Amsterdam Palace and Castle Tours

The Venice of the north is much more than its canals and bicycles; its palaces and castles are jewels that few dare to discover. If you are wondering what to see and do in Amsterdam, delving into its history through these emblematic buildings is an unforgettable experience.

In this guide I propose the best tours that will take you through the most majestic corners of the city. You will find schedules, prices, advantages, disadvantages and tips for each place, which will allow you to plan your route through the life of the royalty of the Netherlands, with the enjoyment of Amsterdam as your only concern.

The Royal Palace of Amsterdam, an architectural gem in the heart of the city will transport you to an era of opulence and power from the central Dam Square. Although it is regularly used by the Dutch royal family, it is open almost year-round and offers a guided tour with two versions: 'highlights' or 'traces of slavery'.

Originally conceived as the Amsterdam City Hall in 1665 by the talented architects Jacob van Campen and Daniël Stalpaert, this building witnessed the rise of the city as a commercial powerhouse. In 1808, Louis Napoleon transformed it into a royal residence, making it one of the three official palaces of the Dutch monarchs.

Another must-see during your guided tour is the "burgerzaal", also translated as 'Civic Hall' or 'People's Hall', a room with marble-covered walls located in the center of the building as a symbol of Amsterdam's role as the center of the world.

Details of interest

• Duration: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes for the self-guided tour and about 2 hours for the scheduled guided tour.
• What you should know: whether you decide on a guided tour or opt to buy your tickets for the Royal Palace of Amsterdam on your own, you will be able to admire its impressive facade and explore its sumptuous interiors spread over more than 15 rooms. The fundamental difference between the two experiences is that with the scheduled guided tour, you will listen to live commentary while with your ticket, the tour is self-guided with the audio guide in English included with your ticket. The entrance is included in the I am Amsterdam pass.
• Hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday to Sunday, except holidays.
• Pros: you can delight in a rich art collection, including masterpieces by Rembrandt van Rijn and other great artists such as Ferdinand Boi. In addition, the building offers an enriching cultural experience with an audio guide for adults and children.
• Cons: This is more of a contemplative visit to appreciate local art and history, perhaps not suitable for taking young children. Scheduled guided tours are offered in English and Dutch.

The Amstelhof is a monumental building on the banks of the Amstel River that was originally a hospital for the elderly, but today houses the Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam, in fact, the tour route corresponds to the wing of the building where this museum is located.

This baroque style palace, dating from the 17th century, is perfect for those who wish to combine an architectural visit with an artistic tour. If you decide to buy your tickets for the Hermitage Museum, also known as the H'ART Museum, you will have access to a wide variety of art that was formerly exchanged with the Hermitage of St. Petersburg, the treasure of the Czars, whose exhibitions are first class, however, currently the collaboration is made with the British Museum. During your tour, you will appreciate both its impeccable design and the beauty of the 70,000 pieces it holds.

Interesting details

• Duration: approximately 2 hours for both guided and self-guided tours.
• What you should know: the Amstelhof is centrally located at Amstel 51, making it easily accessible from anywhere in Amsterdam. With your ticket, you can access the audio guide at no additional cost. Admission is included in the I Amsterdam City Card.
• Hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday to Sunday, except holidays.
• Pros: an excellent combination of art, history and architecture. Includes access to the permanent and temporary exhibitions and a tour through the history of the building.
• Cons: The layout of the rooms can sometimes be a bit confusing, and although the exhibits are exquisite, perhaps the number of works, especially modern ones, is somewhat limited.

Muiderslot Castle, also known as Muiden Castle, is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the Netherlands. A tour of the Muiderslot will allow you to wander through its ancient rooms, gardens and armor, transporting you straight back to the Middle Ages.

The castle also has interactive exhibits and activities for children, making it an excellent choice for families. For this visit, private tours are common and usually include shuttle service to your accommodation and entrance to the grounds, which look like something out of a fairy tale, with its moat, towers, drawbridges and... an iconic ghost.

Yes, the Muiden is on the list of haunted castles and their ghosts thanks to a spooky guest, Count Floris V, who supposedly still wanders the corridors. Want to meet him? Join a guided tour included in your I am Amsterdam sightseeing pass or increase your chances by signing up for Halloween night tours among your things to see and do in Amsterdam in October.

Interesting details

• Duration: the guided tour lasts about 2 hours.
• What you should know: although located on the outskirts of Amsterdam, the castle is accessible by public transport in less than 30 minutes from the city center.
• Hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday to Sunday, except public holidays.
• Pros: admission includes guided tour of the historic rooms and access to the gardens and interactive exhibits. Perfect for those looking for a place full of history and medieval charm. It is also ideal for a family visit.
• Cons: Accessibility for people with reduced mobility may be limited due to its medieval structure.

In the so-called Venice of the North, sure you can sign up for one of the canal cruises, but do you know the history and importance of these media? That's what you can discover by visiting the Het Grachtenhuis, or House of Canals, an impressive double-canal manor house, also known as a palace. Inside is one of the best museums in Amsterdam, which you can visit with the audio guide provided when you buy your tickets for the Canal Museum.

Following the directions of the private guide or with the audio guide available in English and 8 other languages, you will discover firsthand the most intimate corners of the space, originally conceived as a private residence. Today the museum also uses modern technologies, such as interactive projections and digital models, to offer an immersive experience that connects visitors with the urban development of the city.

On the other hand, you could also opt for one of the group guided tours offered by the museum itself, to do so you must purchase your ticket plus the respective additional supplement.

