Originally Posted by Wekiva

In 2016 we had a lovely bike ride that started in the big scary city...where we found no mean Amsterdamians that were looking to kill tourists that got in their way. And guess what...it was a wonderful experience. We chose https://www.mikesbiketoursamsterdam.com/ and had a lady with spiky blond hair lead our tour. I think it's perfectly fine to want a tour guide along to tell you the history of what you're seeing. As for the peaceful canal ride...of course there was one...and it was the best part of the ride. We started in the city, rode into the countryside along a canal, saw a few windmills and then stopped at the guy's farm who makes wooden shoes and sells cheese - and hits on all the cute girls on the tour. I'm sure this is the typical route that most of the bike tours take. But it was a lot of fun and the highlight of the trip for my young children...ages 12 and 14

Rkyracr - I would recommend checking out Mike's and don't get scared about the fear mongering earlier in this thread. Obviously you're riding a bike in a city and have to use your head (which isn't helmeted by the way, which panicked my wife) but the tour guide found rather traffic free areas for much of the ride.

Originally Posted by Wekiva

Obviously that photo isn't downtown Amsterdam...but it's a part of MANY of the tours that start in Amsterdam. You're missing the forest for the trees...literally. The OP wants an Amsterdam tour that includes a scenic ride along a canal. There are plenty of tours that fit that EXACTLY.

Originally Posted by PalenQ

I wonder if such tours even have helmets available as an option?

Originally Posted by PalenQ

There is no such thing as a quiet bike path along the canals.?

Last picture above shows just such a bike path.

Originally Posted by historytraveler

Riding without a helmet is absolutely rhe stupidest thing I can imagine. Any cycling company that does not provide helmets and insist on wearing them is extremely irresponsible.