Canal boat, Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the known for the canals and what is the best option to see the entire city , fast and in a different way ? - Of course - from the canals.

there are canal boats that offer a few hours ride , some of them you can go up and down in this time hop-on-off style.

The view is different from walking in the streets.

Visiting Amsterdam is not complete without a canal boat tour. One can choose between the standard tours, where a guide is telling the group about everything he knows about the town, or choose for the canal "bus". In this category there are two firms operating a hop-on/hop-off service: the Canalbus (in the canal in front of the Saint Nicolas church) and the Museum boat (next to the VVV-office (tourist info). On both there are too guides telling several things about the passed highlights.

The great thing about the canal boat experience in Amsterdam is that you can see pretty much everything from the canals. From going past the Anne Frank house & museum to the East India company's old headquaters. You get an introduction to all the places you are seeing and also get to experience what it must have been like for people when lots of transportation was via the canals.

An hour trip varies from company to company but i have always ventured towards Tui. Always busy and full of people so to me that means generally good and i have not yet been disapointed. All the boats have glass roofs which allow you to see all the sights.. even when it is raining.. which it does a lot. Seats also allow weary feet an hour or so of sitting down and still seeing the sights :)

Some of the canal trips include being able to jump on and off for 24 hours but generally everything in Central amsterdam is walkable and for me the extra premium is not worth the cost.

To get to these boat trips simply walk out of centraal station, and they should be just past the engineering works outside. Cant fail to spot them all.

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One of the most popular ways to get an impression of Amsterdam is taking DE RONDVAARTBOOT (tourist boat).
You find them at the South side of the Central Station, along the Damrak and Rokin.

Kooij boats

Plas boats

Lovers boats

Blue Boat

Jewel cruises

Waterlelie classical boat

Cruise with us

Private canal tours in classical boats; SlingerTocht recommended

Welvaren

Jasmijn

Rederij Vlaun

De Nederlanden Company

Water Taxi

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The city is an assemblage of small islands connected by more than a thousand bridges crossing the more than a hundred canals which makes boats a popular mode of transportation.

There are several boat operators, cruise/leisure boats, hop-on hop-offs, waterbuses, and even boat hotels or accommodation. When you're in the city, chances are you'll be taking one of these.

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As you might have guessed, there are other methods of travel on the canals. These methods usually come in the form of floating type things that range in size from little, to really big. First, of course, are the tour boats. There are a number of different tour boat companies. They all provide the same basic service of a guided tour of Amsterdam via canal. In some of the tours the driver presses a button and a prerecorded tour begins in three or four languages. In others the driver gives the tour and drives the boat. These tours are also in three or four languages. Many Dutch people are multi-lingual. Many speak Dutch. English, German, and French. This is out of necessity, not only for tourists, but the more important reason is the multinational corporations headquartered in the Netherlands and surrounding countries.

The next type of tour is the dinner, brunch, or night cocktail tours. These are available from most of the canal boat operators. Finally, is the hop on-hop off tour which give you 24 hours to just travel the canals getting on and off at all of the major stops.

There are also private tours offered by multiple organizations. Their literature is everywhere.

The best tour of all is a friend that really knows the city and owns a boat.

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Canal boats are popular to get a view of Amsterdam. You can take a tourist boat (Rondvaartboot) from Damrak and Rokin close to the Central Station.

Other canalboat companies:
Blue Boat Company
www.blueboat.nl
+31 20 6791370

Boat Rental Amsterdam
www.rentaboatamsterdam.com
+31 20 6247635

Amsterdam Boat Events
www.amsterdamboatevents.nl
+31 20 4194141

Private Boat Tours - Klassieke salonboten
www.privateboattours.nl
+31 20 6849338

Jaap Hannis restaurant & boten
www.jaaphannis.nl
+31 20 4189690

Boat Affairs
www.boataffairs.nl
+31 20 7748186

Holland Sport Boat Centre
www.hollandsport.nl
+31 20 6947527

Peter Bosgraaf Yacht and Boat Design
www.yacht-design.nl
+31 20 4191972

HIBS Hobson Inflatable Boat Services
www.inflatableboats.nl
+31 20 6863118

Cycletours Holidays
www.cycletours.com
+31 20 5218400

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My personal absolute favor to see Amsterdam is by canal tour.
The cruise takes you along several canals and past the city’s most spectacular spots. As you glide through the historic city centre you’ll see elegant merchants residences, churches and warehouses, dating from the Golden age and steeped in history.
Departure Holland international Canal Cruises at Prins Hendrikkade 33a (opposite Central station) 1012 TM Amsterdam

Nov – March daily from 10.00 – 1900 every 30 minutes
Dec. Jan, Feb, daily from 10.00 – 18.00 every 30 minutes
The canal cruise takes 1 hour.
No reservations required

We took the cruise at Blue Boat Company at Stadhouderskade 30 (near Leidseplein)
Tel: 020 6791370
www.bleuboat.nl
This city canal cruise takes 75 minutes.