Tours that Matter

26/09/2024

Innovation & Radical Tourism

Last Tuesday we took a group of creative students from to explore what lies around Oosterdok, a place where innovation and adventure come together to solve urban challenges.

How do you imagine your future? What does the world you want to live in look like? The world as we know it is changing faster than ever, we need a new approach to solve issues of society. To take risks, dare to experiment and come up with innovative solutions.

During the tour we talked about colonialism and migration, discovered what lies behind the pioneering spirit of Amsterdam. We visited change makers like and discussed how they work towards a better future.

Then it was time for the students to come up with some innovative solutions themselves. The is facing a big problem of trash (mainly cigarette butts). From garbage games to paid pigeons, the valueble ideas where the giveback of the tour 💡

24/09/2024

Innovation & Radical Tourism

Last Tuesday we took a group of creative students from to explore what lies around Oosterdok, a place where innovation and adventure come together to solve urban challenges.

How do you imagine your future? What does the world you want to live in look like? The world as we know it is changing faster than ever, we need a new approach to solve issues of society. To take risks, dare to experiment and come up with innovative solutions.

During the tour we talked about colonialism and migration, and discovered what lies behind the pioneering spirit of Amsterdam. We visited change makers like and learned how they work towards a better future.

After the tour organized a Trash Bingo and playful challenge to solve the cigarette butt issue of the .

Do you also want to get inspired to talk about what matters? Get in touch to design your own tour [email protected]

18/07/2024

Regenerative tourism means leaving a place better than you found it. The design of our tours aims to encourage people to get more involved with the local community and the neighborhoods we visit. We achieve this by integrating volunteer activities, such as planting seeds in community gardens, cooking meals in neighborhood centers, or sorting clothes in second-hand shops. This way, we, as visitors, don’t just consume the city but interact with it, leaving something behind and giving back to the community that welcomes us.

20/06/2024

How can we live in harmony with nature and each other?
On our adventurous tour into the wild and hidden parts of Zeeburgereiland we explored how people there have been doing this for decades. We got inspired on what alternative living can look like and why it is so important to protect these rare places of nature and community in the City.

11/06/2024

We normally visit human changemakers on our tours, but I think we can all imagine that this fluffy one got all the attention this time :)

27/05/2024

We had so much fun with this group of students coming all the way from the US. We designed a whole day for them, from a circular city tour in noord with hidden places to explore and changemakers to meet and a communal lunch to a super nice volunteer activity in the afternoon. Thanks for the lovely day!

15/04/2024

GUIDING YOU TOWARDS VOLUNTEER WORK

Are you an expat or international student in Amsterdam that is looking to connect and give back to the community? Join the first free Voluntour on April 24th! Learn about the city centre and the initiatives that make it more beautiful everyday. Find out where you can Volunteer based on your availability and interest.

Starting point: 14.30 at Art Exhibition
Finishing point: 17.00 with drinks at .amsterdam

👉 Sign up here:
https://vcatraint.nu/voor-vrijwilligers/voluntour-city-center/

Some of our friends that you will meet 🤝
.amsterdam

Thanks for sharing 💙

21/03/2024

POSITIVE IMPACT TOURS

We love to tell our story to the world. To inspire others how you can create a tour with impact. Tours That Matter is a way of tour design, where focus lies on contributing to the community. We are super transparent and share everything we've learned about creating positive impact tours. Maybe you'll design your own 💙

This time Anouschka visited a great place to connect with future change-makers. The students are challenged here daily on how to use tourism as a tool for change. But can you continue this afterwards in your role? shows you how to build an impact tour business! Thanks for the great organisation.

18/03/2024

SUPER DIVERSITY

Last week we spent an amazing day in .zuidoost with our friends from . The theme was identity & media, so we visited inspiring initiatives such as . Sharing stories about building collective heritage and cultural identity.

But a visit to the Bijlmer cannot be with an empty belly. After the local Street Market, we visited inspired by the story of Omoe. The Bijlmer is an example of super diversity, and also the place to talk about connections and disconnection to society.

11/03/2024

GIVING BACK

Last week we had an enthusiastic group from Wales that were willing to free up a whole day in their program. After a morning tour in the Amsterdam East about Colonialism, Migration & Gentrification we visited inspiring community centre . The students had a lunch where they learned about new ways towards a more harmonious and supportive society. Afterwards they could also feel it, by dancing together, gardening and creating art.

Thank you en

All of our tours have the opportunity to add a volunteer activity, to connect and give back to the community 🌿 Definitely worth it to make a bit of extra time!

07/02/2024

Colonialism to Fair Trade

Last week we organised a customized tour about trade, connecting the past, present and the future. Over 75 CEO's of the joined out walking tours through the city center. Listening to the stories of the VOC, creating understanding beyond the bricks and stones.

Giving new inspiration to decision makers, from stories of the pioneers of Amsterdam. Guest speakers like
who do business differently, use the past to create a different future. who is on a mission to change an industry, not a product.

