• Victorieplein - The bike tour begins at Victorieplein (formerly known as Daniël Willinkplein). On June 20, 1943, a significant raid occurred in Amsterdam. At the base of the Skyscraper, numerous Jewish citizens were apprehended during a so-called Judenaktion. With the assistance of Dutch police units (PBA, Police Battalion Amsterdam) and police volunteers from the Dutch National Socialist Movement (NSB), the Nazis transported the Jews to Olympiaplein, among other locations, for registration and subsequently to the Westerbork concentration camp in the eastern Netherlands.
• Merwedeplein - Merwedeplein 37-II (3rd floor by American counting) was the residence of the Frank family. In the summer of 1942, Otto Frank moved his family and some acquaintances to “Het Achterhuis” (the Secret Annex) on the Prinsengracht, where Otto Frank’s business was situated. A statue honoring Anne Frank stands on Merwedeplein. Around the corner from the Waalstraat bookstore, Jimmink (still operational) sold the first edition of “Het Achterhuis” (Contact publishers), the initial edition of Anne Frank’s diary, published in 1947.

It was at this bookstore that Otto Frank purchased the diary for his daughter.

• Waalstraat - At Waalstraat 48, opposite Merwedeplein, (now Café Blek) was once the Tilex Bar (Tilly and Lex - van Weren). Lex van Weren survived Auschwitz because he was required to play his trumpet at executions.
• Cornelis Troostplein - Cornelis Troostplein 23 once housed the PBA-barracks. Before WWII, it was known as “peace parish” (the Catholic complex included two convents and a school). In spring 1942, the chief of the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) /Gestapo Rauter inspected the PBA and met Reichsführer - SS Heinrich Himmler at Museumplein.
• Museumplein - During the war, the Germans transformed Museumplein into a stronghold. Facing the concert hall, the houses on the left were occupied by German offices. For instance, the United States consulate building once housed the Zentralstelle für Jüdische Auswanderung (Central Jewish ‘Emigration’ office). Next door was the Ortskommandantur (Town Major) and the Feldgendarmerie (Military Police) building. Other buildings accommodated Nazi party offices and other German services. In front of these buildings was the IJsclubterrein (Amsterdam skating club), where the Germans constructed their stronghold with bunkers and anti-aircraft (Flak) batteries. Next to the concert hall was the NSB HQ Amsterdam. After WWII, all bunkers were demolished.
• Roelof Hartplein - At Cafe Wildschut, there will be a brief stop for coffee and a restroom break.
• Roelof Hartstraat - A photo shop was located next to the library building on Roelof Hartstraat. During the war, the Dutch resistance utilized the store to develop unique photos (e.g., Charles Breijer) of the first roundup of Jews in Amsterdam by the SD/Gestapo and the German (order) police.
• Harmoniehof - A small monument here commemorates the Jews taken from this neighborhood.
• Beethovenstraat - At the corner of Beethovenstraat / Apollolaan.

In late October 1944, approximately in front of no: 6 (most house numbers remain the same as during WWII), Herbert Oelschlägel, an SS officer and Sicherheitsdienst /Gestapo agent, was executed by a Dutch resistance member. In retaliation, the Sicherheitsdienst / Gestapo burned down two houses and executed 29 resistance fighters.

• Gerrit van der Veenstraat - At the time, this street was called Euterpestraat.
  Gerrit van der Veen was the leader of a significant Dutch resistance group.
• Memlingstraat - On the corner of Memlingstraat/Rubensstraat were two offices of the most crucial Nazi oppression organizations: SD-HQ Amsterdam (SD Aussenstelle under Willy Lages) and the Hausraterfassungsstelle (responsible for stealing the possessions of deported Jews), which was part of the Zentralstelle für Jüdische Auswanderung. The leader of the Hausraterfassungsstelle was a Dutch collaborator named Henneicke.

In November 1944, the resistance requested the Royal Air Force via a secret radio message to attack the headquarters of the SD/Gestapo and the Hausraterfassungsstelle. Their primary goal was to destroy SD/Gestapo files. This mission was accomplished by Group Captain Denys Gillam DSO, DFC, AFC, leader of 149 (Typhoon) wing. A (resistance) safehouse was located on the corner of Rubensstraat/Gerrit van der Veenstraat. See Stolperstein (stumbling stone) for the address. In June 1944, this address was betrayed to the SD/Gestapo by a female informant (V-Frau).

• Olympiaplein - Olympiaplein/Parnassusweg.

On this square, Jewish people arrested during the June 1943 raid at the sports complex (see monument Parnassusweg) were registered by the SD/Gestapo with the assistance of Jewish camp police sent from Westerbork concentration camp.

• Valeriusplein - Valeriusplein / Amsterdam Lyceum.

This school building served as the headquarters of the Luftwaffe at the end of the occupation.

• Emmaplein - Statue of Queen Emma on Emmalaan/Prins Hendriklaan. In the summer of 1940, people placed flowers at the statue in defiance of the German occupiers.

One of the resistance photographers, Charles Breijer (see 7.), captured a photo of the guard at the headquarters of the Kriegsmarine in 1944.

• Amstelveenseweg Street - When the Germans surrendered on May 7, 1945, tense situations arose between frustrated German troops and resistance fighters. See the monument to the victims of one of the shootings on the last day.

This marks the final point of the tour. The guide will lead you through the Vondelpark to Leidseplein, where the tour began.

• View historic WWII photos on-site, comparing past to present.

We embark on a bicycle journey through the southern districts of Amsterdam, traversing sites significant during the time of occupation and juxtapose ancient photos on contemporary scenes, delving into the tales of the war period. We’ll visit Anne Frank’s abode, Jewish round spots, German fortifications and headquarters, and locations where the Dutch resistance clashed with the German Army. The enlightening tours are conducted by a trio of retired historians, enthusiastic about the narrative of German’s occupation of Netherlands in World War II.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.