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Sloop cruising through the Amsterdam canals

Rent a Boat in Amsterdam for Your Group

Rent a boat in Amsterdam and see the city from the water, with your whole group on board. Every boat we hire out is private and comes with a local skipper, so you leave the wheel to them and nobody needs a licence. We cater for groups from 10 people, and our boats seat up to around 150 

You can book in two ways. Pick a ready-made package with food and a theme sorted for you, or charter your own boat and plan your own route. The skipper is the real upside. Someone who knows the canals steers, points out the sights, and keeps the day relaxed. Our boats also carry a proper group, well beyond the six-seat limit of the small self-drive rentals.

Ready-made arrangements

Want it handled for you? With a ready-made arrangement you pick a theme, and we sort the boat, the skipper, the food and the drinks. A party package keeps things light with drinks and snacks, a BBQ boat serves a full grill as you cruise, and there are cocktails, gin and tonic and sit-down dinner options too. You can browse all our packages to find the fit, priced per person from 10 people up.

Charter your own boat

Prefer to build the trip yourself? Charter your own boat and set the shape of the day. You pick the boat for your group size, plan the route with your skipper, and add the food and drinks you want. Charter boats are priced per hour, so a short afternoon or a long evening both work. The fleet runs from around a dozen people up to boats that seat 60 or more, so you can match the boat to your headcount.

Skipper leads a cocktail cruise in Amsterdam

How renting a boat works

Renting a boat with us takes three steps. First, you pick a boat for a charter or choose a ready-made package. Second, you add the food and drinks you would like on board. Third, you request a free, non-binding quote, and we confirm the details with you. Every trip includes a skipper, so there is nothing to arrange with the boat itself. You board in central Amsterdam, and most trips run for 2, 3 or 4 hours of cruising. Longer trips are possible on request.

What it costs

Pricing depends on how you book. When you charter a boat, you pay per hour for the boat, and the group splits that cost between you. Rates start from around EUR 197.50 per hour for an open sloop, with larger and more luxurious boats costing more per hour. 

When you book a ready-made package, you pay per person instead, from around EUR 44 per person, and a BBQ boat from around EUR 64.50 per person.

Either way, the quote is free and non-binding, so you can see the full price for your exact group and date before you decide anything. Smaller groups still pay the 10-person minimum.

Add food, drinks and extras

The trip is yours to fill. Drink packages start with soft drinks, beer and wine, and you can upgrade to bubbles or premium spirits. For food, you can keep it simple with snacks, go for sharing platters, or sit down to a three-course menu. You can also add an extra hour of cruising.

Smoking is not permitted on board any boat, so plan any breaks around your route. Have a look at the foodbook when you plan, and tell us what you fancy when you request your quote.

Apsara sloop sailing in summer on Amsterdam canals

Sloop or saloon boat?

The choice comes down to the weather and the mood. An open sloop is social and airy, best for a sunny afternoon and a group who want the open air, with a canopy you can close if it rains. Loud music is not allowed on a sloop, though a silent disco keeps the beat. If that sounds like your day, see how to rent a sloop in Amsterdam.

A saloon boat is covered and heated, so it works all year and suits a sit-down dinner or a winter evening, with music allowed on board. For a meal or a colder month, a saloon boat hire is the better pick.

Prefer a shared cruise?

Not every group needs a whole boat. If you are under about eight people, a private charter can feel large for your numbers. In that case a canal cruise is the better value. Join others and pay a fixed price per person on a shared canal cruise.

All-inclusive Amsterdam canal cruise – atmospheric photo 2
Boat sailing under an arch

Rent a boat for a company outing or celebration

A private boat suits more than a day out with friends. Teams book it for a company outing, with catering and a skipper that take the pressure off the organiser, and groups book it for a celebration like a bachelor party. Because the trip is invoiced on one quote, the finance side stays simple. The boats are also popular for warm-weather celebrations and the winter light season, when the canals turn into the main event. Note that the city can close the canal belt between midnight and 07:00, so late trips are planned around that. Tell us the occasion when you request a quote, and we match the boat and the plan to it.

