Glide through Amsterdam’s glowing canals on a cozy boat with warm drinks, snacks and local stories.
Exceptional
185 reviews
What guests loved most
J. K.(.G.
“Wunderschöne Tour mit ansprechenden Ambiente. Beste Kapitänin Mare in Amsterdam. Hervorragende Kommu…”
Book up to 12h before departure
From €300
·1 hour & 30 mins
Private Amsterdam Light Festival Tour • Unlimited Drinks • Max 12 Guests
Each winter, Amsterdam's canals become an open-air gallery. From late November through mid-January, light installations appear along the waterways — some suspended above bridges, others floating on the water itself. A private canal cruise in Amsterdam lets you take it all in with just your own group aboard, no shared schedules, no strangers blocking the view.
This ninety-minute tour departs from Keizersgracht, following a route designed around the festival's installations. The boat is covered and heated, with windows on all sides for clear sightlines, and a small deck outside if you want to step out for photographs. Warm blankets are provided for anyone braving the cold air. There's an onboard toilet, and a retractable roof in case the weather turns.
Unlimited drinks are included throughout — glühwein for the season, plus wine, beer, and soft drinks. Dutch snacks come as standard: a rotating selection of sweet and savoury bites to share. Your captain doubles as guide, offering context on the artworks and the neighbourhoods you pass through without delivering a scripted monologue.
With a maximum of twelve guests, this private boat tour in Amsterdam suits families, small celebrations, or simply a group of friends who'd rather not jostle for a window seat. Two departures run each evening at 17:00 and 20:00, with the later slot available for extension if you'd prefer a longer route. Free cancellation gives you room to adjust plans if needed. The light festival runs its course by January — book while the canals are still glowing.
“Wunderschöne Tour mit ansprechenden Ambiente. Beste Kapitänin Mare in Amsterdam. Hervorragende Kommunikation und Organisation.”
J. K.(.G.
August 2026
“Wunderschöne Tour mit ansprechenden Ambiente. Beste Kapitänin Mare in Amsterdam. Hervorragende Kommunikation und Organisation.”
Rafeal S.
August 2026
“Mare was great. Tour so much fun. Thank you.”
Liam K.
August 2026
Pat S.
August 2026
“This is a personal tour, on an historic boat, that fit us well. The tour guide was so in tune to her passengers which comes with such a small boat. You need to search out this hidden gem but it’s well worth it”
Alfredo L.
August 2026
“The canal tour with Captain Mare was fantastic. She was so kind, professional, funny, and gave us a lot of important cultural context about the Dutch which really made our whole trip a lot more enlightened and enjoyable. Absolutely recommended.”
Larissa W.
August 2026
“Sebi was knowledgeable, witty, and genuinely fun to spend time with. We learned so much about Amsterdam, from its fascinating history to the stories behind the city that you wouldn’t get on a typical tour. The food was excellent, there was a great variety of beverages, and the small group made the experience feel personal and relaxed. This was easily one of the highlights of our trip, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Amsterdam!!!”
Dylan G.
August 2026
“Great canal tour! So friendly, informative, and great food and drink”
Aya T.
August 2026
“I had an amazing time on Captain Sebi’s boat! The ride was relaxing and an amazing way to experience the city from a whole new perspective. The freshly fried Dutch snacks and drinks were a great touch and made the trip even more enjoyable. Captain Sebi was super friendly and welcoming!. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a fun and memorable way to explore the city! Definitely a highlight of my trip :)”
R C.
August 2026
“We had a wonderful tour with Seb! He is super knowledgeable about all the canals and city history, the boat is beyond charming, and the food and drinks were fantastic. I’m recommending to all my friends.”
Thomas M.
July 2026
“We booked a private tour with Captain Sebi for our team offsite, and it was wonderful. Everything was taken care of; not only did we get to see the touristy Old Town of Amsterdam, but we also got to see hidden gems with no other sightseeing boats nearby. During the tour, Captain Sebi shared personal anecdotes and interesting facts about the neighbourhoods we visited. I can't recommend them highly enough!”
Daniela B.
July 2026
“What an amazing experience our company wanted to do a team event and this has been best choice ever highly recommend it. Private tour was worth it we were all super happy so highly recommend it!”
Никита Б.
July 2026
Kate G.
July 2026
“Absolute must when in Amsterdam - it felt like we were out with family the entire time! Highly recommend!”
GJR
July 2026
“Captain Sebi AND his boat were Amazing! I can see now why he has a 5.0 rating. First off, he and his Biz partner at the dock were Super friendly! We departed on time with a tour which only takes the most 10 people out. So you get a very personal experience with his boat tour. Sebi provides all the drinks you could imagine starting off with a quaint charcuterie. A little bit later into the canal excursion, he makes a very brief stop to pick up our warm tapas to enjoy for lite bites. Throughout, the entire trip, Sebi pointed out not only historical facts about Amsterdam and how it was built, but he also will point out beautiful canal landmarks too. What a very pleasant 2 hour excursion and really one of the best ways to see Amsterdam. As Sebi put it, many of the back yard canals we saw from the boat you really wouldn’t get some of those views from the street. Highly recommend Captain Sebi and his boat tour!”
