Jordaan Canal Houses, 2025

Amsterdam Urban Sketching Tours:

The Power of the Pause.

Capture Amsterdam’s Soul in Your Sketchbook

Beyond the Postcard: Create Your Story With Pens & Paint

Photography captures a moment, but sketching captures the soul. If you want to trade the rush of sightseeing for the quiet, focused beauty of creation, you need The Power of the Pause. This is your chance to move beyond generic photos and create a tangible memory.

Read My Essay: The Power of the Pause: Why Sketching Amsterdam Makes You a Better Traveler.

I designed these small-group workshops to teach you the artistic language needed to translate Amsterdam’s unique beauty onto the page—a fundamental skill that travels with you long after the ink has dried.

Ready to capture Amsterdam’s soul with your hands?

Book A Sketching Tour

Find Your Perfect Fit:
Three Levels of Sketching Tour

Level One: Observer

"I love the idea of sketching but have never tried," or "I want to draw what I see, but don't know where to start."

Overcoming the Blank Page

• Focus: Basic Observation and Material Confidence.

• The Challenge I Solve: You feel intimidated by the blank page or struggle to translate three-dimensional scenes into two-dimensional drawings. You need simple, actionable techniques to begin.

• What I Teach You: I will teach you the fundamentals of urban sketching: quick contour drawing, simplifying complex scenes, and mastering essential materials (pen and ink). We focus on simple perspective and finding the story in small details.

• Your Outcome: You leave knowing how to confidently open your sketchbook anywhere, ready to capture the energy of a place with your own hand. You gain the courage to start drawing.

Duration: Private 1 and 3-hour tours (1-4 people) available daily.
Tour Size: Just You / Your Group. 4 people maximum.
Investment: €250 (1-hour) to €400 (3-Hours), includes taxes & supplies
Location: varies based on season and duration.

Book Level 1: Observer Tour

Level Two: Storyteller

“I am comfortable drawing but want to introduce ink and watercolor to add depth and life to my sketches."

"I can draw, but I’m not used to drawing from real-life scenes—especially as they happen in front of me in a new location."

Focus: Composition, Perspective, and Expressive Color.

• The Challenge I Solve: Your sketches are technically accurate, but you want them to feel alive. You struggle with realistic perspective and incorporating evocative color.

• What I Teach You: We dive into perspective techniques (1- and 2-point), teaching you to build depth and form with confidence. We also introduce expressive color—mastering ink washes and basic watercolor—to capture the light and mood of Amsterdam's canals and streets.

• Your Outcome: You master the artistic language of composition, learning how to structure your sketches so they communicate a feeling, leaving with detailed, expressive urban scenes.

Duration: Private 1 and 3-hour tours (1-4 people) available daily.
Tour Size: Just You / Your Group. 4 people maximum.
Investment: €250 (1-hour) to €400 (3-Hours), incl. taxes & supplies
Location: varies based on season and duration.

Book Level 2: Storyteller Tour

Beyond the Levels: The Bespoke Session

This is the ultimate investment in your creative skill. A Bespoke Session is not just a customized walk; it is a private curriculum meticulously designed by me to meet your exact, advanced creative goals. Whether you are seeking technical mastery, a cohesive portfolio, or a high-end team-building retreat, I personally craft the plan.

Your Vision, My Dedicated Expertise.

I dedicate my entire background in art and photography to designing a journey that specifically addresses your challenges and accelerates your skills. This is highly focused, 1-on-1 mentorship, delivered in the unique environment of Amsterdam.

I focus on:

Mastery-Level Coaching: Intensive instruction on the most challenging aspects of your craft, from lighting a complex indoor scene to rendering complex perspective in a limited time.

Curriculum Design: Hand-picking locations, specific times of day, and lesson structures that guarantee you achieve the measurable creative outcome you desire.

Portable Skills Guaranteed: Ensuring every technique and insight you gain is a universal, transferable skill you can apply anywhere in the world.

Stop searching for the perfect tour. Let’s design it together.

Investment: from €800 for a 1-4 person, 4-hour masterclass.

Start Designing Your Custom Curriculum

Level Three: Visionary

“I can handle ink and watercolor but want to develop my personal style and better express my experience and point of view.”

Focus: Refining Your Voice and Building a Cohesive Collection.

• The Challenge I Solve: You have the technique, but you want your work to be instantly recognizable as yours. You need expert, focused feedback to push your personal style forward.

• What I Teach You: This intensive session is focused on developing your artistic voice. I challenge you with advanced subjects (quick figure studies, complex reflective surfaces) and provide personalized mentorship on style consistency. We refine your material handling and discuss how to present your sketchbook as a finished portfolio.

• Your Outcome: You leave with a refined, cohesive body of work and a clear roadmap for continuing to develop a signature artistic style that travels with you globally.