About this experience
Discover Amsterdam’s WWII history on a walking tour. Explore the stories of Etty Hillesum and Tony van Renterghem, see the "Robbery Bank," and visit Dam Square.
Highlights
- Discover the stories of Etty Hillesum and Tony van Renterghem
- Explore the Tuschinski Theatre and its wartime history
- Uncover the myths and truths of Amsterdam’s wartime history
- See the infamous "Robbery Bank" and learn about resistance efforts
- Visit Dam Square and learn about the tragic events of May 7th, 1945
What's included
- Guided walking tour
- Personal narratives of Etty Hillesum and Tony van Renterghem
- Visit to Golden Bend, Mayor’s Residence (outside only), Tuschinski Theatre, Dam Square
- Analysis of Queen Wilhelmina’s role and the Royal Palace concierge
How to use
- Show Mobile Ticket
- At Redemption Counter
What to expect
Begin your journey at the Concertgebouw on Museum Square, an area that served as the nerve center for the Nazi administration. Start by looking at the human side of the war through the eyes of two neighbors: Etty Hillesum, the courageous diary writer who chronicled the soul's survival under oppression, and Tony van Renterghem, a dashing war hero and spy. Their stories set the stage for a tour that prioritizes personal narratives over dry statistics.
As you walk toward the Golden Bend and the Mayor’s Residence, uncover the "hardware" of the war. See the infamous "Robbery Bank," where Jewish assets were systematically stolen, and learn about the intricate bank frauds used by the resistance to fund their underground operations. Stop at the Tuschinski Theatre, a masterpiece of architecture with a heartbreaking wartime history involving its Jewish founder.
Explore the uncomfortable truths of historical corruption and how the narrative of the war has been used and abused over the decades. Address the loss of 10% of the city’s population and the visible "scars" that remain on the city's facade today, including the site of a Halifax aircraft crash right in the city center.
Culminate your tour at Dam Square. Here, the story of the Dutch Royal Family comes to life. Analyze Queen Wilhelmina’s role from London and the heroic actions of the Royal Palace concierge. Finally, recount the tragic events of May 7th, 1945—a day that should have been for celebration, but instead turned into one of Amsterdam’s final wartime tragedies.
Terms & conditions
The tour focuses on personal narratives and historical truths
The tour covers significant wartime locations in Amsterdam
The tour addresses myths and truths about Amsterdam's wartime history