The canals and routes you will sail

  • Architecture Route
  • Canal Route
  • Red Light District Route
  • Plantage Route
  • Culinary Route

The architecture tour takes you past 23 architectural highlights in Amsterdam. You’ll sail past modern icons made of steel, concrete, aluminium and glass, around the IJ river, with impressive views. From striking designs and unique hotels to redeveloped industrial sites: the perfect tour for architecture enthusiasts.

Boat sloop Amigo on Amsterdam water

You can only truly discover Amsterdam from the water. The city has a rich history dating back to the 13th century and grew into a metropolis in the 17th century. To facilitate this growth, the canal belt was constructed; today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains the beating heart of the city. As you cruise through the canals, you’ll see a unique blend of historic buildings and modern influences. Our skippers not only guide you smoothly through the city, but also share the most fascinating stories along the way.

Amsterdam’s city walls at night

During a cruise through the Amsterdam canals you quickly pass the Wallen, the famous Red Light District in the oldest part of the city, between the Warmoesstraat and the Zeedijk. Besides the red-light area there is much more to discover here, such as the impressive Oude Kerk. This route is perfect for history lovers who want to experience the rich city center from the water. Note: navigate clockwise due to one-way traffic on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal. Our skippers know the route like the back of their hand.

NEMO Plantation Route by boat

Want to experience Amsterdam in a different way? Choose the Plantage Route and cruise through the greenest part of the city. During this relaxing trip you pass highlights such as NEMO, the Maritime Museum, Artis and the Tropenmuseum. With all the water and greenery around you, it feels like you are leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind. The perfect mix of nature and city life.

A restaurant in Amsterdam by the water

Amsterdam, our capital, has developed in recent years into one of the most cultural cities in the West. This is clearly noticeable in the culinary scene as well. During a trip along the culinary route you experience this firsthand. The route takes you past the best spots for tasty dishes, refreshing drinks or a delicious ice cream. You can dock at these locations, but it is also possible to enjoy the service on board.

A group of people partying on a boat

Why groups choose Bootuitjes

Groups come to us for a few clear reasons. Every boat comes with a local skipper, so no one in your group has to steer or hold a licence. We have the boat sizes to fit a real group, not just six people. Catering and drinks are handled, so you do not carry crates on board. The skipper knows the canals, which turns a cruise into a proper tour. And the quote is transparent, with the full price for your group and date up front.

Rent a boat in Amsterdam: common questions

Is it worth it?

For a group, it often is. You get the whole boat to yourselves, a skipper who guides the trip, and food and drinks sorted, all for a price you see up front. It turns a few hours on the water into an easy day out that nobody has to organise on the day.

Can kids or family come?

Yes. The boats work for family groups and mixed ages, and the skipper takes care of the sailing. A covered saloon boat is a comfortable pick for grandparents or young children, especially in cooler or wet weather.

Can you bring your own food and drinks?

When you book, you can add drink packages and catering, ranging from simple snacks to a full three-course menu. Prefer to bring your own food and drinks? That’s possible too, for a corkage fee per person. Just let us know in your quote request so we can include it from the start.

Can you drive the boat yourself?

No, we do not offer self-drive. A local skipper steers every boat. That means no stress about the wheel, and someone on board who knows the canals and the rules.

How many people fit on a private boat?

From 10 up to 75, depending on the boat. Tell us your number and we point you to the right one.

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 much does it cost to rent a boat in Amsterdam?

A charter starts from EUR 197.50 per hour for an open sloop, and the group splits that cost. A ready-made package starts from EUR 44 per person, and a BBQ boat from EUR 64.50 per person. You can compare every option on our packages page, and each quote is free and non-binding for your exact group and date.

Which route will we take through Amsterdam?

Your boat trip through Amsterdam starts at the Anne Frank House. From here, we sail to the famous Jordaan district, the impressive Golden Bend, the Jordaan, Amsterdam’s famous canals, and much more. There is no fixed route, only fixed areas that we pass through.

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