22nd International AIDS Conference
Amsterdam, Netherlands | 23-27 July 2018

Book a tour

A local supplier, ITB Holland, has been selected to operate a variety of tours for conference participants who wish to take the opportunity to explore Amsterdam and the surrounding area.

Tours Schedule and Descriptions

Click on the tour names below to see the description.

Sunday 22 July 2018


On this tour, you will discover the typical sights of Holland. First, you drive to the windmills area, the Zaanse Schans, along the River Zaan. In the 18th century, there were more than 700 windmills here; today, only five remain. The tour continues with a visit to the picturesque and famous old village of Volendam on the shore of the Zuiderzee (former shallow inlet of the North Sea). Step back in time and enjoy its folklore. Here, we will enjoy a delicious two-course lunch.

After Volendam, we continue to Monnickendam, a former fisherman’s village with an interesting history. Sights on the city walk include the beautiful City Hall and De Waag, where ship loadings coming in from overseas were once weighed. If you like, you can try the typical Dutch dish, gerookte paling (smoked eel). Lunch will be taken either in Monnickendam or in Volendam with its traditional fishermen’s harbour and many shops and restaurants. The tour concludes with a visit to the town of Broek in Waterland where you can see its beautiful, characteristic wooden houses. During the 17th and 18th century, this was one of the most prosperous towns in this area. Many shipowners, captains and merchants once settled here. Famous people, like the French philosopher Victor Hugo, Emperor Alexander of Russia and Napoleon, visited Broek in Waterland.

Tour includes:
  • The services of a private guide
  • A two-course lunch and one drink
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The bus leaves from and returns to the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.


It is definitely worth visiting the many beautiful, typical Dutch villages that surround Amsterdam. During this tour, you visit Volendam, a picturesque village on the shore of the former Zuiderzee. The tour then continues to Marken, a small town situated on a former island near the IJssellake. It is a lovely place to visit and has many special features, like its houses on pillars, traditional green-painted houses and folkloric customs and clothing. Walk along the small bridges and little alleys, and admire the historic houses. In Marken, the coach will pick you up to bring you back to Amsterdam.

Tour includes:
The services of a private guide
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The bus leaves from and returns to the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.


The first stop on this tour is The Hague, the seat of the Government of the Netherlands. It is also known as the Royal City because it is where King Willem-Alexander lives. The Hague is situated about one hour’s drive from Amsterdam. The tour takes you to the city centre and on a panoramic drive that passes the Peace Palace and the Binnenhof, including the Ridderzaal (Knight’s Hall), where the government is seated and where you find the palace of King Willem-Alexander.

In the afternoon, you move on to Delft. This is the city where Vermeer lived and painted. Walk at leisure through the beautiful old centre of the town along the canals and many almshouses (or inner courtyards) and visit the Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory De Porceleyne Fles. Established in 1653, this is the last remaining Delftware factory. The world-famous Royal Delftware is still entirely hand painted according to a centuries-old tradition. During the tour, you will gain insight into the process of making Royal Delftware with the old techniques, including being painted by talented artists.

Tour includes:
  • The services of a private guide
  • Entrance fees to the Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory

The tour excludes lunch.

Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The bus leaves from and returns to the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.

Monday 23 July 2018


This is a panoramic tour through the historic centre of Amsterdam. It passes along the Amstel River with its thin wooden bridge, the Munt Tower and nearby floating flower market, Dam Square with the Royal Palace and the New Church, central station, museum and antique quarters. Pass through the oldest part of Amsterdam, called the Jordaan, and its quaint streets. You will see Amsterdam from the water during a canal cruise in a private boat. While gliding through the old centre of the city and into its harbour, you will see merchants’ mansions, churches and warehouses dating from the 17th century.

Tour includes:
  • The services of a private guide
  • Use of a private boat
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The tour starts and ends at the dock of the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.


The tour starts with a short drive to Zaanse Schans, 14.5km north of Amsterdam, on the River Zaan, with its wooden houses and windmills dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Zaanse Schans is a fully inhabited, open-air conservation area, and its original buildings vividly depict Dutch life at this time. You will also visit the medieval town of Edam, rich with history. Shipbuilding played an important role in the growth of Edam during the 17th century, and it once had 33 shipyards. One of the more famous ships built here was the Halve Maan, the ship that Henry Hudson captained in 1609 in search of a northern route to the East Indies. This was a futile attempt, in fact, and he ended up on the island of Manhattan. However, the most obvious association with the name Edam is its cheese. For centuries, round Edam cheeses have been sent to all corners of the world. The cheese market, restored to its place of honour, takes place weekly during the summer months. Nearby, cheese warehouses keep alive the memory of a colourful past.

Tour includes:
The services of a private guide
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The bus leaves from and returns to the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.


This tour takes you through the maze of Amsterdam’s many food stalls. The guide will explain how local delicacies are made and advise on items that you might enjoy. You will visit secret eateries that are not on the map and get to experience the sounds and smell of Amsterdam’s best dining experiences.

Tip: Good food doesn’t have to be expensive in Amsterdam! This tour will cater specifically to your taste buds.

Tour includes:
  • The services of a private guide
  • Tasting of three food items
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The bus leaves from and returns to the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.

Tuesday 24 July 2018


This tour takes you through the maze of Amsterdam’s many food stalls. The guide will explain how local delicacies are made and advise on items that you might enjoy. You will visit secret eateries that are not on the map and get to experience the sounds and smell of Amsterdam’s best dining experiences.

Tip: Good food doesn’t have to be expensive in Amsterdam! This tour will cater specifically to your taste buds.

