What to do · Amsterdam
Canal cruise on the Grachtengordel
Information
- From
- €26 per adult
- Duration
- 1 h 15
- Season
- All year
- Who it's for
- All ages
The canals of the Grachtengordel, the 17th-century ring around the centre, are a World Heritage Site and are best understood from the water: the tall, narrow houses, the hooks on the façades for hoisting furniture, the houseboats and the bridges lit up at night. A boat trip is the first thing almost everyone does in Amsterdam, and with children it is the most rewarding.
Two ways to do it
- Large covered boat, with audio. Blue Boat Company leaves from the Stadhouderskade, beside the Rijksmuseum, and its City Canal Cruise lasts 75 minutes, from €26 per adult and €13.50 per child. It also has a 90-minute evening trip and one designed for children. It runs in rain and in winter.
- Small open boat, with a skipper. Those Dam Boat Guys takes groups of ten at most in open boats (with a canopy if it rains) from Keizersgracht 100, in the Jordaan. It lasts 90 minutes or a little more, for €36.50 (€31.50 for children and students), and you can bring your own food and drink. The tone is informal and the language adult: bear that in mind with children.
There are many more operators on the quay by Central Station and on the Damrak; the large boats are very similar to one another.
Tips
- At dusk or at night The lit-up houses and bridges with strings of bulbs are the prettiest image of the city, especially from October to March.
- If it rains, a covered boat The large boats have glass roofs; on the open boats you are given a cape or canopy.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a canal boat trip cost?
From €26 per adult on a 75-minute large boat; small open boats from about €36.50.
Do I need to book?
It is not compulsory on the large boats, but online you secure your time. On the small boats, yes.
Can you do it with small children?
Yes. The covered boats are comfortable with a folded pushchair and there are audio trips for children.
With young childrenAs a familyWith teenagersWith friends
Who runs it
- Blue Boat Company75-minute City Canal Cruise with audio Visit their website
- Those Dam Boat Guys90-minute tour in an open boat, maximum 10 people Visit their website
