Local Insight:Amsterdam’s famous tolerance has deep roots. In the 17th century, it was one of the few European cities that welcomed Jewish refugees, Sephardic merchants, and free-thinkers, creating a uniquely diverse and prosperous society whose legacy you can still explore today.

The Begijnhof, visited on many walking tours, is a serene 14th-century courtyard hidden behind a simple door. It was home to the Beguines, religious women who lived independently—a radical concept for its time and a peaceful escape from the bustling city.

The “Stolpersteine” (stumbling stones) you’ll see on some tours are small, brass-plated cobblestones embedded in sidewalks. Each marks the last chosen residence of a Holocaust victim, a powerful, decentralized memorial that brings history to street level.

Amsterdam’s culture isn’t just in its museums—it’s in the streets. A local guide can transform a simple canal house into a story of merchant wealth, a narrow alley into a tale of wartime resistance, and a market stall into a generations-old family tradition. That’s the real magic.