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
-
10/10 10/10 great local bike tour. Pim (Bill) was friendly and gave us a fun and insightful tour. His little dog came along for the ride as well, which is always an added plus!
Erica F28/09/23Pim and Hermaan's bike tour gets ALL the stars!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 I booked Pim's bike tour for me and my husband based on all of the Airbnb reviews. They were all very positive, but our experience exceeded my expectations. Pim is delightful, warm and loves his city. You can tell how much he enjoys sharing it with everyone. Of course, being a dog lover, having Hermaan along for the ride was a bonus! The whole experience was totally positive and I cannot recommend it highly enough! I know it will be a highlight of your trip to Amsterdam as it was for us!!
Andolyn F25/09/23Do not miss this bike tour! Don’t hesitate! Just book this tour! It was so much fun biking in the city (the less populated areas) Pim was great-patient, kind and knowledgeable. I learned so much.
Kari L02/09/23Highest recommendation!! Fantastic tour, so enjoyable, informative and entertaining yet also safe and relaxing. Pim is a super pleasant person, full of good stories and great information / insights about Amsterdam. His loyal companion Hermann (pictured here) is the other star of the ride! This tour was a definite highlight of our stay in Amsterdam. Highly highly recommended!
DJ4111/08/23 -
Easily the best bike tour in Amsterdam! Do the 4-hour option!! Time flew by seamlessly and was worth every penny. Pim is a great story teller and an chill guide, making the experience memorable.
M K19/07/23Amsterdam bike tour An awesome personal and off the beaten path tour of beautiful and cool parts of the city that are not often seen. Bill was an incredible guide and our whole family thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Mike D13/07/23Excellent! Extremely fun while also being educational! It was great to get the local perspective on Amsterdam/Dutch culture and to see parts of the city you typically don't get on similar tours. The pace was relaxed and it was a relief not to be biking in super congested routes. Definitely a high point of my time in Amsterdam!
Brooke S04/07/23 -
Yes do this tour-definitely fun If you’re reading this then you are interested in a bike ride in Amsterdam. And yea you should do the 4 hour one. We had already done a canal cruise, walking tour etc but wanted to see more of Amsterdam. This was a great option. Yes it’s four hours but we did make stops to learn about Amsterdam, took lots of pictures, met some other nice people and grabbed something to eat at a really cool place. We saw parts of Amsterdam that we wouldn’t have seen or found on our own which was the best part. The graffiti art place, Westerpark and playing with the puppy (his dog came along for our trip) were a few of our favorites. Definitely a fun thing to do.
Charles M24/06/23Pim amazing guide tour! It was a pleasure going around the city especially visiting places that we did not expect and Pim was a fantastic guide
anna r23/06/23 -
Nice bike ride! Biking the inner areas of the city could be challenging- better to take a walking tour ( which we did). This tour took us to some of the outlying neighbourhoods and biking with the group wasn’t a problem. Pim was engaging and gave us some good insight into the area.
cgiddings15/06/23What are you waiting for? Book this bike tour ASAP! Pim is a wonderful guide! I had a great time riding around Amsterdam with him and our group. We got to see a peaceful and unique places along the tour. Perfect way to spend a Sunday morning!
Rachel J11/06/23 -
Great bike your! A very informative and relaxed bike tour through some non-touristy areas of Amsterdam. Highly recommended!
Dmitry_Korneev06/06/23Great easy local tour Great guide, really local tour and easy roads. Best tour we’ve done so far. Pim was a really genuine easy to understand guide who told the story of the city well.
mia h06/06/23Best bike tour in Amsterdam Bills bike tour was so special and wonderful for my family! Instead of taking you to all the crowded tourist places you can see on your own, he takes you to hidden streets and gems that you would never find on your own. We loved every second and his stories and knowledge of Amsterdams history was fantastic!
Jenny M05/06/23 -
Great Bike Tour Bills bike tour was a highlight of our visit! Fun ride and we learned a lot about Amsterdam. Highly recommend!
Kellie K03/06/23Very enjoyable and authentic biking experience with great historic stories and view of nice locations It was a very great experience to be honest. Was better than we expected. He was very helpful and had great sense of humor which reflected from his story. Has good knowledge of relevant city history and took his time, never felt like a rushed tour. I would definitely recommend.
sal29/05/23Best part of my stay in Amsterdam! Pim is an excellent guide and wonderful human being. he is knowledgeable, witty and very friendly. his bike tour is different from others as he takes you away from the hustle bustle of usual touristy spots and shows you how common ditch people live and gives you insights about the historical facts that shaped up the Dutch culture today. if there is one thing you need to do during your stay in amsterdam, take this tour.
Shariq29/05/23 -
Best day seeing the city. Fabulous bike and history tour in fun neighborhoods. Away from the crowds and busy bike streets. Pim was a knowledgeable host and made sure everyone had a great time.
