The Western Islands of Amsterdam
In Mokum Events' The Western Islands tour we will take an architectural trip to look at large buildings and the marvelous building history of Amsterdam.
The city is famous for its inventive building solutions and building style! Lets visit some of the best examples!
A bit of history first: This part of Amsterdam consists of three islands, located at the west side of the Central Station. These Amsterdam West islands were build in the 17th century by pouring sand in the IJ (the so-called 'filling up').
There were many warehouses on the islands and many shipping companies were located there, everything there was in the service of the WIC (West India Company), in contrast with the Eastern Islands, which focused more on the VOC (United East India Company).
Let's go walking now!
We will show you the Haarlemmer neighbourhood, where you can see a number of very modern buildings, but also some beautiful canalhouses and buildings in wealthy Art Nouveau style.
Next, we will visit the Spaarndammer area, where tourists and fanatics in architecture from all over the world come to see 'the Amsterdam School' architecture. The most famous of all is 'Het Schip' in the Spaarndammer area. The architect De Klerk designed it. The design of this communal house is very surprising. Professional artisans also built it, undoubtedly the best bricklayers!
However, you will also see masterly examples of modern architecture, like the apartment complex on the Silodam in Rotterdam (!) and owned by the architectural firm MVRDV.
We will go to the Western islands, witness the string of battles against the 'city destruction' on the Bickerseiland, and admire the rebuilt warehouses on the Prinseneiland and what is left of a lost bit of city beauty, the Zandhoek on the Realeneiland.
We will then visit the Walhalla, where squatters lived in the eighties: the Staatsliedenbuurt. You will to day no longer find squatters here. Are they now part of the many yuppies that the district houses to day?
Interested? We look forward to walk with you!
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A short break in a typical Amsterdam café
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Professional guide (a real A'dam resident with years of experience)
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Can be booked for the day and time you prefer!
Optional:
The tour can also be done on a bicycle for an extra price of € 7,50 p.p. excl. of VAT.
Our professional tour guides are multilingual. Please contact us for more information.
You can book this arrangement with fewer participants than stated on this page, if you are willing to pay for the required number!