Bill’s
Expat Bike Tour
Amsterdam
Included in this tour
- Live guide in English by your local hero Bill (priceless)
- Bike rental (worth €12.50)
- A bottle of water
- Instagrammable photos of the tour
- Tips, tricks and recommendations for your stay in Amsterdam
- Concluding drink with fellow travelers (not included in the price)
What makes Bill's Bike Tour unique?
Hi Friends! A very warm welcome. Knowing what it’s like to live abroad, Bill has created a bike tour that really takes it to the next level. In every city it’s easy to find city tours that tell you all about the clichés you can read about in the Lonely Planet. To find tours by locals who take you through their neighbourhood can prove more challenging. Bill’s Bike Tours take you through Bill’s neighbourhood, revealing many secrets of Amsterdam and Dutch culture.
During Bill’s Bike Tours you will see parts of Amsterdam most expats never get to see! We will stay outside the city centre and explore the city from a local perspective. On Bill’s Bike Tour you will hardly interact with other traffic as Bill has selected a beautiful and safe route through the back streets of Amsterdam.
Bill lives right around the corner from the meeting point and he will tell you everything about his neighbourhood.
Where are we biking?
Before setting off Bill’s City Bike Tour we will take 10 minutes to make sure everyone is comfortable on their bike and Bill will explain basic cycling rules. From then on it is nonstop fun, cruising on a typical Dutch bike!
Along the route we will make frequent stops and you will see a windmill, explore a beautiful park and even sample some delicious chocolate from Tony’s Chocolonely! Next, we will either explore an untouched canal district without the crazy tourist vibe of the city center or take a ferry over the River IJ and head to an abandoned shipping wharf. Bill loves this area full of street art, graffiti, and pop-up art from local artists.
Crossing back over the river IJ we’ll visit a neighborhood famous for its architectural style called The Amsterdam School, which inspired Gaudí. Finally, we will bike back into Westerpark where we will conclude Bill’s Bike Tour with a refreshing drink, make new friends and share stories!
- The smallest hotel in Amsterdam.
- Windmill the Cornflower
- Culture park Westerpark
- Former gas factory turned nightclub
- Chocolate tasting at Tony’s Chocolonely
- The Headless Bride
- Haarlem Gate
- Princes Island
- The famous canals and boat houses
- Leaning houses
- Wooden draw bridges
- Ferry Jetty Building
- The former Lumber Port
- Ferry ride across the IJ river
- Container bar Pllek
- Wooden draw bridges
- Urban beach along the IJ river
- Former shipping wharf
- NDSM terrain and artist studios
- Port crane hotel Faralda
- Street art and graffiti
- Urban art communities
- Pirate Radio ship Veronica
- “Amsterdam School” Architecture
- Cafe Pacific Parc
- Amsterdam craft beer, bitterballen and cheese
Meeting point
Bill’s Morning Bike Tour starts at the bike rack alongside the canal, next to the terrace of cafe Pacific Parc. The address is Polonceaukade 23, 1014 DA Amsterdam.
If you don’t see Bill at the bike rack when you arrive, please wait patiently until the tour is scheduled to start. Bill will meet you there!
Is Bill’s Bike Tour safe? Biking in Amsterdam seems daunting…
When you’ve been in Amsterdam for 5 minutes, you already know Dutch people bike like mad men. That is one of the reasons we will stay out of the city center. Do you want to experience what it’s like to be Dutch, navigating your way through Amsterdam on a bike, all the while feeling relaxed and safe?
This is your lucky day! You found Bill’s Bike Tour: a unique and safe bike tour, which takes place entirely outside the hectic city center. Bill has carefully selected a safe route through pretty parks, quiet precincts and beautiful back streets. On Bill’s 4 hour bike tour you will hardly interact with motorized traffic.
Who is my guide?
All of Bill’s Bike Tours come under the guided supervision of Bill himself. Bill’s Bike Tour is a once in a lifetime experience that is fundamentally different from all other bike tours in Amsterdam! We will avoid crowded, touristy places that you likely already visited anyway. Most importantly, Bill is not a typical tour guide or historian. Instead Bill is a storyteller, entertainer and your friend for a day. In the end, Bill cares about one thing only: that you are enjoying yourself and that you are having a good time
Why should I book Bill's tour?