The guided tour of the Het Grachtenhuis lasts about 45 minutes. This architectural jewel located in the heart of Amsterdam's canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built in 1665 by the renowned architect Philips Vingboons.

Details of interest

• Duration: approximately 1 hour, depending on the option you choose and your pace.
• What you should know: this is a perfect interactive tour for those who want to learn more about the architectural history of the city.
• Hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday to Sunday, except holidays.
• Pros: the interactive rooms are a delight, more than 400 years of history in a 40-minute permanent exhibition. Plus, history and architecture buffs will learn details of construction, lifestyle and vision of Amsterdam since the 17th century.
• Cons: While interesting, it may not appeal to those seeking more traditional castle and palace experiences.

The Huis Bartolotti, built around 1620, is another of Amsterdam's outstanding examples of Golden Age residential architecture. Its stately design, attributed to the architect Hendrick de Keyser, is characterized by an imposing facade that mixes Renaissance and Mannerist elements that you can detail during a self-guided tour.

This palace was built for Willem Bartolotti, a wealthy merchant who had amassed a considerable fortune through international trade. Inside, it retains a wealth of history with its Louis XV furniture, baroque art throughout, original frescoes, carved woodwork, ornate ceilings and architectural details that provide a glimpse of how the wealthy elite of the time lived.

Not only does this museum offer an immersive experience into the social and cultural life of the Golden Age, but it is also included in the best Amsterdam sightseeing passes, making it easy to visit. With admission included in most of these tourist passes, the Huis Bartolotti is an essential stop for those wishing to discover the splendor of the city's historic architecture and cultural legacy.

Details of interest

• Duration: approximately 1 hour with the audio guide included with your ticket.
• What you should know: the Huis Bartolotti is perfectly preserved, and its interior reflects the splendor of Amsterdam's high society in the 17th century. The museum is not included in the regular tours, however, the audio guide in English and the attentive staff complement your tour.
• Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday, except holidays.
• Pros: visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of opulence and refinement that characterized Amsterdam' s upper classes in the 17th century in an interactive way.
• Cons: Its size is more modest compared to other palaces or castles, which may limit the length of the tour.

One street away from the Xtracold Ice Bar you'll find the Willet-Holthuysen Museum, housed in a neoclassical mansion located on the banks of one of Amsterdam's main canals. With a self-guided tour, or in other words, when you buy your ticket to the Willet-Holthuysen with your audio guide included, you can visit this elegant manor house that was the residence of Abraham Willet and his wife, Louisa Holthuysen, art collectors and cultural patrons in the nineteenth century.

Today, the house is open to the public as a museum, and its interiors preserve the original decoration, from the furniture to the crystal chandeliers. To walk through the rooms of this museum is to immerse yourself in the life of 19th-century aristocracy in Amsterdam, and its collection of art and personal objects adds an intimate touch to the visit.

Details of interest

• Duration: approximately 1 hour.
• What you should know: the museum is perfectly preserved and is an example of how aristocratic families lived in 19th century Amsterdam.
• Hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday to Sunday, except holidays.
• Pros: an intimate and cultural experience that shows the life of 19th century high society. Most interesting in my opinion is that with modern temporary exhibits, they visually invite dialogue and generational contrast with respect. In addition, the entrance is included in tourist passes such as the I am Amsterdam card and the Amsterdam Explorer Pass.
• Cons: There is no audio guide in English. Although fascinating, it may not be of interest to those seeking more dynamic experiences.

Het Loo Palace, built in 1686 as a hunting lodge and summer residence for the royal house of Orange-Nassau, ended up housing one of the outstanding museums in the Venice of the North, which dazzles with its Baroque architecture. With your ticket you can enter its lush gardens, the central area of the palace, the royal car garage in addition to the renovated area for the kids.

One of the most interesting aspects of the tour of Het Loo Palace is the access to the modern restoration and expansion area, started in 2016, which added more than 5,000 square meters of subway facilities without altering the historical aesthetics of the building. A children's area was also added: the Junior Palace. The new areas feature interiors clad in light marble, and a glass roof under a water pond that allows daylight to filter through, creating a captivating atmosphere during your visit.

Details of interest

• Duration: the self-guided tour lasts approximately 1 hour.
• What you should know: the palace has magnificent symmetrical gardens, ideal for a stroll among the things to do in Amsterdam in spring. The palace offers a 30-minute audio guide that you can download for free from their app or by renting headphones for an additional supplement. This audio guide is available in English, Dutch and German.
• Hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm from Tuesday to Sunday, except public holidays.
• Pros: for art and history lovers, it is recommended to visit the museum's temporary exhibitions, which often explore the life of the royal family and their influence on Dutch culture. In addition, admission is included in the Museumkaart card.
• Cons: Although it is well connected, it can be a bit far from the city center.

In Amsterdam, the castle and palace tours are even more authentic, as the scheduled guided tours are organized by the castles and palaces themselves, usually in English and Dutch. To book your visit, I recommend you consult their websites directly.

• To fully enjoy the palaces and castles of Amsterdam, I recommend you to buy your tickets in advance or book your guided tour, especially if you plan to visit popular places like the Royal Palace or the Muiderslot Castle. This will avoid long lines and guarantee you access in high season.
• If you plan to visit more than one place, consider purchasing one of the tourist passes that include several attractions and can save you money.
• Arrive early to enjoy a quieter experience and take your time during visits, avoiding the crowds.