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Boat cruising through the Amsterdam canals

Canal Cruise Amsterdam

Shared canal cruises Private canal cruises

See Amsterdam the way the city was built to be seen, from the water. A canal cruise takes you straight past the spots you came for: the canal houses, the bridges, the Golden Bend. Step aboard a luxury open boat or a covered saloon boat, sit back, and let your skipper do the steering. Day, evening, dinner, or all-inclusive with drinks: pick the boat tour that fits your plan below.

Choose from our shared canal cruises

Choose your canal cruise. Every boat comes with a skipper, a proper view, and zero hassle.

Prefer the whole boat to yourselves?

Got a group, a celebration, or just your favourite people together? Then a private canal cruise in Amsterdam is your move.

Your own boat, your own skipper, your own route. You even pick the drinks and the playlist.

The Titanic saloon boat during a cruise for the Maritime Museum

Which Amsterdam boat tour is right for you?

Whether you call it a canal cruise or a boat tour, here is the honest way to pick.

  • First time in Amsterdam? Start with the day cruise. About 1 hour past the highlights, bar on board. The easiest yes.
  • Want the city at its prettiest? The evening cruise. Same canals after dark, bridges lit, until around 21:00.
  • Out with a group or celebrating? Go private. The whole boat is yours, from 10 people, your skipper, your route, your drinks. No strangers, no fixed seats.
  • Here for a night out? All-inclusive. Unlimited drinks and Dutch cheese from the moment you board.
  • Dinner with a view? The dinner cruise. A served meal across about 2h15, floating past the canal houses.
  • Still torn between shared and private? Shared means you join other guests and pay per person (from €18.10). Private means the boat and skipper are yours alone. Couples and solo travellers usually go shared; groups and celebrations go private.

Here’s what it’s like on board with us

Our cruises run on luxury open sloops and covered saloon boats: smaller, more personal, and never shoulder to shoulder with a hundred strangers. Each one comes with a local skipper who knows the shortcuts and the stories, not a recorded audio track.

Sink into the cushions on a covered saloon boat with heating on board, or catch the sun on an open boat. You have a drink in your hand within minutes: a cold beer, a glass of wine, or something soft. On the saloon boats you play your own music. On the open sloops you swap the speakers for the sound of the city and good company. Every cruise has a bar on board, so a boat tour with drinks is always on the table.

Here’s a look at what you can expect when you arrange boat tours with Bootuitjes.

Amsterdam canal cruise during an event

Take a canal cruise when Amsterdam celebrates

Some dates turn a good cruise into a great one. Time your trip with what the city is doing. We offer packages for the following events, and more:

  • Amsterdam Light Festival (late November to mid January): the canals become an open air gallery of light art. From the water, with a blanket and a warm drink, you get the best seat in town.
  • King’s Day in Amsterdam (27 April): the whole city turns orange and takes to the water.
  • Canal Festival (August): ten days of classical music along and on the canals.
  • Prinsengracht Concert (August): a floating stage on the Prinsengracht, one of the musical highlights of the year.

Book early for these dates. The good boats go first.

Which canals and sights will you sail past?

Most cruises follow the classic Canal Ring loop, the UNESCO-listed Grachtengordel, before heading out onto the Amstel. Here’s what you might spot along the way as you glide beneath the bridges of the Dutch capital.

  • The Golden Bend: the grandest stretch of the Herengracht, where 17th century merchants built their widest canal houses.
  • The Seven Bridges: line up on the Reguliersgracht and you see seven arched bridges in a row, one of the most photographed views in the city.
  • Magere Brug, the Skinny Bridge: the white wooden drawbridge over the Amstel, lit by hundreds of bulbs after dark.
  • Brouwersgracht: regularly voted Amsterdam’s prettiest canal, framed by old warehouses and houseboats.
  • The Jordaan: the narrow canals of the city’s best loved neighbourhood, best seen slowly from the water.
  • The Red Light District from the water: the quieter, prettier way to see the oldest part of town.

Curious which way you will go? Have a look at the canal cruise routes through Amsterdam.

Luxury boat Amsterdam canal cruise

This is why you choose bootuitjes

Always personal and tailored to your needs

At these events too, our team of 800 crew members ensures a wonderful experience right from the very first moment. We listen to your requirements and offer comprehensive packages. For example, we have a range of boats, each with different packages.

Honest and reliable

At Bootuitjes, you always know where you stand. No hidden costs, clear agreements and a team that delivers on its promises. From the first contact to the last moment on board – just sit back and enjoy.

Frequently asked questions

What time do cruises run?

Our shared cruises start at 10:00 am while the last tour usually leaves at 9:30 pm. You can check the timings while booking. The city can close the central canals between 00:00 and 07:00, so late night sailings are limited.

Is a boat tour the same as a canal cruise?

Yes. Boat tour, canal cruise, canal boat tour, it is the same trip on the water. We use the names interchangeably, so book whichever you searched for.

What is the difference between a shared and a private cruise?

On a shared cruise you join other guests on the boat. On a private canal cruise the boat and skipper are yours alone, for your group, at your own pace.

Can I see the Anne Frank House from the boat?

Yes, several cruises pass it along the Prinsengracht, and a few depart from right beside it.

Is a canal cruise good for kids?

Yes. The trip is calm, the kids get a window onto the city, and reduced tickets keep it easy on the budget.

What happens if it rains?

Nothing changes on a saloon boat. They are covered and heated, so you stay warm and dry whatever the sky does. Sloops may have a cover on them for rainy days; during unexpected showers, the skipper will take cover under a bridge. In severe weather conditions, the trip may be cancelled – in which case we refund your tickets.

How do I get to the departure point?

The docks sit in the centre and are walkable or a short tram ride from most of the city. You get a map with your booking.

Where do the boats leave from?

From central docks near the Anne Frank House, Central Station, and the Rijksmuseum. You get the exact spot and a map when you book.

What is the best time for a boat tour in Amsterdam?

Daytime for the sights and the canal houses. Late afternoon and evening for golden light and the bridges lighting up. In winter, the early dark makes an evening cruise extra special.

How much does a canal cruise cost?

Shared cruises start at € 18.10 per person. Children aged 4 to 12 start at EUR 10. The dinner cruise (around € 125) and private cruises cost more, because you get more.

How long do tour cruises last?

Most cruises run for about 1 hour; we also offer packages that can go up to 3 hours and more.

Is a boat tour in Amsterdam worth it?

For most first time visitors, yes. You see the centre, the Canal Ring, and the famous bridges in about an hour, from the one angle the city was designed around.

Is there a guide on board the boat?

It’s not included as standard, but you can book a guide.

Can we buy drinks?

Yes, of course, you can buy drinks at the pier before departure. You can choose from beer, wine, and soft drinks.

Can I smoke during the cruise

For safety reasons, we do not allow smoking on our boats, so both smokers and non-smokers can enjoy the tour. However, we can tell you some good places to go after the tour where you can smoke nice, high-quality tobacco.

Is there a restroom on board?

No, keep in mind that this sloop does not have a restroom on board. We recommend going beforehand. If someone needs to use the restroom during the cruise, we can make a quick stop somewhere.

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