History Trips
History Trips
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About
Our tours are very much personalized because they are limited to 8 persons and guided by a qualified historian. Enjoy Amsterdam in the Golden Age (walking tour). Starting from Amsterdam, other tours discover the Middle Ages, WWI, and WWII. Examples of trips: A day in the Middle Ages (Bruges or Castle tour), Battlefields of WWI (Ypres), Retrace the Battle of Arnhem (Market Garden 1944).
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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5.0
312 reviews
Excellent
301
Very good
11
Average
0
Poor
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Terrible
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Neale Clark
2 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
This is the second year we have used Murk as a guide to second world war battle fields, this year being the battle of the bulge. He was punctual when he collected us from our hotel, and upon reaching the area of the battle, he was engaging with maps and diagrams to show what had taken place. We found it all extremely informative and we are planning a third battle field tour next year to include the liberation of the Netherlands. We found it to be good value for money and would not hesitate to recommend Murk and History Trips.
Written 25 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff I
2 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
I've toured with Murk twice now and will definitely join him on a third trip if we can arrange it. Why? As a former classroom history teacher, Murk infuses his love and respect for history into his tours. His research is incredible, yielding details that provide important color and depth to the canvas of events and the people who participated in them. Maps are two-dimensional; Murk makes the experience three-dimensional. I also appreciated our off-tour hours — the conversation at breakfast and dinner around U.S. politics and history — he knows more than most of my fellow citizens! — and Dutch culture. Overall, the value you get from one of Murk's tours is unparalleled. I'm a podcaster, and I've invited him to come on my show. That should tell you a lot.
Written 11 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael L
Stuttgart, Germany2 contributions
Sept 2022
I had the opportunity to spend all day with Murk moving from cemetery to battlefields and finally to Arnhem bridge on a weekend in September - THE weekend of the anniversary and it was truly amazing. I was on a business trip, and it just so happened to coincide - this was a great Diversion from work. I highly suggest aligning any of your trips with him on anniversaries if applicable. It is great to see how the local residents keep this memory alive. Murk was on time for pick, very talkative and super knowledgeable on the battle and all aspects of the events. With a booked schedule, he was still able to squeeze me in at the last minute, much to my satisfaction. I recommend this trip if you are in Amsterdam. If I end up going back, I will surely book another battlefield tour!
Written 11 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave
3 contributions
Oct 2022
A brilliant tour of the Ardennes to visit the sites of the 1944 Battle of the Bulge. Murk’s knowledge of the area in general and the important locations in particular was outstanding. Not only did he take us to the well known spots but several which we would never have found without his knowledge. He adapted the tour to fit in with our time constraints as required.
He organised the tour from top to bottom including hotels picking us up at Schipol airport, driving us to all the locations and dropping us off in the centre of Liege for our journey home.
A First Class trip with an excellent guide who was both knowledgeable and good company.
He organised the tour from top to bottom including hotels picking us up at Schipol airport, driving us to all the locations and dropping us off in the centre of Liege for our journey home.
A First Class trip with an excellent guide who was both knowledgeable and good company.
Written 14 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J R
Old Malton, UK13 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
A day with Murk is a rare learning experience. He is knowledgeable, personable and a skilled navigator of the battle timeline and geography. If, when you start your day with him, you have a general understanding of what happened at Arnhem, by the end of it you really know the human, military and strategic story. My brother and I had Murk as our guide for the day. Annoyingly he was knowledgeable about football as well, and able to offer an informed critique of our team’s abject performance in the Premiership this year.
Written 22 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G.K.
1 contribution
May 2022
I recently returned from an extensive trip to Europe focusing on the historic struggles of the two World Wars. Having done my research I eagerly secured Murk's services months in advance to my trip. I was not disappointed. Murk worked with my to create a custom tour involving Ypres and Market Garden. His insight and passion were excellent in creating an engaging 4 days. Murk has the highest quality "bedside manner" you could ask for in a guide. You will not find a guide who is more committed, knowledgeable and generally a good person than Murk. I have been home for 6 weeks and I am still sharing things and telling stories from the tour. In short, Murk is a legend and truly a treasure to have show you history.
Written 9 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert M
Pound Ridge, NY2 contributions
Sept 2022
My wife and I were led by Murk Dijkstra on a 3 day Market Garden Tour September, 2022. I was familiar with the battle, yet Murk's in-depth knowledge and outstanding maps, which he personally annotated, were a revelation. Murk, a former history professor has clearly thought deeply about this particular battle and its context within the framework of World War II in Europe. His mastery of the terrain, the units which fought and the general ebb and flow of the battle provided insights impossible to get from reading books. Murk also proved to be a delightful traveling companion. I recommend Murk unreservedly and hope to join him on other tours in the future.
Written 9 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rodger W
4 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
It's a walkable city. The Rijmuseum is a 20 min stroll from Dam Square, the World War 2 Resistance Museum is small but comprehensive. Close by is the stunning Maritime Museum which includes a tour of the replica Amsterdam.
