Westerkerk (West Church)

This 17th century Protestant church has a tower with breathtaking views of the city.

TravelCurious Tip

Look out for the beautifully painted organ panels, featuring Old Testament scenes by Gerard de Lairesse.

Alteration

Just round the corner from Anne Frank’s house is Westerkerk. At its completion in 1631, it was one of the earliest purpose-built Protestant churches: Amsterdam’s Oude Kerk and Nieuwe Kerk were originally built for Roman Catholic worship before the ‘Alteration,’ the bloodless Calvinist coup of 1578, saw them converted.

At a time of swift population growth, Westerkerk was constructed to provide for the wealthy area around Prinsengracht, the outermost of Amsterdam’s ring of canals. The church was commissioned by the city of Amsterdam, so the city’s arms appear frequently in its decoration. Its simple interior is a pleasant sanctuary, always filled with light as there are no nearby buildings to obstruct its 36 large windows; it also boasts a truly impressive (and rather Popish) 17th century organ above the entrance.


The most high

Most famous, however, is the Westertoren, the 87 metre church tower which is Amsterdam’s tallest. This is an ornate structure, topped with the Imperial Crown of Austria of Maximillian I and containing 51 tuned bells in a carillon, beneath which sit brightly painted clock faces. The tower was visible from Anne Frank’s window, and she mentions its chiming fondly in her diary. The tower is open to visitors during the summer, and offers a fantastic view over the Dutch capital.

Westerkerk’s other claim to fame is as the final resting place of Rembrandt, master of the Golden Age. Sadly, the location of his grave is unknown, his remains having been removed and destroyed after 20 years: the great artist was buried anonymously as a poor man in a kerkgraf (a grave owned by the church).


Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Amsterdam
Magna Plaza
Built in the 19th century as a post office, Magna Plaza is today an iconic shopping centre.
Anne Frank House
The house in which Anne Frank and her family hid from Nazi persecution.
Jordaan district
A former hotbed of leftist politics, this picturesque district has a vibrant and varied local community in its courtyards, cafés and restaurants.
De 9 Straatjes
A photogenic zone of nine cobbled streets full of designer stores, vintage boutiques, cafés and galleries.
Gouda Cheese
Taste this sweet and creamy, yellow cow's milk cheese named Gouda.
Smoked Sausage
Taste Amsterdam’s best-smoked sausage from a family-run butcher that’s been in business for over a century.

Related Tours

The Best of Amsterdam: Private Full-Day Tour with a Canal Cruise
Explore the major sights and hidden gems of Amsterdam on this immersive full-day tour of the Dutch capital. With an expert guide, discover Amsterdam's vibrant culture, architectural beauty and eccentricity, intricate canal network, kilometres of cycle tracks, the city's top two museums, its major monuments and lively markets. End your day with a fabulous cruise along the canals. 

On your private full-day tour, you will:

  • Start the day with a fascinating tour of the Van Gogh Museum, dedicated to the artist's life and work - with a huge number of self-portraits and the only surviving photo; 
  • Admire such iconic masterpieces as the Potato Eaters, Sunflowers, the Yellow House, the Bedroom and his very last work, Tree Roots
  • Learn about Vincent Van Gogh's passionate life and mental health issues through his art, his letter exchanges with his brother Theo, and through his contemporaries such as Gauguin; 
  • Hear what happened on that fateful night with the knife and his ear, and the questions around his tragic death by gunshot;
  • Take a short comfort break before a guided tour of the highlights of the impressive Rijksmuseum;
  • Admire the architecture of the National Museum of the Netherlands, the 80 galleries that house some 8000 pieces of art and artefacts showing the history of Holland from the 1200s to the present day;
  • Explore the breathtaking collection of art by the Dutch Masters of the Golden Age such as Rembrandt and Vermeer;
  • Enjoy a well-deserved lunch break in the foodie Jordaan district, at a place recommended by your guide;
  • Stroll the highlights of the city centre in the afternoon and discover the canal and cycle networks, the historic buildings and famous monuments;
  • Walk by Anne Frank’s house and hear the tragic story of how the Franks were betrayed and sent to the concentration camps where all died, except Anne's father Otto who published her famous diary; 
  • See the famous and historic Torensluis Bridge, Westerkerk, Dam Square with the royal palace, and the smallest house in Amsterdam;
  • Explore the famously beautiful Bloemenmarkt Flower Market and learn the history of Dutch tulips;
  • Finish the day with tickets to enjoy a one-hour public boat trip on the UNESCO World Heritage canal ring of Amsterdam.

