Boatboys Amsterdam is a private boat tour company founded in 2018, offering private canal cruises aboard three restored historic saloon boats: Undine, Tzar and Ritz. Cruises are exclusively private for your own group, with a local captain and live guide, a welcome drink, heating and an onboard minibar included. The boats accommodate 2–12 guests and are narrow enough to explore Amsterdam's smaller canals and hidden waterways that larger tour boats cannot reach. Private cruises start from €260 per hour and can be tailored for sightseeing, evening cruises, proposals, dinner, breakfast, brunch, high tea, champagne and other special occasions.
Capacity: 2–12 guests per boat; Undine up to 8, Tzar and Ritz up to 12
Boats: Historic/vintage saloon boats, with indoor and outdoor options depending on vessel
Captain: Local captain and live guide included
Guiding: Live commentary from the captain; route and pace can be tailored to the group
Starting price: From €260/hour, including captain and welcome drink
Cruise durations: 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 hours; longer/custom cruises available
Included: Captain/guide, welcome drink, heating and onboard minibar
Weather: Heated boats; Tzar and Ritz have sliding/openable roofs; Undine has an open sundeck and can be enclosed
Special feature: Small historic boats can access narrower Amsterdam canals that larger tour boats cannot
Main routes: Amsterdam canal belt, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, Seven Bridges, Dancing Houses, Amstel River and other central canals
Speciality cruises: Private sightseeing, evening/romantic cruises, dinner cruises, breakfast, brunch, high tea, champagne, proposals, Christmas cruises and Amsterdam Light Festival
Dinner: Private dinner cruises with 2-, 3- and 4-course options; restaurant partnerships and onboard dining
Amsterdam Light Festival: Private Light Festival cruises, approximately 90 minutes, with heated/covered saloon boats and double-pane windows
Pickup: Oosterdokskade 8, near Amsterdam Central Station; hotel pickup can be arranged
Accessibility: Boats are not wheelchair accessible; foldable mobility devices may sometimes be accommodated
Languages: Captains speak English and Dutch; some speak German; French guide available as an add-on
Onboard drinks: Wine, beer, coffee/tea and champagne available; minibar onboard
Best suited for: Couples, proposals, anniversaries, families, small groups, corporate groups and private celebrations
Notable differentiator: Small-scale fleet of only three historic boats rather than a large mass-tour operation
Reviews: Around 5.0 on TripAdvisor with 280+ reviews according to the current site
Company profile supplied by Boat Rental Amsterdam. Rating from 227 Google reviews. Cruise pricing, schedules and availability shown below are BoatLocal's own live booking data, refreshed hourly.
Boat Rental Amsterdam is a good fit if
Groups who want to book the whole boat privately (up to 12 guests)
Guests who want drinks available or included on board
Guests who want food or snacks available on board
Travellers who prefer a small-boat, intimate group size
Less ideal if
You want to join a scheduled shared cruise — this operator only offers private charters
You need a boat for more than 12 people
Where to find us
What guests say
Gary S.
August 2026
“On August 3, 2026 our kids gave us a 2 hour tour for both Fathers Day and Birthday.
We were picked up at the agreed upon location and met with our wonderful awesome Captain (I forgot to write his name down, but started with a J). Our tour was in the early evening which gave us every changing reflections of the city (beautiful during day and night!)
The boat was clean and impressive and arranged for our party of 7 perfectly.
And now the boats are electric so it was so quiet and calm.
Our captain was so patient and educational to all of us, including our 12 and 11 year old grandkids). We took the same route as the World Pride route - which was really appreciated. The history and stories of Amsterdam were so interesting.
During our tour there was wine for adults and juice for the kids. We were expecting more of a welcome drink.
We highly recommend Boat Boys for your Amsterdam canal tour.”
via Google
Metty S.
August 2026
“De boatboys zijn super gastvrij en we hebben een heerlijke boottocht door de grachten van Amsterdam gehad!”
via Google
Sally S.
August 2026
“Top top top service!!!!
Boot was schoon, drankjes heerlijk koud en er werd zoveel aandacht besteed aan onze behoeftes en wat wij leuk vinden. Dit ook allemaal mede dankzij Scott, onze schipper!!!! Mega bedankt.”
via Google
Y L.
July 2026
“Our captain mia is amazing, she is very attentive,knowledgeable about the city and took us for a nice route. The boat is in fantastic state, the only thing we are regretting is not to book longer. Until next time again :)”
via Google
Clarisse M.L.
July 2026
“Boatboys Amsterdam made our wedding day extra special with the wonderful high tea aboard their classic luxury boat, Ritz. The crew always made sure everyone was comfortable and well taken care of throughout the cruise.
They also made stops at several iconic Amsterdam landmarks, making the experience not only enjoyable but also informative. Overall, our cruise with them was smooth, relaxing, and truly memorable.
We definitely recommend Boatboys Amsterdam for anyone looking to enjoy a lovely cruise along the canals of Amsterdam.”
via Google
Jeriann L.
July 2026
“Wonderful experience! The 2 hour dinner cruise went too quickly. Highly recommend.”
via Google
Jelmer B.
July 2026
“Wij hadden een mooie salonboot geboekt voor onze trouwdag. Het was een prachtige, zonnige dag en dankzij Carl voelden we ons erg welkom op de boot. Wij hadden een volledig veganistische dag gepland en hier kon Carl ook zonder problemen in voorzien, ontzettend fijn! Carl heeft leuke feitjes gegeven tijdens de tocht en heeft goed voor ons gezorgd.”
via Google
Phill T.
July 2026
“Es war ein traumhaftes Erlebnis. Super netter und hilfsbereiter Kontakt. Immer wieder gerne.🙏🏼”
via Google
Isabelle D.
