Amsterdam: Private Bike Tour, Local Snack & Top Sights

4.80

(129 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was how the bikes here are just… everywhere. Our guide, Pieter, greeted us with this easy grin like he’d known us forever. He helped adjust my seat (I’m shorter than I thought) and then we were off, weaving through Amsterdam’s streets before I could overthink it. The bell on my handlebars made this tiny cheerful sound every time I tapped it — which was often, honestly. There’s something about pedaling past the Westerkerk as the bells ring out that makes you feel like you’re part of the city for a second.

Pieter kept pointing out little things — a crooked house here, a secret courtyard there. We stopped at the Magere Brug (the “Skinny Bridge,” he explained), and I tried to imagine what it must look like at night all lit up. It started to drizzle for maybe five minutes, but no one seemed to care; locals just shrugged and kept cycling. At one point we passed a group of teenagers sharing fries by the canal and their laughter echoed off the water. Made me wish I’d grown up here.

We took a break near Vondelpark for our snack — stroopwafel from this bakery Pieter swears by (he was right). Warm syrupy caramel in the middle, sticky fingers after. He told us about the Homomonument too — not in some rehearsed way but like he really cared about what it meant for Amsterdam. The ride felt relaxed, not rushed at all; sometimes we’d just coast along the Amstel River while Pieter shared stories or let us ride in silence for a bit. Honestly, I still think about that feeling of wind in my face and not having anywhere else to be.