Spend the morning exploring Amsterdam's top two museums: the Van Gogh Museum dedicated to the life and works of Vincent, and the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, as impressive for its architecture as for its amazing collections of historic artefacts and paintings by the Masters of the Dutch Golden Age like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Dyck. 

Hop on a tram to explore the beautiful, bohemian Jordaan District and stop for lunch in the area (price not included) which was once traditionally a rather poor neighbourhood, attracting amazing artists and poets, including Rembrandt and the famous 17th-century Dutch writer Joost van den Vondel. 

After lunch, enjoy an in-depth orientation tour of the city centre. See the highlights of Amsterdam including the Torensluis Bridge, Westerker, and the Anne Frank House.   Visit the world-famous floating Flower Market, which has floated on Amsterdam’s innermost canal since 1862. 

See Dam Square, which came by its name the same way Amsterdam did: it began life as a dam of the Amstel River nearly 750 years ago. As the city grew so did the dam, until it became large enough for a town square, and it has been at Amsterdam’s heart ever since! It is also home to a royal palace. 

At the end of the tour your guide will walk you to the dock to join your Public Canal Cruise, to do one of the most iconic things in Amsterdam: see the city by water. Your cruise will take you through the warren of the city's canals, now listed as a World Heritage site. A perfect way to end the day! 
Markets and Masterpieces: Amsterdam Private Full-Day Walking Tour
Get a taste of the culture, beauty, and history of Amsterdam by discovering its markets and masterpieces on this full-day walking tour including the world-famous Van Gogh Museum dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh, the impressive Rijksmuseum, and the Flower Market, the only floating market in the world.

On this private tour, you will:

  • Learn about 800 years of Dutch art history at the Rijksmuseum which holds over one million objects chronicling Dutch history from 1200 to the present day;
  • Explore the must-see Van Gogh Museum with the most comprehensive collection of Van Gogh works in the world;
  • Stop for a lunch break at Leidseplein square, one of the main squares in Amsterdam;
  • Pop to the popular shopping district of Nieuw Spiegelstraat to find special gifts and antiques;
  • Take a stroll in the world-famous Bloemenmarkt, the only floating Flower Market in the world;
  • Visit the enchanting courtyard of Begijnhof in the heart of Amsterdam;
  • Take a short walk to the 17th-century Westerkerk Church in the Grachtengordel neighborhood;
  • Explore the myriad of independent boutiques and cafes at Nine Streets;
  • End your tour at Anne Frank's House located at Westermarkt Square in the charming Jordaan neighbourhood, and learn about the history of Amsterdam’s Jewish community during the Second World War.
Begin your tour exploring the must-see Van Gogh Museum, with the most comprehensive collection of his works in the world, followed by a visit to the beautiful Rijksmuseum, which holds over one million objects chronicling Dutch history from 1200 to the present day. 

Head to the nearby popular shopping district of Nieuw Spiegelstraat- a centre for beautiful Dutch antiques and pottery as well as for thoroughly modern design. 

Making a short stop at the world-famous Flower Market is an absolute must, where you will grab a bite to eat at a local vendor and perhaps buy some colourful and fragrant tulips.

You will also get to discover some of the hidden gems of Amsterdam, including a visit to Spui Square where local booksellers and artists vie for your attention, as well as a visit to the enchanting courtyard of Begijnhof- a place of quiet sanctuary in the heart of Amsterdam.

Explore the picturesque Nine Streets with its myriad of independent boutiques and beautiful cafes. From here it is a short and utterly worthwhile journey to the 17th-century Westerkerk Church with its impressive 85m high tower. 

From here you will pass the iconic Anne Frank’s House, where you will spend some time with your expert guide hearing about the tragic history of Amsterdam’s Jewish community during the Second World War. 

You will end your tour with a stroll around the beautiful Jordaan District, traditionally a rather poor neighbourhood, attracting amazing artists and poets, including Rembrandt and the famous 17th-century Dutch writer Joost van den Vondel. 
Welcome to Amsterdam: Private Half-Day Walking Tour
Enjoy a welcome tour of beautiful Amsterdam with an expert guide, famous for its elaborate network of canals, historic gabled houses, impressive artistic heritage from Rembrandt to Vermeer, and of course its numerous bike paths for the thousands of cyclists.  

