Plantage Route Amsterdam: A Real Urban Safari

Want to discover Amsterdam in a completely different way? The Plantage Route takes you through the green heart of the city. On your very own urban safari by boat, you’ll glide past landmarks like NEMO Science Museum, the National Maritime Museum, Artis Zoo, and the Tropenmuseum. Who knows — you might even spot a zebra or an elephant and feel like you’ve been transported straight to the tropics. In short, the perfect blend of city and nature.

Haven’t booked a boat yet? We highly recommend our BBQ boat for this route. You’ll enjoy a fully catered barbecue with unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks while taking in this one-of-a-kind urban safari. Prefer a different boat trip? Browse our full range of boat trips and visit our rent a sloop Amsterdam page.

Urban Safari
Green Life
NEMO Science Museum
National Maritime Museum
Brouwerij 't IJ
Tropenmuseum
Artis Zoo
Hortus Botanicus
Zuiderkerk
Oudeschans

Urban Safari

Yes, you read that right. The Plantage Route gives you the experience of a genuine urban safari right in the heart of Amsterdam. You might not expect it, but this vibrant city is home to far more wildlife than you’d think. In Amsterdam’s natural areas, you’ll find flocks of geese, kingfishers, rats, and even bats. And since the route passes right by Artis Zoo, you might just catch a glimpse of a giraffe or an elephant.

Green Life

Beyond the chance to spot wildlife, you’ll also sail past Amsterdam’s stunning green landscape. Capital cities can sometimes feel overwhelming — which makes escaping into the city’s lush green corridors by boat one of the most relaxing things you can do.

NEMO Science Museum

NEMO Science Museum is one of the standout landmarks you’ll encounter along the route. This interactive science and technology museum lets visitors explore natural phenomena through hands-on experiments and immersive exhibits. The building itself is hard to miss — its bold, distinctive shape makes it one of Amsterdam’s most recognizable structures.

National Maritime Museum

A little further along the route, you’ll find the National Maritime Museum, home to the world’s largest maritime collection. The museum is dedicated to the Netherlands’ rich seafaring history and features an impressive array of ship models, weapons, world maps, and paintings depicting the country’s greatest historical voyages at sea.

Brouwerij ‘t IJ

Worked up a thirst from all that sailing? Good news: your next stop delivers. Brouwerij ‘t IJ is a beloved craft brewery with two brewing locations across the city. Draft beers are brewed at the Funenkade, while bottled beers are produced at the Zeeburgerpad. You won’t just learn about legendary brews like Zatte, Natte, IJwit, and Columbus — you’ll get to taste them too.

Tropenmuseum

Refreshed and ready to explore, it’s time to head to warmer corners of the world — at least figuratively. The Tropenmuseum houses an extraordinary collection of ethnographic artifacts from tropical regions around the globe, with a special focus on the Netherlands’ former overseas territories. The museum invites visitors to discover the cultural diversity of our world: how people grieve and celebrate, decorate and pray, and yes, even how they fight.

Artis Zoo

Artis is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, and it shows — not only in its remarkable variety of animal species, but also in its 27 monumental buildings dating back to the nineteenth century. With over 900 species on display, Artis is always worth a visit. The sailing route runs along the back of the zoo, so keep your eyes open: you might just spot one of its residents peering through the fence.

Hortus Botanicus

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is a botanical garden nestled in the Plantage neighborhood. The garden is home to around four thousand tropical and native trees and plants, making it a true green oasis in the heart of the city — and one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. Inside the garden, you’ll also find the Orangery, a centuries-old national monument that now serves as the charming Hortus Café.

Zuiderkerk

The Zuiderkerk, built in the Renaissance style, is one of Amsterdam’s most distinctive historic buildings. This seventeenth-century church was originally constructed for Protestant worship, but today it’s regularly hired out as a venue for events and gatherings.

Oudeschans

The final stretch of the sailing route takes you along the Oudeschans, a wide canal in the eastern part of Amsterdam’s city center. It’s the historic quaysides that give this stretch its name — and they make for a beautiful finale to your Plantage Route adventure.