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Latest Amsterdam hotel reviews
I think a trip to Amsterdam would be incomplete without going on a canal cruise. I believe the main canal cruise company is the Holland International. I'm not so sure why we didn't go on that cruise. Instead we opted for Lovers Boat that charged 10 Euro per person for a long canal cruise ride. I wouldn't know the difference, most importantly I've been cruising the canals in Amsterdam safely :)
The cruise took us around Amsterdam. Views were great!!! We saw good looking classic buildings and the cool part in front of the houses/building boats were parked making me to think that perhaps those people living in those houses/building might also own boats...how cool. Wish I have a boat too parked in front of my house. There were boat houses too...some were really nice, some the owners might be too busy to decor their boat houses. We saw Anne Frank House from somewhere, so many people were queuing. Well, we didn't get to go...maybe next time.
Written Nov 22, 2011
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This is a must when in Amsterdam! The tickets are reasonable, you can buy them for 1 or 2 days and you get to hop on and off at your pleasure. There are different circuits to do. And you can also upgrade your ticket to include tickets for major attractions such as the Van Gogh Museum and Heineken Experience which allows you to go to the front of the line.
Written Nov 6, 2011
Website: http://www.viator.com/tours/Amsterdam/Amsterdam-Canal-Bus-Hop-On-Hop-Off/d525-2544CANAL01
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The canal cruise is really something not to be missed. It gives you a different view of the canals. But watch out for the prices.
I went on a 1h canal cruise by Lovers. If bought at Lovers, it would cost 13€. But I bought my ticket from a "Tours and Excursions" sales point and it cost me 10€.
Written Aug 21, 2011
Website: www.lovers.nl
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This is very new, which I heard about in the NYTimes---The Flying Dutchman company leaves from Schiphol Airport in a large comfortable bus and then near the Museums splashes into the canals for a canal tour---specially made buses have been made for this fun tour, so far only from Schiphol to the city and back, so mainly for tourists/travelers who are connecting with another flight at least 3-4 hours later...
Leaving the airport at 9, 12, and 3 and costing 39 euros adults, 19.50 for 4-12, and under 4 free.
Sounds like alot of fun!
Written Aug 15, 2011
Address: Schiphol Airport
Website: flyingdutchman.nl
Across from the Railroad Station are several places to sign up for canal boat tours. They are a great introduction to the city and give you an unusual look at the life of the city. Background: wealthy merchants dug the canals during Holland's prosperous period. Distinctive narrow side by side homes line the canals. They have hooks on top to hoist goods fromthe waterways to the upper floors of the home.
Written Jul 1, 2011
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Canal Cruises in Amsterdam are the most popular tourist attraction in the country, with over 3 million passengers a year. A fleet of about 200 specialized vessels offer a variety of services and entertainment - Lunch Cruises - Dinner Cruises - Music Cruise - Theatre Cruise.
An enjoyable and relaxed way of getting around the canals and seeing Amsterdam's top sights like Van Gogh Museum Rijksmuseum and Ann Frank Hous, is to take a CANAL BOAT TOUR.
CANAL-BUS offers 4 routes, with 20 stops. The 24-hour ticket allows to Hop on and off as often as you wish, as does the HOP ON - HOP OFF Canal Cruise.
Almost 20% of all Canal Cruise Boats are now electrically powered. Clean and silent - No engine noise - No gas fumes.
Updated Jun 22, 2011
Address: CANAL-BUS Weteringschans 26 Leidseplan
Website: www.canal.nl
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prices 2011
Adults € 8.50 per person
Children 4 to 12 years incl. € 4.50 per child
Groups of 20 or more € 5,- per person
Candlelight
Adults € 25,- per person
Children 4 to 12 years inclusive
€ 12,50 per person
Groups from 20 people
€ 20,50 per person
Reservations via our Parent company
See www.rederijkooij.nl
I used this company a few times when i have discount cards from my work
Updated Apr 10, 2011
Address: Rederij Plas Damrak steigers 1-2-3
Phone: +31(0)20 624 54 06
Website: http://www.rederijplas.nl/
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This might be the only city in the world that is better seen from the water. Because of this fact no visit is complete without a canal tour. This is the only tourist attraction that is popular with both locals and tourists, old and young folks alike.
From Winston Crurchill to the Beatles and Nelson Mandela, almost all famous guests have made their acquaintance with the city from the deck of a canal cruise boat.
The advance booking is not necessary, indeed, if you have an I Amsterdam Card you get a free canal tour in front of Central Station, at Rederij Noord-Zuid (the blue boat company.) Their boats leave at every 30 minute, and with its duration of 75 minutes, this is the longest cruise. A computerized audio system acts as the guide, using four languages (English is of course one).
If a window seat is important to you, do not board a boat in which none are available. On most rides tips are solicited, but do not feel obligated to contribute.
The tour takes in Central Station, the Golden Bend of the Herengracht, the Harlemmersluis floodgates which are used nightly to flush the canals, many picturesque bridges, including the Bridge of 15 bridges at the crossing of the Reguliersgracht with the Herengracht, the famous Skinny Bridge over the Amstel, and the harbor. The boat trips are at their best when the sun is shining, there are a few seats outside in the back of the boat, where also smoking is allowed.
Do not forget to get a guide book in order to check immediately all what you have seen.
Without the card the 75 minutes tour costs 9.50€ for adults, 5.50€ for children (5 to 12 yrs) and 65+. Children under 4 are free.
Departures
Summer season (April-September):
Every half hour, daily from 10.00am - 6.00pm, and at 7.00pm
Winter season (October- March):
Every hour, daily from 10.00am - 5.00pm
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Damrak
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take a boat, join a boat trip, wander around the canals, watching the old houses along the canals, the guy on the boat will tell u the backgrounds of the houses.
day trip and night trip certainly gives two different images.
day trip 1 hour: Euro 9
candle night cruise 2 hours: about Euro 30
(cheese and wine provided)
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: check with VVV tourist information office
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Here's the canal boat, make sure you don't eat any space cake first and jump in the river. Remember people, this is the morning here, no one looks good in the morning in Amsterdam!
I updated this page in July, 2005 to give some info on one of the operators.
The Day Pass gives you unlimited use of Canal Bus boats until midday the next day. You can hop on and hop off as often as you like! The Red, Green and Blue Line stop close to the following sites:
A - Rijksmuseum (Green/Red)
B - Leidseplein (Green/Red)
C - Westerkerk / Keizersgracht (Red)
D - Anne Frank House / Prinsengracht (Green)
E - Central Station-East (All lines)
F - City Hall (Red/Blue)
G - NEMO Museum (Blue)
H - Maritime Museum / Scheepvaartmuseum (Blue)
J - Artis Zoo (Blue)
K - Tropenmuseum (Blue)
L - Rembrandt House (Green)
M - Gassan Diamonds
N - Rembrandt-plein (Green)
W - Central Station-West (Green/Red)
Check out the site below and play around with it until you find the information you need.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Phone: +31(0)20 530 10 90
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Canal Boat Tours tips and photos posted by real travelers and Amsterdam locals.
Write a ReviewHere's the canal boat, make sure you don't eat any space cake first and jump in the river. Remember people, this is the morning here, no one looks good in the...
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