On your private half-day tour, you will: 

  • Enjoy a welcome city stroll tour of Amsterdam with a professional tour guide;
  • Explore all the major highlights of the city, rich in history and home to invaluable art collections; 
  • Learn the elaborate and unique layout of Amsterdam around four concentric semicircles of canals;
  • Explore Dam Square, home to the iconic and majestic Koninklijk Palace, a royal residence that has served for two centuries as a reception palace for the House of Orange;
  •  See the smallest house in Amsterdam located in the old city centre;
  • Visit Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam's amazing floating flower market;
  • Walk through the Begijnhof, one of the oldest and most picturesque courtyards in Amsterdam;
  • Discover the Dutch love affair with pedal power in a city with 513km of cycle paths;
  • Walk past highlights of the city including the Torensluis Bridge, Anne Frank’s house, and Westerkerk; 
  • End your tour at the Jordaan District – the thriving foodie district of Amsterdam.

From humble beginnings as a fishing village by the Amstel river, Amsterdam became one of the most important European capitals of the 17th Century, by which time it had grown into a lively port town, attracting wealthy merchants and artisans from all over the globe. 

Today Amsterdam is characterized by centuries-old canalspainted houseboats, and streets filled with cyclists. World-class museums and galleries boast highly-prized art collections, while elegant spire-topped churches gaze down on an extraordinary number of stone bridges - more than 500 at last count.

On your tour, you will explore Dam Square, once the mouth of the Amstel River; marvel at the ornate grandeur of the cupola-topped Koninklijk Palace, one of a trio of Dutch royal residences, and enjoy a guided stroll through the highlights of Amsterdam. 

Admire the stunning facade of the 800-year-old Nieuwe Kerk, an important part of Dutch identity and considered “Amsterdam’s living room”. Stroll the famous Torensluis Bridge, then pass by the house of the young Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank and hear the harrowing story of the Frank family.  

Stop to admire 17th-century Westerkerk’s soaring tower and Renaissance facade - learn a bit about Calvinism and religious reform in Amsterdam during the Reformation. In Nine Street, enjoy the buzzy atmosphere of pavement cafesflorists, and boutiques then marvel at the rainbow of vivid fragrant blooms in Amsterdam’s famous floating flower market

See where booksellers and street artists vie for attention (on Fridays) close to the leafy courtyard of Begijnhof, a haven of peace and quiet.

Your tour finishes in the Jordaan District – the foodie neighbourhood of Amsterdam, where your guide will happily recommend various dining options to you. 

Anne Frank & Her Secret Annex in VR: Private 2-hour Walking Tour
Explore the area of Amsterdam around the Secret Annex where Anne Frank lived with her family, experience her last walk outside and with an amazing Virtual Reality concept created by the Anne Frank Foundation, enter through the famous bookcase and walk around the hiding place in which they lived from 1942-44. 

On your private two-hour walking tour, you will:

  • Discover the life of Amsterdam's most famous resident, Anne Frank on a tour of the area around the Secret Annex;
  • Learn about the life of Anne Frank, her sister, mother, and father, the Van Pels family, and Fritz Pfeffer who, as Jews, were forced into hiding during the Nazi Occupation of Amsterdam; 
  • Hear about the famous bookcase that led to the Secret Annex where they lived from 1942-44;
  • Walk along the last route Anne and her family took on their last journey into hiding;
  • Travel back in time to the Amsterdam of World War 2 and experience Anne's hopes and fears, dreams and reflections through quotes from her now famous diary; 
  • See the sights that Anne could see from her hiding place: the famous Westerkerk, a vast Protestant church built in 1975 with its 85-metre tower - Anne could see it from the loft in the Annex;
  • Admire too the beauty of the Prinsengracht canal that Anne would gaze out on;
  • Stop at a lovely cafe with a soft drink, small beer or wine included;
  • End the tour with a truly moving and humbling VR experience. See what life was like in the Secret Annex through the magic of Virtual Reality.

Experience the last walk taken by Anne Frank and her family into hiding to evade capture by the Nazis in 1940s Amsterdam. 

