Audio Guide Details
- Duration
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Product Type
- Audio Guide
- Venues
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- Jewish Museum
- Portuguese Synagogue
- Royal Palace Amsterdam (Town Hall)
- West India House
- Nieuwmarkt
- Rembrandt House
- Dam Square
Preview
Power and Politics in Amsterdam's Golden Age Audio Guide
The West Indies Warehouse - Wealth and War
Bushuissluis Bridge - A view of the East Indies Company HQ
The Nes
Schippersgracht - Jewish History of Amsterdam
Photos & Highlights
Audio Guide Description
Amsterdam's 'Golden Age' was an era of power, trade connections with faraway and exotic places, and stupendous wealth. It was also a time blighted by war, piracy, and slavery.
On this Amsterdam audio tour with Context Travel expert Marko Kassenaar, you'll find out how Amsterdam became a bustling city with a trade network all over the European continent, and why this 'Golden Age' in the 1600s was spectacularly successful. He'll also help you to imagine what central Amsterdam was like when this was a noisy, smelly neighborhood filled with carpenters, ropers, and caulkers, from sunrise until sunset.
The tour starts in the famous square, Nieuwmarkt, outside De Waag (The Weighing House), originally a city gate that provided Amsterdammers with a clear view for shooting their enemies. As you make your way through the heart of the former shipping industry neighborhood, called 'Lastage,' you'll see and learn about floating houses. You'll make your way to Rembrandt House Museum and hear about the era when painters like Rembrandt lived and worked here, and the famous Amsterdam canal belt was built.
During this stroll along the city's waterways, you'll also learn about Hendrick de Keyser, the architect who is credited with designing almost every church and tower in Amsterdam, including Zuiderkerk (South Church), the first church in the city built for Protestants. The tour concludes in Dam Square, on the other side of the Royal Palace Amsterdam.
On this Amsterdam audio tour, you'll also have an opportunity to:
- Visit the headquarters and warehouse of the East India Trading Company, the world's first multinational organization, and learn how it enhanced Amsterdam's market for exotic products from spices and silk, to porcelain and tea
- Admire the Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam, the largest in the world when it opened in 1675, and a symbol of how important the Jewish community had become for the city
- Stop outside Huis de Pinto, a cultural center that was named after the De Pintos, Portuguese-Jewish bankers who saved the Republic from bankruptcy in 1748 by financing the government while it waged war against France
- Find out how the gables on warehouses around Oude Waal (Old Shipyard Street) helped shippers and suppliers
- Pass by Bantam Bridge as you discover how the Javanese city of Bantam, famous for its profitable pepper and spices, changed Amsterdam's fortune
- Learn about the Dutch West India Company (or GWC) which ran a monopoly on the West Indies and traded gold, sugar, animal skin – and enslaved people
- See the Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) from across the harbor and spot various other maritime symbols in the city where water is its heart and soul
Our tour ends near Dam Square, on the other side of the Royal Palace Amsterdam. By the end of this 90-minute stroll along the city's waterways, you'll have a better grasp of the key events in Amsterdam's history, and its powerful role in trade throughout the world.
Meet Your Expert
Marko's specialties are music, history and the art history of The Netherlands. He was a vip-guide, lecturer and writer for the Rijksmuseum for 14 years and appeared in various art programs on tv and radio. He published several books on the art history of Amsterdam and its museums. Marko holds a Masters Degree in classical music and gave numerous musical lectures and introductions in the Royal Concertgebouw. He also was a choral conductor and theatre docent at the cultural department of the University of Amsterdam.
How do I access the audio guide and download it for offline use?
Once you complete your purchase, you will receive a voucher code for your Audio Guide. You must download the Voicemap app and enter the code.
- Install VoiceMap from the Apple App Store or Google Play
- Create an account
- Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes
- Enter your Voucher Code
- Select Download Now
Is closed captioning (i.e. subtitles) available?
Yes! All of our audio guides have the option to turn on closed captioning should you have difficulty hearing the expert.
How long does each event last?
Our recorded audio guides typically run for 75 minutes.
How can I share this audio guide with friends or family?
You are welcome to listen together with friends or family, but each person listening to the guide on their own device will need to purchase the audio guide individually.
How long does my access to the audio guide last?
Once you purchase an audio guide, you are welcome to listen to it as many times as you would like. Your access to a purchased audio guide does not expire.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Sales for recorded audio guides are final upon purchase. Please contact us at digital@contexttravel.com if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase.
Can I purchase a gift card for a friend who is traveling?
Absolutely! Gift cards can be purchased here. Gift cards are good for 365 days from the date of purchase.
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2 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
I learned a lot with this audio guide! I could not walk it so I downloaded it and went along with GoogleMaps and I had a blast! Marko's voice is very mellow, I totally recommend this (virtual) walk.
Roser
Aug 17, 2024
