Unusual tours in Amsterdam are a core element of the leX-factor. We also call those group experiences “surprising”.
They combine alternative routes with alternative ways of moving through the city. From inline skating and biking to walking, these tours reveal a different Amsterdam — including its newest architecture and lesser-known neighborhoods.
This approach is reflected in everything we do: online communication, on the street, and during our tailor-made private tours. As local guides and creators of unexpected Lexperiences, we focus on discovery, movement and perspective rather than standard sightseeing.
Our unusual way of guiding has even been picked up by Sunday Times magazine, resulting in international free publicity for our offbeat Amsterdam tours.
Are you embracing the uncommon?
We also use uncommon and active means to explore the city. Such as the footbike (also known as a scooter) and inline skates. (We also go touring by bike with groups; in combination with unusual corners of the Dutch capital.)
Unknown makes unloved and that is why we promote the other, and sometimes unique Amsterdam. Unusual Amsterdam tours contain hidden gems and a different way of getting around the city.
New private, uncommon Amsterdam tours in English – 2026
- Rooftop guiding at skybars across Amsterdam – sip, look, and enjoy the city from above
- The Eastern Islands Lexperience – wander hidden corners, discover stories only locals know
- Private Zuidas tour – modern architecture, city secrets, and unexpected views. Example
Top 12 of unusual Amsterdam tours by Lex and the City local guides (and you)
Top-10 lists with the highlights of Amsterdam can be found in many places. Now an alternative top 10 (12!) follows: that of the atypical Amsterdam for corporate purposes or leisure groups and families: ⇓
- Up for a (last-minute) private bike tour to uncover some of Amsterdam’s secret spots?
- Footbiking, also for corporate groups visiting tempting Amsterdam. (You want the link? Click on the footbike Amsterdam picture here above. ⇑)
- The Marine terrain on Kattenburg, core of our sustainable private bike tour.
- Tour of the Eastern Docklands; a surprising area, where the water is always nearby. This eastern port area (literally translated from Dutch) is full of architecture, watersides, converted warehouses, space and…. nicknames!
- The guided course tour. A private and unusual corporate city experience with stops to communicate an item of your workshop.
- Unusual, sometimes even unique attractions, sights, restaurants, café’s, while touring in “Mokum”, nickname of Amsterdam. Like on the Eastern Islands in Amsterdam Central-East. We can start that unusual Amsterdam bike tour on the edge of this place full of maritime history in the bike rental of the Czaar Peterstraat.
That cool timeline of the history of the Eastern Islands – Oostenburg. (With Lex’ footbike) 
REM island, within the new to discover area of Amsterdam, called “Houthavens”. Picture taken by the local guide during the Corona crisis. On the footbike, which is pretty unusual as well. - The NDSM-wharf, hip and happening and accessible wit a free ferry. It is in Amsterdam North and this the place where we guide pretty much since about 5,5 years. With an unusual tour of Amsterdam!
The raw and recycled side of the NDSM Wharf with the Trammeland trams and the Crane Hotel. - Inline skating in the city (including mini workshops) It is the root of what we are now. This is how we have started “touring in the city differently” in August 1998. Get yourself inspired on our Youtube channel called “Lexperiences”.
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Co-owner Guno of the dedicated Cruyff shop in the Jordaan quarter on Elandsgracht, shows the 1971 Cup final Wembley Ajax shirt. De Indische Buurt (Indian neighborhood) Amsterdam East in general in fact is a Lex and the City unusual specialty since 5-6 years.
- A guided football tour in Betondorp and Park de Meer, Amsterdam East, exploring the roots and stories of Johan Cruyff.
The Amsterdam football (L) experience tour can also include a visit to the Cruyff shop in the Jordaan, with special items, rich stories and a warm welcome by its owners, Guno and Rob: - One hour tours in Amsterdam East for busy business travelers, for example a small bike tour on that attractive Jetty Island (on the archipelago IJburg, East Amsterdam.) One hour bike tours are pretty unusual, so it is not a surprise we do offer that experience here.
