Explore Amsterdam's canals while sampling authentic Dutch cheeses and wine
Exceptional
1,188 reviews
What guests loved most
Kaylee R.
“Had an amazing time with Oliva and Larkin!! Amazing people and such an informative tour”
From €28.62
·1 hour
Dutch Cheese & Wine Pairings • Candlelit Cruise • Local Expert Host
This one-hour shared canal cruise pairs two things Amsterdam does well: slow boat rides through the canal belt and proper Dutch cheese. You join a small group aboard an electric Starboard boat, where a local host walks you through a curated tasting of Holland's best — aged Gouda, young Edam, creamy raw-milk Boerenkaas — while the captain navigates the historic waterways by candlelight. Wine comes with the cheese. The whole thing feels less like a tour and more like an evening you'd actually choose.
Your host talks you through each cheese: where it's from, how it's made, what you're tasting. The selection covers different regions and styles, from farmhouse varieties to aged wheels that carry real flavour. Wine is poured to match. Between tastings, the canal houses slide past in the soft glow of the candles — a backdrop that quietly connects the food to the place without making a big show of it.
This is a shared cruise, so you're on board with a handful of other people — sociable but not crowded. Departure is from the Starboard Dock on the Amstel in the evening, when the light is low and the city settles into itself. The boat is electric, so it's quiet. Suited to adults, ideally 18 and over. One hour on the water, cheese in hand, moving slowly through the canal ring.
“Had an amazing time with Oliva and Larkin!! Amazing people and such an informative tour”
Shared Amsterdam Dutch Cheese Tasting Canal Cruise departs from Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230, Amsterdam.
The cruise lasts 1 hour.
Prices for Shared Amsterdam Dutch Cheese Tasting Canal Cruise start at €25.50 per person.
Starboard Boats BV
Starboard Boats was founded in 2018 by Timo, Guy, Stefan and Wilfred, launching with their first boat, De Manke Monnik, from an office on Amsterdam's Herengracht canal belt. The fleet is now fully electric with partial weather covering and an onboard bar, and every cruise is staffed with both a skipper and a host. Starboard is now part of The Fun Group and rated 4.9/5 on TripAdvisor. Shared cruises run from €18 per person and private charters from €390, departing from Amstel 178 or Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230.
View all cruises by Starboard Boats BVShared Amsterdam Dutch Cheese Tasting Canal Cruise is operated by Starboard Boats BV and can be booked directly through BoatLocal.
This operator's policy: Cancel at least 48 hours before your booking for a full refund.; Reschedule up to 24 hours before the cruise via the confirmation email.; Cancel less than 48 hours before your booking and get no refund..
This varies by cruise — check the feature badges and 'What's Included' section on this specific cruise page above for exactly what's covered (drinks, snacks, toilet, heating, and more) before you book.
Yes — shared cruises are booked per seat, so solo travelers, couples, and small groups can all join the same departure alongside other guests. Check this cruise page for how many seats you can book in one reservation.
Yes, as long as a time slot is still open for booking on this page. Every booking is confirmed instantly online — no waiting to hear back. Each available time shows its own booking cutoff, so grab a spot before it closes if you're booking for the same day.
Kaylee R.
August 2026
“Had an amazing time with Oliva and Larkin!! Amazing people and such an informative tour”
Mary
August 2026
“Hervorragend weil: Unkomplizierte Buchung direkt beim " Kapitän", supernette Guide Constanze, die flexibel die Sehenswürdigkeiten auf Englisch und Deutsch beschrieb inkl. Hintergründe ohne zu überfrachten. Herzlichen Dank”
Benjamin K.
August 2026
“We booked a canal pride boat experience through Get Your Guide with Starboard Boats. The map location sent to by Get Your Guide was incorrect today. We paid almost $400 usd for this and we never got to experience it. After thinking about this for a little bit I think both companies share equal responsibility for the poor communication about the location today. After reading some reviews about Starboard I would say that they seem like a good company. I just wanted to warn people about booking any Amsterdam Pride canal boat VIP experiences through them. If I had seen a review like this I would have booked with a different company.”
M. R.
July 2026
“Great canal cruise with lots of interesting information. Relaxing, well organized, and highly recommended!”
Juan D.
July 2026
Tom D.
July 2026
“Great crew”
Kayra C.B.
July 2026
“Our cruise with Michael as host and Vivien as skipper was extraordinary!!!! At every time we felt secure, welcomed and had a great time! Both were very attentive, friendly, and informative! 11/10, would recommend.”
Nikki B.
July 2026
“Great trip, fabulous hostess, very knowledgable about Amsterdam. Would highly recommend xx”
Tania H.
July 2026
“We had such a great experience with Starboard! The boat tour was fantastic, and our guide was absolutely amazing, friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience so much fun. It was a wonderful way to explore Amsterdam. Highly recommend!”
Adriano F.
June 2026
“It was well worth it, in summer choose to do the tour after 6pm, it will still be very light out but the sun will have gone down already. An hour-long tour through several canals of Amsterdam.”
Tiffani H.
June 2026
“So many options to choose from in Amsterdam but we enjoyed this one. It was extremely hot this day but they had water on board and umbrellas to help. We did the unlimited drinks and it was worth it as we both enjoyed 3 beers. It was cool to see the city by boat. Our skipper (forgetting her name) and guide (Stella) were great. Stella is from the states but has been living in Amsterdam a few years now and knew a lot about the city. It was only us and another group of 2 so it was basically a private ride which was really cool as well.”
Yoad D.P.
June 2026
“Great experience professional staff and nice unique way to experience Amsterdam! Highly recommended!”
CJohnson
June 2026
“Great experience and lots of historical information. We ended up getting there 3 minutes before launch without reservations and it went smooth. Drink was included with the 25€ price per person”
Никола Н.
June 2026
Sabin M.
June 2026
“Excellent experience. Edward was an awesome guide, that not only taught us about the city but knew how to answer all of the other questions we had about the city - a well read, funny and careful individual. Thank you! Kees is an amazing skipper who was also calm and collected even with our kids playing around the boat. He also helped 2 passengers get off to make it to an appointment they had”
Billy W.
June 2026
“Had an absolutely fantastic experience with Edward and Julian on the 90 minute unlimited drinks cruise. Best money we spent on our 4 day trip, would highly recommend.”
Alyssa M.
June 2026
“What a wonderful and unforgettable experience! The crew was so lovely, welcoming, and fun! I’ve never laughed so hard. The conversation was great and not only did I learn so much about this city but also about dutch culture which was so refreshing. A shoutout to Boris for making this experience feel so special! You have to take this tour if you are ever visiting, it is definitely a must!”
Maja E.
June 2026
“Best boat ever<3 the captain is a legend”
Ilgaz D.
June 2026
“Our tour boat guides Josha and Toine were so nice and friendly. It was a great experience.”
Alice
May 2026
“We took a cruise through the canals of Amsterdam, a beautiful experience, drinks included. We discovered this company thanks to Giorgio, whom we met on the street in the city and who kindly explained the different cruise options to us. Would do it again!”
SharedUp to 25 guests · from €26
SharedUp to 12 guests · from €24
SharedUp to 30 guests · from €28
SharedUp to 25 guests · from €28