During Bill’s amazing expat bike tour, you will see a side of Amsterdam you cannot find in the Lonely Planet or other travel guides. A side of Amsterdam big tour operators won’t cover, because they cannot turn it into a money machine. Bill is an avid traveler, so he knows what it is like to get stuck in tourist traps and feeling like a number.
Bill has created an authentic, unique, quintessential experience of Dutch culture and identity. Simply put, we will cycle to and explore places and communities where Amsterdam locals meet, eat, drink, create and socialize. All combined with a balanced mix of art, architecture, humor and socio-cultural and historical context. Not only will you learn what it is like to be Dutch, on Bill’s quintessential bike tour you will experience what it’s actually like to live as a local in Amsterdam!
Where can I find reviews of Bill's Bike Tour?
Bill has an average review score of 4.97 and 1000+ reviews. You can find reviews of Bill’s Bike Tour on TripAdvisor, Google and Airbnb Experiences:
Will I get tired? Four hours seems like running a marathon…
During Bill’s unique expat bike tour, we will cover roughly 10 miles or 16 kilometers with plenty of stops and explanation from your expert friend and local hero Bill. That means the tour is slow paced and fit for all ages. Some prior biking experience is required. The minimum age is 8, unless you booked a private tour.
How about equipment?
Bike rental is included in Bill’s Bike Tour. Bill has bikes in all sizes, including kids bikes, toddler bikes, child seats (for private tours), tandems and of course adult bikes. In case you need small bikes, helmets, a tandem bike or anything out of the ordinary, please notify Bill immediatly after booking.
Still have doubts?
No worries, Bill agrees the digital matrix can be a little overwhelming from time to time. Just shoot Bill a WhatsApp message at +31 647 002 878 and he will answer all your questions!
What people say about Bill's Morning Bike Tour
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Very gentle and knowledgeable host, he really knows fun facts of Amsterdam. And I love how solo is also welcome. His puppy is a plus.
Jaffy X5/21/2023We had a lovely ride with Pim and his doggie. Learned about Ditch culture and explored parts of Amsterdam outside the city center.
Louise M5/20/2023So much fun, Pim's super knowledgeable and really funny! The tour took us around another side of Amsterdam - felt mor like the 'real' side and a little less lonely planet! And we were lucky enough to be joined by Pim's adorable miniature poodle-cross on the tour, Herman. Best tour guide duo, best bike tour! Thanks Pim 🙂
Fred F5/20/2023Pim was a great guide, and shared information about Dutch culture and history at stops along the way. This tour was a good introduction to biking in Amsterdam as Pim explained the basics of biking here, and took us on less crowded (but very scenic!) route. Definitely a highlight of my visit—don’t hesitate to book this tour!
Caroline M5/19/2023 -
A thoroughly enjoyable tour around some of the lesser travelled areas of Amsterdam. Pim's lived experience of Amsterdam translated to a sound local knowledge and was made even better by the fact he was accompanied by Herrmann, his little companion, see pictures! A perfect outing for cyclists of all ability levels, would definitely recommend! 👌
Matthew S5/14/2023We loved this tour - the area Bill showed us was easy to bike in, interesting and he is an excellent story teller...
Janet L5/08/2023 -
We really loved to see the beautiful local side of Amsterdam and enjoyed the great Amsterdam stories
Anne Flachs N4/30/2023Pim was a phenomenal host, and I thoroughly enjoyed the bike tour that he offered! Off of the beaten path, it allowed me to see areas of Amsterdam that I hadn't before, and offered the perspective of a local. Would highly recommend this experience!
