About us
How Comedy Walks came about
It’s summer 2017. Erik and Laura, the founders of Comedy Walks©, are renting a small room in a beautiful 17th-century canal-side house in the centre of Amsterdam. Every day, a group of young tourists would gather on the doorstep with a guide. Time and again, they’d see the same thing happen: the guide would talk enthusiastically about the city, but fail to hold the group’s attention. Most participants would look around bored or be busy on their mobile phones.
Laura sighs to Erik: “Why can’t it just be funny? Why not have a comedian as a city guide?”
The idea was born
Erik, an experienced improvisational comedian, immediately realised the potential of that idea: a comedy show with the city as its backdrop. That was the moment the seed for Comedy Walks© was sown, born out of frustration with conventional and sometimes rather dull city walks.
Less than six months later, the first trial run of Comedy Walks© took place. It was January 2018, cold and dark, and the audience consisted entirely of critical comedians. Despite this, the concept was a resounding success.
We currently organise Comedy Walks© in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven and The Hague. And to be honest: there are still plenty of other cities on our wish list.
Our ‘Walking’ Comedians!
Jelle takes you to Utrecht’s hidden gems. His casual disregard for local customs ensures that you feel and behave like a local, even if you actually are one.
Maarten is a romantic in an age without romance. That’s why he’ll take you on a tour of The Hague – the ‘Hofstad’ (Court City), where courtesy is sometimes hard to find. He’ll show you the parts he loves and the parts he’s not so keen on.
Hermes’ comedy is clever, sharp and laced with a healthy dose of self-deprecation. Just like Amsterdam, Hermes has a rich but also bizarre and controversial past – something he loves to reminisce about.
Rachel is a blissfully happy British comedian – which is quite rare these days since Brexit. Her in-depth analysis of the Dutch education system will have you in tears – of laughter, that is.
Our mission
Cities are an inexhaustible source of stories. Behind every façade, in every alleyway and beneath every paving stone lies history, drama, romance, absurdity or simply a great story.
We believe that these stories come into their own when people don’t just listen to them, but can also have a laugh at them.
At Comedy Walks, we combine storytelling about the city with live comedy. In this way, we offer visitors an experience that is as entertaining as it is surprising, and we provide comedians with a unique stage where the city itself becomes part of the show.
For comedians, by comedians
Comedy Walks is a collective of comedians, organised by comedians. That’s why two things are central to what we do: the audience and the performer.
We strive to provide the best possible experience for our visitors and the best conditions for comedians to do their work. That means room for creativity, artistic freedom and an environment in which performers can experiment, grow and excel.
New talent
The Netherlands is home to many talented comedians, yet the number of venues is limited. We offer a platform where up-and-coming artists can develop their craft.
The dynamics of a city centre differ enormously from those of a theatre. That’s what makes a Comedy Walk challenging, but also, precisely because of that, educational. Comedians learn to captivate their audience in a variety of circumstances, to improvise and to connect with their surroundings.
Are you a comedian and would you like to give it a go? Then get in touch with us!
Satisfied walkers
Interesting
Today, with a larger group, we had a brilliant tour led by Jelle. What a lovely way to learn more about Utrecht. Definitely recommended. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Mark Krishan
The guide was funny, shared some interesting facts, and we had a brilliant walk through Utrecht.
Pim
I did the comedy walk in Utrecht. Brilliant tour. Fun facts, great stories and a funny guide. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Utrecht!
The Schaijk parade
On Saturday 20 September 2025, I went on the comedy walk in Eindhoven. A brilliant experience: fun, lots of laughs and I really enjoyed it! Definitely worth doing again.
Paulien van der Goes
Customer focus and service are top priorities for Laura. A lot of companies could learn a thing or two from that! So, my compliments to her