Hop on one of our KNAAP Fatbikes and experience biking like never before. But wait there’s more! Because this guided tour is not JUST for cool-cruising purposes. Your local tour guide will provide you with insights into the city, the history, culture and people. So, what exactly will you learn on a Fatbike tour?

What do windmills and beer have in common?

Nothing! But at ‘de Gooyer’ you can enjoy both of these Dutch icons! In the East side of the city, close to Artis Royal Zoo and the Dappermarket, there’s a beautiful windmill called ‘De Gooyer’. It was used to mill grains into flour using the wind as energy.
The name most likely comes from the owner back in the day coming from ‘t Gooi, an area in the Netherlands. Another theory is that it’s called like this because the windmill is so tall, that you can see ‘t Gooi from the top. Of course, with a country flatter than a coin, having views far into the distance is not that hard!

This old school windmill is one of few in Amsterdam. If you want to see more of the classic windmills, then definitely pay a visit to the characteristic Zaanse Schans. Here you can even go inside an operating windmill.

So, what about the beers? This spot is not just nice for taking photos of the windmill, it’s a locally loved hangout area too! It has one of the best terraces for having a beer and enjoying the sun all day long. At Taproom ‘the Windmill’ you can taste beers from the Amsterdam brewery ‘t IJ. The beer comes straight from the brewery in the same building!

The creative North

The easiest, and most fun way to go to the north side of Amsterdam is by taking the ferry across the IJ river. These ferries have been connecting Amsterdam North with the rest of the city, together with the IJ-tunnel for cars and buses, and since 2018 the North-South metro line. Amsterdam North is a truly unique spot that is not to be missed when visiting the city. It’s a hub for artists, with the ever-changing street art murals at the NDSM wharf, the many festivals at the area and the artist studios, this place is a cultural breeding ground! If you want to learn more about the street art, pay a visit to Straat Museum which is dedicated to this art form.

The river that started it all

During your bike trip, you might pass the Amstel river, the river that Amsterdam is named after. This conveniently located river proofed to be a great spot for a settlement, as it had a direct waterway connection to Germany, Scandinavia and Belgium. This made trading and transporting goods by boats easier, which contributed to the wealth of the city.

One of the most iconic bridges in this area is the skinny bridge. Legend has it that giving your lover a kiss under this bridge means that you will be together forever. Be careful who you kiss!

When you’ve seen the Amstel during the bike tour, it’s a good idea to explore Amsterdam from the Amstel! We would advise every visitor to take a canal cruise, as it is a unique way to relax and see and learn more about the city!

National Slavery Monument in Oosterpark

The historical wealth of city has a dark side to it. The history of the richness was for a great part at expense of enslaved people from other parts in the world. From the end of the 16th century until well into the 19th century, Amsterdam grew and experienced an unprecedented boom, thanks in part to the proceeds of slave trade and slavery.

The ‘National Slavery Monument’ at the Oosterpark was built to remember this part of our shared history. Every first of July there’s a commemoration of the transatlantic slavery past and celebration of its abolition called ‘Keti Koti’. Keti Koti, means broken chains. It takes place at the monument. After the commemoration there is a festival in the park, with music, exhibitions, performances and debates.

The three 'boats' at Oosterdok

There’s an area with a view of three ‘boats’. At this spot our guide will tell you about NEMO, which looks like a boat the way it is build (spoiler alert: it was not meant to), the VOC Ship at the Maritime museum and the Chinese restaurant boat, or as Amsterdammers call it: the Bami Boat.

NEMO is the impressive science museum, a family friendly outing with lots of experiments that makes learning easy and interactive. Ask your guide about the building, as it clearly looks like a ship, but according to the architect it is not.

The VOC ship at the Maritime museum is built after the ship ‘the Amsterdam’ that set sail to Jakarta in 1749, but broke down. You get to explore it when you’re visiting the museum.
And the last boat is a floating restaurant, the perfect spot for a favorite Dutch-Chinese dish: bami!

Trust us, no amount of blogs will teach you as much as the real experience! If you are curious to learn even more, or if you have any questions, Amsterdam related or not – do not hesitate to ask your guide! Our oracles of knowledge, masters of cognition and top studied professionals can elaborate on any subject!