Minor Hotels Unveils Audio Walking Tour to Celebrate 750 Years Of Amsterdam

To celebrate Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary, Minor Hotels is launching a unique city walking tour that takes visitors past the capital’s hidden gems. The ’Minor Hotels Walking Tour - 750 Years of Amsterdam’ connects three of the group’s historic hotels, allowing guests to discover the city’s rich history through narrow alleys, hidden courtyards and centuries-old gable stones.

The walking route, specially developed by a local guide for the city’s anniversary year, leads visitors past three iconic hotels owned by Minor Hotels: Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam on Dam Square, NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace and Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel. Each of these historic properties tells its own unique story as part of the city’s history.

Amsterdam is known worldwide for its canals, the Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House, but the city’s history can also be found in the small details: the narrow alleys, on street corners and in hidden courtyards. With this walking tour, guests of all Minor Hotels in the city will discover the hidden gems and gain a fresh perspective on Amsterdam.

Accompanying the tour is a specially designed map available free of charge to all suite-bookers at Minor Hotels in Amsterdam. All brands are participating, including Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel and all hotels of NH Hotels & Resorts in the city including NH Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace and NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market, nhow Amsterdam RAI and Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel. At the three historic hotels on the route, guests can pick up a small local treat inspired by the city’s rich variety of flavours.

Unique features of the walking route are the QR codes placed at strategic points along the route. When guests scan these with their smartphones, and list to stories about the history and cultural significance of each location. The walk takes guests past special sites such as the old Sint-Olofspoort near Barbizon Palace, the former anatomical theatre near Nieuwmarkt and the Begijnhof - one of the oldest parts of the city. Guests can also discover the Bank van Lening, the city’s oldest bank still operating.

NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace

Located in the oldest part of the city, NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace combines several historic buildings, including Amsterdam’s oldest wooden house. Part of the hotel was once the Sint-Olofskapel, dating back to the 15th century, which is the city’s oldest religious structure. The chapel was built adjacent to one of Amsterdam’s three original entrance gates: the Sint-Olofspoort. The gate was primarily used by travelling merchants, including timber merchants from Scandinavia, symbolising the strong trade connections between Amsterdam and the north.

Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel

Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel houses the city’s oldest hotel. The impressive building stands where the medieval city wall once ran, complete with a tower that once defended the city, not by an army, but by wealthy Amsterdammers who served as militia. In 1638, a large ballroom was added where, among other things, Rembrandt’s Night Watch hung for many years. The hotel’s facade still reflects this history, with two members of the militia watching over the city next to the clock, as they did in the past.

Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam

Located on Dam Square, the historic heart of the city, Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam has a rich history dating back to 1866. That’s when Polish tailor Adolph Wilhelm Krasnapolsky opened a coffee house that would later grow into a hotel. A unique feature was the chic Wintergarden; a belle époque indoor tropical garden with ceilings of glass and iron - an innovative design for the time. The venue would be hailed as ’the miracle of the century’ thanks to thousands of Edison light bulbs that illuminated it.  In 1924, Amsterdam’s dance ban was lifted, and Mr. Krasnapolsky secured one of the six coveted dance licenses. The expanded Wintergarden with spacious dance hall soon became a great success and an important part of Amsterdam´s social life.

Guided tours at the Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel

Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam, which opened last year and is the first Avani Hotels & Resorts hotel in the capital, will now offer a guided cycling and walking tour through the city to its guests. Led by a local guide, either on foot or on Avani bicycles, the tour starts at the hotel in the Museum District, taking guests through thematic landmarks from the city’s 750-year history.

The ’Minor Hotels Walking Tour - 750 Years of Amsterdam’ is already available to suite bookers at all Minor Hotels in Amsterdam.

About Minor Hotels

Minor Hotels is a global hotel group that operates more than 560 hotels, resorts and residences in 58 countries, and pursues the vision of creating a more passionate and interconnected world. As a hotel owner, operator and investor, Minor Hotels meets the needs and desires of today’s global travelers through its diverse portfolio of eight hotel brands (Anantara, Avani, Elewana Collection, NH, NH Collection, nhow, Oaks and Tivoli) and a portfolio of related businesses. Minor Hotels is rapidly accelerating its global growth ambitions, with the goal of adding more than 280 hotels by the end of 2027

Minor Hotels is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, and participates in the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty program.

For more information, please visit minorhotels.com and connect with Minor Hotels via Facebook and LinkedIn.