Daniel B.
July 2026
“I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone who is visiting Amsterdam. Sebi is a wonderful guide and the smaller boat made it so much more intimate to really get a personalized tour.”
Karina
July 2026
“Erstklassige Bootstour durch die Kanäle Amsterdam''s. Der Kapitän Sebi.manövruert sein wunderschönes Boot sicher und gekonnt durch die Kanäle, und erzählt seinen maximal 10 Gästen enorm viel Wissenswertes über Amsterdam. Nebenbei bietet er seinen Gästen auch noch erstklassige Getränke und eine originelle holländische Jause. Wir können diese individuelle Tour mit Sebi allen Amsterdam Besuchern nur wärmstes empfehlen. Danke, lieber Sebi für dieses tolle Erlebnis🙏🏼💜”
Yves S.
July 2026
“Sehr persönlich und freundlich. Wunderschönes Boot und sehr herzlicher Kapitän. Das Getränkeangebot war vielseitig und sorgfältig ausgewählt. Die Snacks waren lokal und lecker. Würde ich jederzeit wieder buchen.”
Stephan M.
July 2026
“Wir hatten einen wunderbaren Abend bei Sebi Boat Tours! Unsere Kapitänin Maren hat die zweistündige Grachtenfahrt mit ihrer sympathischen und unterhaltsamen Art zu einem echten Highlight unseres Amsterdam-Besuchs gemacht. Neben leckerem Essen und Getränken an Bord hat sie uns viele interessante Geschichten über Amsterdam, die Grachten und die Geschichte der Stadt erzählt. Man merkt, wie viel Leidenschaft und Wissen sie mitbringt. Die Atmosphäre auf dem Boot war entspannt und persönlich – wir haben uns rundum wohlgefühlt. Absolute Empfehlung für alle, die Amsterdam einmal aus einer ganz besonderen Perspektive erleben möchten. Vielen Dank, Maren!”
Anders N.
July 2026
“We wanted a tour on a smaller boat to get a more cosy and intimate experience. Captain Mare was entertaining and informative and navigated the canals while telling tales and making sure we understood the true nature of the Dutch people. We can only recommend this beautiful vessel and it's crew.”
Kart M.D.
July 2026
“Super Kapitän, tolle Atmosphäre, gerne wieder”
Light Artwork Festival - Private Cruise departs from Keizersgracht 196, 1016 DW Amsterdam.
The cruise lasts 1 hour & 30 mins.
Prices for this private charter start at €300.
This cruise includes Free Cancellation, Onboard Toilet, Roof in case of Rain, Amsterdam Light Festival, Unlimited Drinks and Dutch Snacks.
Sebi Boat Tours
Sebi Boat Tours is run by two Amsterdammers and childhood friends — Captain Sebastian "Sebi" Jung and Olivier de Vries, who handles planning and hospitality. Their boat, Giuliana, is a roughly 100-year-old electric saloon boat built in 1925, discovered in Friesland and officially classified as Dutch sailing heritage; its restoration — converting the engine to electric and lowering the cabin floor to clear low bridges — took ten months. Cruises run through the UNESCO canal belt past the Westerkerk and Anne Frank House into narrower side canals, with a stop for traditional Dutch snacks and drinks. Shared cruises start from €50 per person and private charters from €300, departing from Keizersgracht 196.
View all cruises by Sebi Boat ToursYes — unlimited drinks are included in the price of this cruise.
Yes, snacks are included on this cruise.
Yes, there is a toilet on board this cruise.
This boat has rain cover, so you stay dry on board if the weather turns.
Yes, this is an open boat rather than an enclosed one, and it has rain cover for when the weather turns.
Yes, this boat has heating on board, which keeps it comfortable in colder weather.
Yes, this cruise is pet-friendly, so your dog is welcome on board.
Yes, this cruise offers free cancellation.
You can book this cruise up to 12 hours before departure.
Light Artwork Festival - Private Cruise is operated by Sebi Boat Tours and can be booked directly through BoatLocal.
Yes — as a private charter, you have the boat to yourselves and can work with the captain on the route within your booked time. Celebrating a birthday or other occasion? Let us know in advance (or in the booking note) and we'll do our best to help set things up.
Each private boat has its own maximum capacity — shown on this cruise page under guest numbers. Planning something for 20 or more guests? Visit our Groups page and we'll help you find the right fit.
Up to 12 guests · from €299