Kelly S4/27/2023Pim's bike tour was great! A very safe and informative way to take a quick tour of Amsterdam without feeling too stressed biking right downtown. And Pim is so friendly and has great info on the city and suggestions of placr to go! He also takes pictures/videos throughout the tour and sends them to you after, so you can focus on having a good time (though of course you get the opportunity to take your own photos as well). I'd definitely recommend 😊
Robin Jahn4/25/2023I had an amazing experience on the bike tour of Amsterdam! Our guide, Pim, was fantastic and had so many interesting stories to share. It was great to get out of the city center and explore the more authentic side of Amsterdam. It was exactly what I was looking for and I HIGHLY recommend!
Nicole Borwege4/24/2023 -
This tour was perfect. A combination of off the beaten track and mainstream sights and photo opportunities. Pim is really nice and gave some nice insights into Dutch culture and philosophy. Highly recommend
Alan & Sandy Bulmer4/22/2023 -
Biking with Pim was great! A wonderful way to learn about Amsterdam. I highly recommend this tour with Pim.
T. Cuartero4/21/2023Pim’s a world class guide! Excellent biking, and an even better education in Dutch culture and history!
Shawn Sheehan4/21/2023The bike experience was a truly great and alternative experience, giving us a special feeling away from the tourist parts of Amsterdam. And providing a valuable and interesting reflection of Amsterdam. The storytelling of Pim is both special and also enjoyable - exceeding all our expectations!
Septimus Boshoff4/21/2023 -
Il miglior tour in bici che potete scegliere! Pim è preparatissimo e molto divertente..sicuramente il modo migliore per godersi Amsterdam in bici e scoprire, divertendosi, interessanti curiosità su questa città affascinante. Consigliatissimo!!!
Jessica Pernarella4/14/2023 -
This was a great way to see parts of Amsterdam outside the usual city center. Loved the bike ride, the stories, and the scenery.
Jenny Scanlin4/14/2023This was such a great tour! Pim told us great stories and it was nice to see some of the lesser known areas in Amsterdam. It felt like a more authentic experience. Definitely recommend this tour if you'd like to experience Amsterdam on a bike while also learning more about the city!
Courtney Smith4/14/2023I booked Bill’s Bike Tour with family & friends in Amsterdam and it was beyond expectations. The tour guide really immersed us in the daily local life of Amsterdam citizens. Really captivating storytelling. Would highly recommend!
Rachel Lynch4/14/2023Really enjoyed Pim’s (aka Bill’s) bike tour. Pim took us on a nice route to through parts of town I don’t think I would have seen otherwise and was loaded with all sorts of fun/interesting historical facts about the city. I definitely recommend the tour to anyone looking for a very chill/friendly/informative outing!
Andrew Stynchula4/14/2023 -
We loved the local experience & Pim the host was fab. Highly recommend instead of the usual highlights
Nikki T4/10/2023I had a great time biking through Amsterdam with Pim. Also I really enjoyed listening to his anecdotes of his experience living in the city.
When we biked through Westerpark we saw the cherry blossom. Great route for a tour in Spring.Claud4/08/2023Best bike tour!! Pim is friendly and fun to talk to. The tour was great, we visited lots of interesting and beautiful sites. Highly recommend booking his tour when you first arrive in Amsterdam.
Karina Reynoso4/07/2023Amazing experience with my kids ages 5,7,16
Pim was very informative and knows his way very well around the city. I can’t recommend this tour enough…. Book it, I promise you won’t regret it.
It was fun and we learned soooo many facts about the city in a fun way. Pim explained everything very well. I could tell how much he loves what he does. I would definitely do this tour again.katherine522314/03/2023 -
Love it! My kids and I had a blast. Great info about city and country. Off the beaten path. Loved the pics he shared after. Going to Tony's for chocolate was the icing on the cake. Thanks for a great tour.
Sweet Encounter3/28/2023My sister and I took three young tweens/teens on Pim’s bike tour and all 5 of us absolutely loved it! Pim knows this city so well and seeing it on bike was so much fun. Highly recommend!
Kat Postel3/28/2023 -
Pim’s tour was a great way to see parts of the city that you may not see on your own or with other tours. I am also glad I had my taste of Amsterdam biking culture in a safe/guided way because I would have surely lost a limb or caused chaos if I attempted biking here on my own. Definitely recommend!