Proud to use our city as a learning playground and of the stories of our change makers.

12/01/2024

Meeting point for the whole neighborhood 🩵

is one of our favorite places in Amsterdam South-East! Because of the food, the atmosphere and the amazing owner Mr. Kai Hing Li (Omoe). The oldest shop in the neighborhood has a rich history but cannot be missed by the neighborhood today. It's a representation of all cultures, colors and tastes of the Bijlmer. Omoe his spirit is "if the customer wants something, I'll make sure he gets it".

We love to visit the shop and share the story of Toko Omoe in our tour about Superdiversity. Well, mostly it's Omoe and his son Ramon that welcome everyone and share the stories themselves. The toko provides much more than food, a warm conversation, a recipe, some lonely people come back 4x a day! While the whole world and neighborhood changes, this place stays the same.

05/01/2024

New Year, New Collaborations

Do you want to discover all the beauty of Amsterdam from a boat, but would you also like to leave the city a little more beautiful? In a unique collaboration with E-boats, you can now book a Boat Tour that Matters with us! An eye-opening and cosy experience for the colder winter days with colleagues, friends or classmates.

Visit places of the regular sailing routes and listen to stories that are less heard. While sailing we pass inspiring initiatives that are working towards a better future.

Every tour is tailor-made depending on the need of the group and the topic of tour! Do you want to know more? Send us a message or e-mail at [email protected].

NEW collaboration with E-boats Happy 2024! The holiday season is all about spending quality time with family and friends, making wishes for the New Year. 366 days to come to create happy and meaningful moments, at home and at work. As always you can join us for inspiring walks and positive impact ac...

28/12/2023

A Circular Houseboat Community

Living on the water has been a common alternative way of living in Amsterdam. But this floating neighbourhood in the Johan van Hasseltkanaal is truly unique. For over ten years the residents worked together to design, develop and realise Schoonschip. An ecologically and socially sustainable neighbourhood where they live with 46 households, on 30 arks. On their website and during the guided visits residents share openly about the process and their lifestyle.

On our Circular City Tour we share the story of an inspiring example of alternative ways of living. Not only due to the green innovations, but also the way of sharing and community living.
Next year we'll be launching a tour together about reshaping urban landscape. An e-bike tour that included a special guided visit by one of Schoonschips residents.

21/12/2023

Gardens for education and connection

The community garden Oost Indisch Groen is one of our favorite places to learn about nature. This educational garden inspires residents about Urban Agriculture and gives anyone the opportunity to gain experience in permaculture. From keeping bees to growing mushrooms, everyone is invited to experiment with their own ideas.

Our Urban Agriculture tour starts at this beautiful garden. Our expert guide Joao knows all about reconnecting with our roots: the land, community and connection with nature. For him Urban gardens are an oasis in the concrete jungle. You can find relaxation, better health, harvests and community.

The tour takes place around the in Amsterdam - East and can also be combined with various workshops to get your hands in the soil 💚🌱

19/12/2023

A meeting place for the whole neighborhood

From artistic workshops to just a nice cup of coffee, to swap clothes and or practice a language. The Modestraat is a neighborhood meetingspot but also a living lab. Residents, artists, students come together to co-create and contribute to the neighborhood.
The Modestraat a home to social and cultural initiatives like our partners


Every semester we are invited to give a tour of Buikslotermeerplein and the area around. A tour that connects the past, present and the future of the neighborhood. That gives a voice to stories less heard and introduces the students to inspiring initiatives.
From February we will guide the students into collecting stories and developing a concept to share them with others.

Check out
For the program of their weekly activities or just hop by for a coffee.

30/11/2023

Colonialism to Fair Trade

One of the first tours we've developed in 2019 tells the history of the Dutch trade. The success but also the painful suffering. This tour visits the Eastern Islands, beautiful and quite unknown neighborhoods. From the VOC sip through the old warehouses, you learn about the not so golden parts of the golden age. Mistakes from the past give us the opportunity to do things differently. The tour takes us to the Czaar Peterstraat where we visit pioneers that make a difference. that are working towards a fair and inclusive world.

Today the students of the
Are exploring the colonial history of the Netherlands with the self-guided route.
Are you curious and in for a walk through the Eastern Islands, check out the route we made for

https://www.iamsterdam.com/zien-en-doen/natuur-en-actief/routes/wandelroute-langs-de-duurzame-handel-en-kolonisatie

22/11/2023

A journey towards our sustainable future 🌍

Students are being challenged to create solutions to real world problems. is a yearly event for students from highschools and universities, to open their eyes to the possibilities of the future.

Last week we got to guide 60 students from Asia, Latin America and Europe on a journey towards a sustainable future. Inspiring them with stories of innovation and circularity, showing them examples in Amsterdam North. Like this magical garden , where in between the old trees people are making a difference everyday.

Thanks