Rhonda29/05/23Perfect local bike trip 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 X21/05/23Real 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 F20/05/23 -
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 M19/05/23A 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 S14/05/23 -
10/10 Such a great tour! Pim was super informative and obviously very passionate about his city. We felt safe and comfortable the whole time
Gabby R04/05/23Bike 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 K02/05/23 -
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 Jahn25/04/23I 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 Borwege24/04/23 -
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.charlottebrf22/04/23Pim was a great tour guide! He took us through areas that are a little less known to the regular tourist and was very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this tour
Cyril Sambrano21/04/23The 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 Boshoff21/04/23 -
Biking with Pim was great! A wonderful way to learn about Amsterdam. I highly recommend this tour with Pim.
T. Cuartero21/04/23Really fun very local bike tour Really fun and interesting super local tour with good stories and commentary on life in Amsterdam--- definitely a part of the town you might not see otherwise and gives you a good feel of regular living here!
Thanks to Pim and his adorable puppy who attended as well!Amy21/04/23I 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 Lynch14/04/23This 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 Smith14/04/23 -
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 Scanlin14/04/23Nous avons passé un agréable moment avec Pim. Il nous a fait découvrir Amsterdam d’une manière pertinente et riche. Nous recommandons vivement et sans hésiter ! Merci encore !
Sophie Charles14/04/23 -
Great time exploring some quieter, but really interesting parts of Amsterdam. Nice bikes and good pace with plenty of stops
Marne Duke14/04/23Really 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 Stynchula14/04/23 -
Best 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 Reynoso07/04/23Amazing experience with mi kids Amazing 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.katherine5223103/04/23 -
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 Watts28/03/23Brittany Chancey28/03/23 -
Pim’s bike tour is top notch. I learned so much about the city and the culture here. He cares about the visitors and I can tell his true love for this place. You should try it out if you wanna experience and local and avoid the touristic city center.
Shijing Yao28/03/23 -
This was a great experience! If you are visiting for the first time or don’t know the less-known sites, you should go on Pim’s tour. He is friendly and knows a lot about Amsterdam. There were also a few fun stops along the way. 🙂
Madison Fleming28/03/23Great tour 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.
Nikki T27/03/23 -
When 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 K28/12/22Biking in Amsterdam has always been on my bucket list and we are so glad to be able to join Pim's tour. He was friendly and accommodating. Took us through the less touristy spots of Amsterdam. A must do on Amsterdam!
Susan Yeung28/11/22 -
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 Finnegan28/11/22Don't bother making a reservation; they will cancel it anyway. They don't even deserve one star. This lousy tour company canceled my reservation the night before it was supposed to take place. Do not true them; reservations mean nothing to them.
Gabriella G19/11/22A must-try for all levels! 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 S14/11/22Wonderful bike tour with Pim Wonderful experience with Pim in Amesterdam. Pim is very warm, kind and friendly, an educated man. We discovered Amesterdam with a different vision, a charming city. The cycling experience is very interesting, I strongly advise to live it but only by bike and only with Pim because it is different and Amesterdam is more beautiful with him.
Salem H31/10/22
-
Pim and Hermaan's bike tour gets ALL the stars!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 I booked Pim's bike tour for me and my husband based on all of the Airbnb reviews. They were all very positive, but our experience exceeded my expectations. Pim is delightful, warm and loves his city. You can tell how much he enjoys sharing it with everyone. Of course, being a dog lover, having Hermaan along for the ride was a bonus! The whole experience was totally positive and I cannot recommend it highly enough! I know it will be a highlight of your trip to Amsterdam as it was for us!!
Andolyn F25/09/23 -
Highest recommendation!! Fantastic tour, so enjoyable, informative and entertaining yet also safe and relaxing. Pim is a super pleasant person, full of good stories and great information / insights about Amsterdam. His loyal companion Hermann (pictured here) is the other star of the ride! This tour was a definite highlight of our stay in Amsterdam. Highly highly recommended!
DJ4111/08/23 -
Excellent! Extremely fun while also being educational! It was great to get the local perspective on Amsterdam/Dutch culture and to see parts of the city you typically don't get on similar tours. The pace was relaxed and it was a relief not to be biking in super congested routes. Definitely a high point of my time in Amsterdam!
Brooke S04/07/23 -
Yes do this tour-definitely fun If you’re reading this then you are interested in a bike ride in Amsterdam. And yea you should do the 4 hour one. We had already done a canal cruise, walking tour etc but wanted to see more of Amsterdam. This was a great option. Yes it’s four hours but we did make stops to learn about Amsterdam, took lots of pictures, met some other nice people and grabbed something to eat at a really cool place. We saw parts of Amsterdam that we wouldn’t have seen or found on our own which was the best part. The graffiti art place, Westerpark and playing with the puppy (his dog came along for our trip) were a few of our favorites. Definitely a fun thing to do.
Charles M24/06/23 -
Nice bike ride! Biking the inner areas of the city could be challenging- better to take a walking tour ( which we did). This tour took us to some of the outlying neighbourhoods and biking with the group wasn’t a problem. Pim was engaging and gave us some good insight into the area.
cgiddings15/06/23