Frequently Asked Questions
Booking Process
After filling in our inquiry form or sending us an email inquiry, you will receive a price list. If the prices fit in your budget, we’ll send you a quote and programme, which you can confirm. Then we’ll reserve a guide for you and make all other necessary reservations.
We only organize tours for entire groups and don’t offer open tours that participants can join. If you’re interested in a private tour for a small group, check out cityloop.nl
Our maximum group size per guide is 25 persons. In the city centre of Amsterdam there’s a municipal regulation limiting groups to max. 15 persons per guide. By bike our maximum is also 15 persons per guide. We can handle groups up to ca. 200 persons.
After confirmation the tour programme and price are fixed. If you’d like to make changes, let us know and we will see what we can do. If the booking includes services which are calculated per person, such as entrance tickets or restaurant reservations, the number of participants can be changed until 4 weeks before the tour.
You will receive an invoice ca. 4 weeks before the tour. Payment can be made by (international) bank transfer. We don’t accept credit cards or cash payment.
Cancellation is free until 4 weeks before the first tour day. Afterwards the following cancellation fees apply:
50% for cancellation within 30 days before the first tour day
75% for cancellation within 10 days before the first tour day
90% for cancellation within 5 days before the first tour day
Tours and Programmes
We develop and organise tours for specialist groups, but also for non-professionals interested in architecture. Our target group includes architecture firms, project developers, municipalities and local authorities, students, architects’ associations, but also art clubs and cultural tour groups.
Our guides speak English, Dutch, German, French and Japanese.
The starting points of our tours are flexible and depend on the programme. We will find the ideal starting point in consultation with you. You will be informed about the exact location in the quote and again by mail before the tour.
Of course, that’s possible. The tours on the website are half-day modules, which we can combine into full day or multiple day tours. Merging two tours is also possible, if the locations aren’t too far apart. Just let us know and we’ll check.
Yes, that’s possible. Let us know which areas, buildings or type of projects you’re interested in and we’ll design a customized programme for you.
We always aim to include visits of publicly accessible interiors in our tours, depending on route and timing. We can also arrange visits of private apartments and other interiors. These can be booked as add-ons for your tour.
Yes, we also offer lectures and talks about urban development in the Netherlands. These can take place at your hotel or in a lecture room, which we rent for the occasion. We also hold online lectures, e.g. as pre-trip preparation. Ask us about the possibilities!
Transport and Restaurants
Of course, we’re Dutch after all! In order to ensure safety and swift movement around town, the maximum number of participants on bike tours is 15 persons per guide. Please be aware that helmets are not obligatory in the Netherlands. A limited number of helmets is available at rental shops.
We can take care of all reservations. For busses, boats and watertaxis, we cooperate with a local agency. For bikes, we can point you to the nearest rental shop or make a reservation for you. Many hotels have their own bikes, so that might also be worth checking out.
For lunch or coffee during a tour, we always find the best place on the route and make the reservation. For dinner, we can send you a list of recommended restaurants with capacity for groups.
You can pay by debit card or credit card, directly at the café or restaurant. In the Netherlands, cash is rather uncommon. It’s also not common to pay separately, so one person should settle the bill for the whole group.
In general, the tour always take place, rain or shine. If you’re not comfortable with the weather, let the guide know. He or she will discuss the alternatives with you and find a plan B, if necessary.
We always plan coffee and lunch breaks with toilet facilities during the tours. But if it’s urgent, your guide will try to find a solution.
Please inform us in advance, then we’ll check if the selected tour is suitable or if we can arrange some kind of support for you.
Guides
Our guides are experienced local architects, who know the ins and outs of Dutch architecture and urbanism. Check out our team here. We aim to match our guides with the group, depending on language, interests, business field etc. We will let you know the name of your guide(s) a few weeks before the tour.
We aim to assign the same guide(s) to a group on all tour days, although in high season there may be exceptions.
The guide waits for you at the starting point. You will receive his or her mobile number before the tour, so you can find each other if necessary. We will also ask you for the mobile number of a participant, which we give to the guide, just in case.
We’re always looking for qualified and enthusiastic guides. You can find more information on this page.
Other questions? Send us an email!