July 2026
“What a wonderful experience! We spent two hours cruising through Amsterdam’s canals, and it was the perfect way to discover the city.
The boat was absolutely beautiful, elegant, and extremely comfortable. The crew was professional, welcoming, and attentive throughout the cruise, providing excellent service from start to finish.
The morning light on the canals was beautiful, and setting off before the city became busy made the experience especially peaceful and relaxing. We would absolutely recommend this boat tour to anyone visiting Amsterdam”
via Google
Crash
July 2026
“Very friendly, beautiful boat, beautiful sights. The boat makes basically no sound. They can accompany pregnant people for the high tea if you tell them during the booking. We celebrated our wedding with them and it couldn’t have been any more beautiful. They even took us places we came up with on the spot. Very customer friendly!”
via Google
Milan R.
July 2026
“Shocked at the 5.0 average. As a travel advisor, I have a trained eye on hospitality - this is not it. Zero charisma and character here. Weren’t open to feedback which is why this review is being left. It was bland and boring with zero effort. Look elsewhere for a more fun and engaging experience.
Edit - Boatboys’ reply highlights how out of touch they are; similar to my call with them, they are finding ways to discredit instead of using the feedback to improve. The guide couldn’t even have been bothered to say hello, introduce his name, have basic communication etc. The total lack of interest in improving is enough of a reason to avoid this company. There are plenty of other companies that provide this service - perhaps ones that are more interested in providing a top tier service that matches the top tier price.”
via Google
Mirza
July 2026
“Had a fantastic private boat tour in Amsterdam with an informative captain. We enjoyed the cleanliness of the boat as well as the attentive service during the private canal cruise.
The views from the small open boat were stunning! Would highly recommend everyone to cruise on their amazing boats.
It Really was an amazing experience to get to know the Amsterdam canals with such a nice captain!”
via Google
Gizem T.
June 2026
“We had such a great time! My girlfriend's birthday party couldn't have been more beautiful than this. Everything was arranged down to the last detail and the boat was gorgeous. The atmosphere was amazing and we really had an unforgettable day. Also a big compliment to the skipper. Incredibly friendly, hospitable and professional. He made sure we felt at ease right away. Really a must for anyone who wants to celebrate a special day in a unique way. Thanks for this fantastic experience!”
via Google
My O.
June 2026
“Fantastic experience, wonderful canal cruise and great service. See you again soon captain”
via Google
Whitney F.
June 2026
“Loved our three hour tour on the Ritz! Captain Mark also knew so much and was a fun yet chill captain. The boat is beyond perfect as it has both inside seating (with glass windows, not plastic, super important for viewing obviiii), lots of comfy cozy outside seating (with a huge teak table and roll up windows so best of both worlds), a retractable roof, little kitchenette, marble bathroom, I could go on and on. I've tried a few boats in AMS now as I live here and take people out when they come visit, and this is my favorite! Ty guys!! See you again soon <3”
via Google
Victoria Y.
June 2026
“Nice private boat tour! We were able to book just a few hours before the start of the tour, communication were great and easy and also they picked us near our hotel which was super convenient for us. The boat is well maintained and clean, guide is friendly and were also sharing some nice details as a local not just a standard touristic info.”
via Google
Stav
May 2026
“Made our proposal the best event and night I could ask, we scheduled it for the evening and arrived at one of the bridges around sunset, it was amazing, thank you to Mia the captain and the owner for his patience through WhatsApp”
via Google
Ben H.
May 2026
“Boatboys exceeded every expectation. We booked a private evening tour for two on the Ritz, and it was easily one of the highlights of our trip. The timing was perfect — cruising through the city as the sun set and the lights began to come alive made the entire experience feel incredibly special.
Our captain was fantastic and also acted as our tour guide, showing us both the major highlights as well as quieter, more intimate areas we never would have discovered otherwise. The setup on the back of the boat was beautiful and cozy, with blankets, candlelight, and light snacks that made the experience feel both romantic and relaxing. We also purchased some champaign/wine and brought on board some light charcuterie snacks to enjoy.
Everything felt thoughtful, personal, and seamless from start to finish. If you’re looking for a unique and unforgettable experience, especially as a couple, we cannot recommend Boatboys enough.”
via Google
Audrey L.
April 2026
“In.cre.di.ble. We took a private boat (Tzar) for a 90 minute tour around sunset with a bottle of champagne. I can say with ease, that it was a highlight on our trip. The sights are beautiful, the boat floats and advances with ease, it's a smooth ride. Scott, our captain, was perfect ! He was kind, funny, explained everything and made history interesting. He gave us a lot of suggestions for our trip and what not to miss. I highly recommend this activity and I also highly recommend asking for Scott. This is one of the must-dos if you can afford it!”
via Google
Richard G.
April 2026
“A huge thank you and warm congratulations to Elio for an absolutely unforgettable visit through the canals.
Thanks to his wonderful hosting, elegant navigation, and the special stories he shared along the way, this moment aboard our magnificent boat Undine will remain a timeless memory.
Between the beauty of the canals, the serenity of the water, and the unique charm of Undine, everything came together to create a truly exceptional experience.
A precious memory filled with emotion, elegance, and beauty. Bravo, and thank you again to Elio for this wonderful moment”
Yes. Boat Rental Amsterdam offers private canal cruises where the boat is reserved exclusively for your group, for up to 12 guests.
Private charters with Boat Rental Amsterdam start at €260 for the whole boat.
Boat Rental Amsterdam's cruises run for 1 hour minimum.
Boat Rental Amsterdam's largest boat holds up to 12 guests; for bigger private groups, book the whole boat directly. Check individual cruise listings above for exact capacity.
Yes — food and drinks are available on selected cruises. See the individual cruise listing for what's included.
Carl