Tour includes:
  • The services of a private guide
  • Tasting of three food items
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The bus leaves from and returns to the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.


This is a panoramic tour through the historic centre of Amsterdam. It passes along the Amstel River with its thin wooden bridge, the Munt Tower and nearby floating flower market, Dam Square with the Royal Palace and the New Church, central station, museum and antique quarters. Pass through the oldest part of Amsterdam, called the Jordaan, and its quaint streets. You will see Amsterdam from the water during a canal cruise in a private boat. While gliding through the old centre of the city and into its harbour, you will see merchants’ mansions, churches and warehouses dating from the 17th century.

Tour includes:
  • The services of a private guide
  • Use of a private boat
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The tour starts and ends at the dock of the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.

Wednesday 25 July 2018


The tour takes you through one of the most picturesque neighbourhood of Amsterdam, the Jordaan. With its narrow streets and small canals, the Jordaan was built in the 17th century. The higher classes lived along the big canals, and the lower classes and craftsmen lived in the Jordaan. Nowadays, the area is a centre for art, music and antiques. The word comes from the French jardin, which means garden. The streets are all named after flowers or shrubs. The real inner gardens, however, are hidden behind the facades of beautiful gables. This neighbourhood offers great antique shops and other specialty stores. Right on the edge of the Jordaan, next to the beautiful landmark of Westerkerk, you will find the Anne Frank House where Anne Frank hid during the German occupation in World War 2.

Tour includes:
  • The services of a private guide
  • Bus transfer to the city centre
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The tour starts and ends at the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.


The tour starts with a short drive to Zaanse Schans, 14.5km north of Amsterdam, on the River Zaan, with its wooden houses and windmills dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Zaanse Schans is a fully inhabited, open-air conservation area, and its original buildings vividly depict Dutch life at this time. You will also visit the medieval town of Edam, rich with history. Shipbuilding played an important role in the growth of Edam during the 17th century, and it once had 33 shipyards. One of the more famous ships built here was the Halve Maan, the ship that Henry Hudson captained in 1609 in search of a northern route to the East Indies. This was a futile attempt, in fact, and he ended up on the island of Manhattan. However, the most obvious association with the name Edam is its cheese. For centuries, round Edam cheeses have been sent to all corners of the world. The cheese market, restored to its place of honour, takes place weekly during the summer months. Nearby, cheese warehouses keep alive the memory of a colourful past.

Tour includes:
The services of a private guide
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The bus leaves from and returns to the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.

Thursday 26 July 2018


It is definitely worth visiting the many beautiful, typical Dutch villages that surround Amsterdam. During this tour, you visit Volendam, a picturesque village on the shore of the former Zuiderzee. The tour then continues to Marken, a small town situated on a former island near the IJssellake. It is a lovely place to visit and has many special features, like its houses on pillars, traditional green-painted houses and folkloric customs and clothing. Walk along the small bridges and little alleys, and admire the historic houses. In Marken, the coach will pick you up to bring you back to Amsterdam.

Tour includes:
The services of a private guide
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The bus leaves from and returns to the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.


The tour takes you through one of the most picturesque neighbourhood of Amsterdam, the Jordaan. With its narrow streets and small canals, the Jordaan was built in the 17th century. The higher classes lived along the big canals, and the lower classes and craftsmen lived in the Jordaan. Nowadays, the area is a centre for art, music and antiques. The word comes from the French jardin, which means garden. The streets are all named after flowers or shrubs. The real inner gardens, however, are hidden behind the facades of beautiful gables. This neighbourhood offers great antique shops and other specialty stores. Right on the edge of the Jordaan, next to the beautiful landmark of Westerkerk, you will find the Anne Frank House where Anne Frank hid during the German occupation in World War 2.

Tour includes:
  • The services of a private guide
  • Bus transfer to the city centre
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The tour starts and ends at the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.

Friday 27 July 2018


This is a panoramic tour through the historic centre of Amsterdam. It passes along the Amstel River with its thin wooden bridge, the Munt Tower and nearby floating flower market, Dam Square with the Royal Palace and the New Church, central station, museum and antique quarters. Pass through the oldest part of Amsterdam, called the Jordaan, and its quaint streets. You will see Amsterdam from the water during a canal cruise in a private boat; this will take one and a half hours. While gliding through the old centre of the city and into its harbour, you will see merchants’ mansions, churches and warehouses dating from the 17th century.

Tour includes:
  • The services of a private guide
  • Use of a private boat
Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The tour starts and ends at the dock of the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.


The first stop on this tour is The Hague, the seat of the Government of the Netherlands. It is also known as the Royal City because it is where King Willem-Alexander lives. The Hague is situated about one hour’s drive from Amsterdam. The tour takes you to the city centre and on a panoramic drive that passes the Peace Palace and the Binnenhof, including the Ridderzaal (Knight’s Hall), where the government is seated and where you find the palace of King Willem-Alexander.

In the afternoon, you move on to Delft. This is the city where Vermeer lived and painted. Walk at leisure through the beautiful old centre of the town along the canals and many almshouses (or inner courtyards) and visit the Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory De Porceleyne Fles. Established in 1653, this is the last remaining Delftware factory. The world-famous Royal Delftware is still entirely hand painted according to a centuries-old tradition. During the tour, you will gain insight into the process of making Royal Delftware with the old techniques, including being painted by talented artists.

Tour includes:
  • The services of a private guide
  • Entrance fees to the Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory

The tour excludes lunch.

Departure point:
Meet your tour guide at the tours desk, located in registration at the conference venue. The bus leaves from and returns to the RAI.
Meeting time:
10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.

Tour bookings

From 7 June 2018



Contact the Tours team

[email protected]