uprisings: audio walk in Amsterdam
The neighbourhood that worked for the canals: Stuyvesant's leg, stockfish warehouses named after Norwegian ports, a tunnel that may never have existed, a street party for a filled-in canal, free houses for old workers who never changed employer, the eel of 1886, the widows on the site of the monastery Vondel put on the stage, the shut windows of 1934 and the call of February 1941.
What this walk is about
You start where the gentlemen of the West India Company sat, outside the house that sent a governor to New Amsterdam, a man who had lost a leg to a Spanish cannonball. Along the Brouwersgracht, warehouses with names instead of numbers; on the corner by the Papeneiland, the tunnel the café swears is real. Then you step into the Jordaan: a street that celebrated with greasy poles when its canal was filled in and which, a few years later, was giving houses away to old workers who'd stayed loyal to one employer; the corner where, in 1886, the crowd wanted a policeman shoved in the oven, the street where the army opened fire the next day, and the widows' courtyard on the site of a monastery whose prior ended up on the stage. In 1934 the same streets filled with barricades of old furniture, and the order was to shut the windows. You finish in the Noordermarkt, the square where the neighbourhood rose three times, in front of the plaque to the evening of 24 February 1941, and beside a boy from a novel who takes you back to where you began.
- Start
- Stuyvesant's Leg
- Finish
- The Boy of the Noorderkerk
- Who it is for
- For another visit, when you want to look beyond the familiar sights. A walk for anyone curious about everyday life and working-class neighbourhoods and uprisings and memory.
- 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
Stuyvesant's Leg
- 2
Cod Named After a Port
- 3
The Papists' Tunnel
- 4
A Party on a Filled-In Canal
- 5
Free Homes for Loyal Workers
- 6
An Eel and an Oven
- 7
The Night They Opened Fire
- 8
Widows in Vondel's Convent
- 9
Closed Windows
- 10
The Strongest Chain
- 11
Six O'Clock in the Evening
- 12
The Boy of the Noorderkerk
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
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.
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.
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.