Written 19 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SarahEHLD
London, UK14 contributions
Oct 2022
Extremely high quality, interesting, and informative tour. This was my second time touring with Murk and it won't be my last. I've recommended his tours many times to my friends and family, and I wholeheartedly recommend these tours, especially to any traveler interested in history and architecture.
Written 4 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ide F
Dublin, Ireland11 contributions
Apr 2022
Recently I surprised my other half and flew us to Amsterdam for the Operation Market Garden tour! Murk was our guide and we had him all to ourselves. Murk really knows his stuff...he has a wealth of knowledge on the subject area and also plenty of really interesting war stories to keep you engaged throughout the tour. He is also very likeable and easy to get in with so all in all, we had a wonderful time. I couldn’t recommend him more highly.
PS. If you pick the 2 day trip, you will also get to stay in a very quaint Dutch B&B overnight (incl in total price) whee the food is just amazing!
Thanks so much Murk! This trip won me several brownie points :)
Íde
PS. If you pick the 2 day trip, you will also get to stay in a very quaint Dutch B&B overnight (incl in total price) whee the food is just amazing!
Thanks so much Murk! This trip won me several brownie points :)
Íde
Written 8 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How do i book a trip with this guy? No info on here about how to buy tickets - just reviews.
Thanks
Mike
Written 22 August 2022
Could you please provide me with the contact info for this tour. ill be in amsterdam from march5th till the 11th. Thank you so Very much.
Written 27 February 2019
Here you go;
Tel - +31 0(20) 6 83 98 38
Website - historytrips.eu
Hope this helps & good luck.
Tony
Written 28 February 2019
leotabone
Pretoria, South Africa
Hi , my name is Leo Tabone, my son and I will be taking a trip to Bastogne and the Hurtgen forest early May, 11 to the 17. I need some pointers and hopefully a guide to take us to the forest battle sights. Can you help?
Written 29 April 2018
leotabone
Pretoria, South Africa
Hi , my name is Leo Tabone - myself and my son will be taking a trip to Bastogne and the Hurtgen forest early next month, 11 - 17 May. I would like to visit the battlefield sights in the Hurtgen forest ,pillboxes dragons teeth etc - I'll need a guide or some pointers on how and where to go, can you help?
Written 29 April 2018
Hi,
We would like to book a trip for June 2016 and have emailed several times to enquire how to book with no response.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Helen
Written 1 April 2016
Following is contact info I have. Murk is pretty much in demand and fortunately I booked 6 months in advance last year. Good luck.
History Trips
St. Gilleshof 36,
1066PZ Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)20 6 83 98 38
Mobile: +31 (0)6 42 53 10 61
Skype: murkdijkstra
Written 1 April 2016
How can I book the Murk tour that goes to Bruges?
Written 13 January 2016
Go to the web site:
The email is on the site and Murk will email you back.
Written 15 January 2016
Wen L
Rome, Georgia
Hello. We will be in Amsterdam the week of June 1, 2016 and would like to book a tour with you. How would we go about doing this?
Thank you,
Wen L.
Written 27 October 2015
we booked a special history tour with murk. It was only our familly and related to our family in Zwolle. The tour was just awesome, Murk is wonderful. He picked us up in Amsterdam and went several places in relation to ww2 and the regiment de la chaudiere from Canada. He did a big research with what we gave him as information. He is a history teacher so he knows his stuff. search in the net for Murk Dijkstras
historytrips.eu
Written 30 October 2015
laurence152014
Houston, Texas
Are you near the train station (from Amsterdam)?
Is there a Catholic Cchurch near by for Sunday Mass?
Written 31 January 2015
We were not near the station, but I believe there is an old Catholic church in the old part of town, which is by the station.
Written 31 January 2015
Hello!
We would like to take the Market Garden tour in July 2016. We will be staying in central Amsterdam. How long does this tour take and does Murk pick us up or do we meet somewhere else? Also, when should I contact him for a reservation?
Thanks so much!
Doug Murray
Written 13 January 2015
Hi Doug,
Thank you for your inquiry. Did you really mean 2016 or is it July 2015? All the same it will be my pleasure, although I need a specific date for checking availability. I pick you up at your hotel and the trip runs from 9 am to 7pm. There are 3 options for this trip , featured on my website ( check out TRIP INFO-section).
Regards,
Murk Dijkstra
Written 14 January 2015
Hello!
How long is the Market Garden tour from Amsterdam?
Also, is the trip to Brugge much longer?
Thanks so much!
Written 10 January 2015
To be specific:
Arnhem is a 1 hour drive to get there, the Market Garden tour takes about 9 hours. Bruges takes a 2 1/2 h. drive and is a full day ( 12 hours ). Both including traveltime. Hope to hearing from you.
Murk
Written 20 January 2015
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