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.
Western Canals: Anne Frank and the Westerkerk: audio walk in Amsterdam
The western canals at street level: a banker who changed his surname for an inheritance, why the houses are long and narrow, the maid who, according to a legend from 1836, beheaded six thieves, the bishop who found refuge with a cannon merchant, the Jordaan and its flower names, the bookcase and the silence of Prinsengracht 263, Rembrandt's last home and lost grave, the crown the city bought, the bells Anne could hear, Descartes' daughter and the world's first monument to people persecuted for their sexual orientation.
What this walk is about
Descartes wrote that there was no country where one could enjoy a freedom so complete. This walk puts that sentence to the test. On the Herengracht, a banker changed his surname to inherit a fortune and wrote his virtues on his façade; the canal plots explain why the houses are long and narrow. At the House with the Heads, the legend of a maid who beheaded thieves, which nobody wrote down before 1836, and the true story of Comenius, the persecuted bishop who found refuge with a family grown rich on cannons. The Jordaan has flower names and a past of buckets and cholera. In front of Prinsengracht 263, what you can't see: a swinging bookcase and half an hour of silence every morning. Rembrandt died on the Rozengracht and lies in the Westerkerk, though nobody knows where. The crown on the tower wasn't an imperial gift but the price of a loan, and its bells kept Anne Frank company. You finish at the plaque to Descartes and his daughter Francine, whom a legend tried to erase, and at the Homomonument, whose triangles point to Anne's house, to the monument on Dam Square and to the former headquarters of an association of gay men and lesbians.
- Start
- The Man Who Changed His Surname
- Finish
- A Wreath Under Arrest
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about Anne Frank and the Second World War and the Golden Age and canal architecture.
- 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 Man Who Changed His Surname
- 2
Plots a Hundred and Eighty Feet Deep
- 3
Elsje and the Six Heads
- 4
A Thinker in an Arms Dealer's House
- 5
Names Can Mislead
- 6
A Bookcase and Half an Hour of Silence
- 7
The Former Canal and Rembrandt's Last Home
- 8
A Painter Without a Gravestone
- 9
The Crown That Was Bought
- 10
What Anne Could Hear
- 11
The Philosopher's Daughter
- 12
A Wreath Under Arrest
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.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.