On this two-hour walking tour with an expert private guide, you'll explore the neighbourhood surrounding Anne Frank's hiding place. You will see the monuments and sights Anne could glimpse through the loft window in the Secret Annex where she lived in cramped conditions with her sister and parents, the Van Pels family, and Fritz Pfeffer for two years 1942-44

From her famous diary, saved and published posthumously by her father Otto Frank, we know all about life in the Secret Annex; we know about Anne's hopes and fears and dreams; we know that she could see the famous Westerkerke tower and the beautiful canal. 

This tour recreates their final walk into hiding, and tells Anne's story with quotes from her diary, as you walk around the area in which they hid from the Nazis - until they were betrayed, discovered, captured, and deported. Only Otto Frank, Anne's father survived the Holocaust. It was he, who managed to save her diary, and to have it published - so that we would never forget it. 

You'll hear about the influence her diary has had on the Netherlands - and around the world. 

Over a delicious cup of tea or coffee and a slice of apple pie, you'll be able to really experience life in the Secret Annex through the magic of Virtual Reality. It is incredibly detailed: you will walk through the famous bookcase that disguised the entrance, then into the Annex - which unlike the museum - contains all the furniture and belongings that were there at the time. 

You'll see the rooms as if they were all still living there. No crowds. Just you, walking in the steps of Anne Frank. Who, despite everything, wrote in her diary: “Don’t think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains.”

Amsterdam's Jewish Heritage: Private Tour with VR Experience
Explore the fascinating, inspiring, and humbling Jewish history of Amsterdam and the life of its most famous resident, Anne Frank on this private four-hour walking tour. With your expert guide, discover the Jewish Quarter and experience what life was like in the Secret Annex with Virtual Reality. 

On your private tour, you will:

  • Explore the historic Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam with your expert local private guide;
  • Enjoy the cobbled streets and historic beauty of the neighbourhood, as well as hidden gems along the canals;
  • See some of the highlights of the area including the Portuguese Synagogue and the city's oldest park;
  • Stop outside the Dutch theatre, which became the Jewish Theatre during the Nazi rise to power - and eventually a holding prison before deportation to the death camps; 
  • Learn about the monuments created by the Jewish Community including the National Holocaust Memorial;  
  • Walk or take a tram to see the famous Westekerk, the Protestant church Anne could see from the Annex loft with its 85-metre tower;
  • Pass by the Anne Frank House where Amsterdam's most famous resident lived in hiding during the Nazi Occupation; 
  • Enjoy a refreshing soft drink, a small beer or wine and a slice of apple pie at a favourite local restaurant;
  • End your tour with an amazing Virtual Reality Experience of walking through the famous bookcase to Anne Frank's Secret Annex, designed in full detail by the Anne Frank Foundation.

Travel back in time to 16th and 17th-century Amsterdam - a safe place for Jewish families who were fleeing Catholic persecution in southern and eastern Europe, and with your expert private guide explore the Jewish district of Amsterdam. Enjoy the beautiful historic buildings as your guide tells you about Amsterdam's rich Jewish culture and history. 

The Jodenbuurt - Dutch for Jewish Quarter - has been a cultural and community Jewish hub since the 1500s and is today visited for its beautiful buildings like the stately Portuguese Synagogue dating back to 1675, and for its moving Holocaust Memorials and Museum. It is famous for being the home of Rembrandt, the birthplace of Baruch Spinoza, and of course the Jewish Ghetto during the dark days of the Nazi Occupation. 

As your wander around this beautiful neighbourhood, enjoy the scenic canal paths, charming cobbled streets, and a few hidden gems. Afterwards, head to the famous Westekerk by tram or on foot - you decide. This is a large Protestant church built in 1675 with a massive 85-metre-tall steeple. This was the monument Anne Frank could see from the loft in the Secret Annex, just a short walk away. Pass by the  Anne Frank Museum where you'll learn all about her life in hiding with her sister, mother, and father, the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer. Hear about the dramatic discovery of their hiding place, capture, and deportation. Thanks to Anne's father, Otto, we have her famous diary - so that these events are never forgotten, so that we remember both with sorrow - but also with hope for a brighter, more tolerant future. As Anne wrote in her diary "Don't think of the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains". 

Your tour ends at our favourite cafe with a cup of tea or coffee and a delicious slice of apple pie! Here you'll also be able to experience the Secret Annex through the magic of  Virtual Reality, an incredibly detailed concept by the Anne Frank Foundation. You'll enter through the famous bookcase, and be able to "walk" around the rooms in which they lived from 1942-44, and unlike the real house, is still filled with their furniture and belongings - as though they were still there. 

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