Lindsey Watts3/28/2023Merci beaucoup à Pim pour ce tour en vélo à Amsterdam hors des sentiers battus accompagné de plein d'anecdotes !
Langlais Pierre3/28/2023 -
Fantastic tour off the heavily congested paths. Pim knows the city well and it shows. Took three young teens and they were also raving about the tour. Highly recommend.
Kat P3/18/2023When I signed up for this bike tour I assumed it was going to be a fairly typical overview of the basic highlights in Amsterdam. But to our surprise, it was a total off the beaten path experience. Pim showed us areas that we never might have seen otherwise. We went through interesting parks, converted industrial areas and took a ferry to an artist’s colony of repurposed shipping containers! All along Pim was extremely knowledgeable with interesting facts. He even took photos all the way through and sent them to us after the trip. I would highly recommend this. Thoroughly enjoyed
Debra K12/28/2022 -
Pim is a fantastic tour guide! He is knowledgeable and friendly and shares many interesting stories and insights into Dutch culture. The ride is easy and fun with great views of the canal and other less-touristy areas.
Katey Finnegan11/28/2022Un temps fort de notre séjour. Pim nous fait decouvrir Amsterdam hors des sentiers battus. Ces commentaires sont riches et pertinents.
Anne Mottin11/28/2022 -
Pim was so cool. He had a lot of great information to impart and he’s really funny. The bike ride was very enjoyable and great for all levels. We saw lots of the curt that is less touristy, but interesting and beautiful.
Pim did a great job hosting and making us feel comfortable- 10/10 would recommend.Jenna S11/14/2022First time in Amsterdam and this bike tour is worth it.. Pim is very friendly and would really go out of ordinary tour route to appreciate more about the city and the story behind… highly reco to visit and book Pim! 😘
G. Vallejo10/28/2022Awesome tour!! Pim is a great guide, offering cultured and insightful information while showing us interesting and different areas of Amsterdam. I also loved that he took lots of photos and videos that he shared with us right after the tour. Highly recommend, especially if you are looking for a unique and non-touristy experience!
Carly Wilden10/28/2022What an amazing experience! Pim was an incredible host - fun, knowledgeable, and personable. He led us on a very unique tour of Amsterdam that made me feel like I got to know some of the places that the locals really love. Pim made sure we got to know the others in our group a bit and we ended the tour by grabbing a drink together which was really fun. I did a bike tour in 3 of the countries that I visited on my trip and Pim's was by far the best. Highly recommend.
Christi Crowley10/28/2022 -
Loved this bike tour!! Definitely takes you off the beaten (tourist) path in the best way. He showed us some really interesting, lovely parts of the city that we never would have found on our own. Also he was just so interesting to talk to, I learned so much about Dutch culture from him just in our short time together. Could not recommend this tour enough!
Lindsey B10/21/2022Our group of seven strangers on bikes became a cohesive group of friends on Pim’s highly entertaining and informative 3 hour “behind the scenes” tour of Amsterdam. We saw a windmill, rode a ferry, rode through the largest graffiti museum in the world, stopped for coffee, then later for chocolate, and ended sharing post your beers. Travel is all about meeting great people- and Pim’s tour makes this happen!
Caroline S10/05/2022This was our third bike tour of Amsterdam. Pim's was more "non-touristy" then the others. This was appreciated because we didn't want a repeat of past bike tours. Pim was very knowledgeable, friendly, and entertaining to everyone in our group. He seemed to connect with everyone because of his outgoing personality. Highly recommend his tour!
Kenny S9/21/2022 -
We were able to see very cool but yet non-touristy sights. Pim was a friendly, knowledgable guide as well.
Rahul8/30/2022Jacki8/27/2022 -
Pim was an excellent guide who certainly knew his way around the city. I’m very glad to have toured with him
Jake L8/22/2022Great easy paced tour through the less crowded and lesser known areas of Amsterdam. We enjoyed it all. Pim is very friendly and knowledgeable about his home town.
LouieZK8/20/2022 -
Pim is a great guide and he owns the business. full of great insight into local customs
We never road too long without a break for more information....