- Based on your own dream (tour). In this case we are very open to your touring dreams full of creativity and uncommon inspiration, and we’ll also keep an eye on our own mission. (being Lex and the City urban experience rules as well) The perfect mixture?
Unique and even binding view (together!) over tempting Amsterdam
For your special interest tour: The West India House with café New Amsterdam. It is the place where, what is now New York, was created on the drawing board by the Dutch.
An additional unusual Amsterdam experience in the heat of the summer of 22: bike & swim
An example of a Lex and the City cycling route in the unusual Amsterdam (one way). Along non-touristy places. ⇓
That different Amsterdam by bike with Lex and the City, starting in the Indian quarter and via the trendy Czaar Peterstraat, the Eastern Docklands, and (view of) the Marine terrain and then towards North.
There we explore the Overhoeks district together with the A’DAM tower and the EYE film museum, then two different types of garden villages in Amsterdam-North, then the triggering sustainability projects of Buiksloterham and finally the still quite rough NDSM Wharf. Then take the ferry to the Pontsteiger. Cool one way bicycle track of almost 20 km.
Spring: Flower bulb fields tour above Amsterdam
Are you looking for an unusual flower bulb tour above Amsterdam?
Or you just want to check out some beautiful pictures of tulip fields and other flowers in North-Holland from the bulb supplier? Thank you Pennings from Breezand for the photos.
Well..just click the picture here. (and contact Lex and the City.)
Free publicity for our unusual tours in Amsterdam East in the National Geographic
March 2019 Lex and the City had a large article (3 pages) about that unusual tour Amsterdam of Lex and the City in the Indonesian Neighborhood | East Amsterdam in a well-known magazine that is distributed throughout Amsterdam.
Is an attractive unusual tour the same for everyone?
We can take you to loads of places. After all, that is the reason you have found Lex and the City. I hit the streets everyday looking for new stuff. It is the nature of the beast.
However…. if your group members have little or no previous experience in Amsterdam, they probably would like to be welcomed with triggers they think about when thinking about Amsterdam. As we say at Lex and the City: “People first want to be confirmed, before being surprised”. ;)
The off-the-beaten-path output will come from me showing you hidden gems in the well-known part of our great town. And our out of the box approach.
Who’s the creator of those triggering experiences in Amsterdam? Get a picture of the local private guide.
About that out of the box local private tour guide Amsterdam: press on the picture.
(I focus on the unusual Amsterdam; I even live in it.)
Lex and the City also choices to work with people, companies and other organizations with the same spirit. I will know give you an example of what I had written on of our bike suppliers: (Lexample in our case.)
I did a tour last week on ZuidAs and yes…I bumped into your store. It is a good reason to work with you guys. You make different choices. Looking at our postcard we do the same.
Hidden gem in that other Amsterdam: Western Islands
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(Mini Blog, February 2024) Just finished my first private unusual 3H bike tour in French here of the season. I got the feeling I also had the 1st 3-4 weeks on the Université de Savoie in Chambéry: slight headache of talking, tired and happy at the same time. :) Yes 1st timer in French of the season means going out of the comfortzone. I start my day with my own playlist of favorite French dance hits on Spotify. (And I actually sing (and dance) before the tour! :p )
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“The unusual” is now a storyteller online as well for hotels in Amsterdam-East and in “Noord”.
- Storyteller of Amsterdam East for locally based hotels (en restaurants) Lex and the City helps local hotels describe the fun unusual highlights around their spot.
- Helping hotels in Amsterdam North with presenting the area around their accommodation loud & clear. (and Lexy)
Landing-page for private tours in Amsterdam
Private and Custom tours by Lex and the City: place to start with
“If you focus on the known, you get the known. If you focus on the unknown, you create a possibility.”
― dr. Joe Dispenza