Unique experience.
I give it a strong 5 stars.Stephen8/08/2022My wife and I really enjoyed this excursion.. Pim was knowledgeable, experienced and provided a SAFE ride to some very unique hotpots. It was an exciting experience full of new things and packed with culture.
Pim was excellent!Andre8/08/2022 -
pim's tour was such a treat--we explored new places, heard great stories and made new friends. highly recommended!
Jodi8/05/2022This was the highlight of our trip. Pim was awesome! He took me and my two sons (8&10) all over the city and to places I would have never thought to go. He had bikes for the boys in their size, went at their pace for their age and I felt safe riding with him. Really a gem of an experience! Would recommend to everyone!
Lauren8/03/2022 -
A great off the beaten track tour through parts of 'real' Amsterdam on proper Dutch bikes. The group is small enough that you don't get lost but also get to know others on the tour if you want to. Highly recommend this tour for a proper Amsterdam cycling expereince in some different neighbourhoods, because you don't need a bike tour to take you to the city centre, or red light district, so better to use the opportunity to see something different.
Leah M7/26/2022Pim was an excellent tour guide. It was such an enjoyable experience off the beaten path of Amsterdam. He has extensive knowledge of the area and interesting facts to share that made the trip so enjoyable. My daughter and I really loved it!
Diane7/25/2022You must take this tour! It was such a wonderful and unique experience. Pim has gone above and beyond to create a special experience. You learn a ton, see a ton, and get to meet new people. Pim takes photos along the way and shared with you at the end so you have lasting memories. The bikes were comfortable, the route was safe (and Pim ensures safety throughout the entirety) and there were loads of cool perks. Highly recommend!
Annie P7/25/2022
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Real side of Amsterdam plus pup So much fun, Pim's super knowledgeable and really funny! The tour took us around another side of Amsterdam - felt mor like the 'real' side and a little less lonely planet! And we were lucky enough to be joined by Pim's adorable miniature poodle-cross on the tour, Herman. Best tour guide duo, best bike tour! Thanks Pim 🙂
Fred F5/20/2023 -
Absolutely loved this bike tour! Pim was a great guide, and shared information about Dutch culture and history at stops along the way. This tour was a good introduction to biking in Amsterdam as Pim explained the basics of biking here, and took us on less crowded (but very scenic!) route. Definitely a highlight of my visit—don’t hesitate to book this tour!
Caroline M5/19/2023 -
A highlight of our Amsterdam trip! 🇳🇱 A thoroughly enjoyable tour around some of the lesser travelled areas of Amsterdam. Pim's lived experience of Amsterdam translated to a sound local knowledge and was made even better by the fact he was accompanied by Herrmann, his little companion, see pictures! A perfect outing for cyclists of all ability levels, would definitely recommend! 👌
Matthew S5/14/2023 -
Bike tour out of the ordinary The bike tour was very enjoyable and took place in a nice area of Amsterdam away from the crowd. Pim made the tour in a very entertaining way and gave a good impression what defines dutch history, culture and the people. We definitely recommend this tour.
Maren K5/02/2023 -
Pim's bike tour was great! A very safe and informative way to take a quick tour of Amsterdam without feeling too stressed biking right downtown. And Pim is so friendly and has great info on the city and suggestions of placr to go! He also takes pictures/videos throughout the tour and sends them to you after, so you can focus on having a good time (though of course you get the opportunity to take your own photos as well). I'd definitely recommend 😊
Robin Jahn4/25/2023 -
I had an amazing experience on the bike tour of Amsterdam! Our guide, Pim, was fantastic and had so many interesting stories to share. It was great to get out of the city center and explore the more authentic side of Amsterdam. It was exactly what I was looking for and I HIGHLY recommend!
Nicole Borwege4/24/2023 -
Fun , authentic and informative tour This is a really great trip to see an “off the beaten track” side of Amsterdam. We enjoyed learning more about the history and culture of the Netherlands. Pim is a very authentic , lively and friendly guide.
Recommend this tour, a fun and interesting couple of hours.charlottebrf4/22/2023