Book up to 15 min before departure
From €29
·1 hour & 30 mins
BYO Drinks Welcome • Small Group • Hidden Canal Routes
This 90-minute amsterdam canal cruise begins where the city itself began — in the oldest quarter, near the Nieuwmarkt and De Waag building. From there, your captain steers the electric open boat along the quieter stretches of Kromboomsloot and Geldersekade, waterways too narrow for the big tour vessels. You'll share the deck with a maximum of eleven other guests, which leaves plenty of room to stretch out and actually hear the commentary without straining.
The route pushes east toward the docklands, passing the full-scale VOC ship replica at the Maritime Museum and the copper-green hull of the Nemo Science Museum. On the return leg, the boat threads through Nieuwe Herengracht, where Wertheimpark and the Hortus Botanicus gardens line the banks, before finishing along Reguliersgracht and its famous seven-bridge sightline — a view that genuinely does look as good in person as it does in photographs.
The boat runs fully electric, so the only sounds are water against the hull and your captain's stories about the buildings sliding past. Blankets and heated cushions are standard; a retractable roof goes up if the weather turns. There's a small bar on board — Heineken for three euros, wine for four, soft drinks and water for two-fifty — and you're welcome to bring your own snacks or drinks if you'd rather. Dogs are allowed too, one per sailing, at no extra charge.
Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours in advance. The Amsterdam Boat Tour of the Old City Center departs from Nieuwe Keizersgracht and runs from March through December — a small amsterdam boat tour that covers genuine ground without rushing.
Jen Schmitz
July 2026
“Amazing experience highly recommend”
matt cannon
July 2026
“Fabulous boat tour. Don't get on the big boats under cover, get this small boat, great skipper Eddie. Thanks”
Anour Esa
July 2026
“We had an amazing time aboard the Amazing with Captain Attila. Extremely safe and expert boat handling, excellent local knowledge, very comfortable boat, and very friendly.”
Max Link
July 2026
“Eddie was amazing and super knowledgeable on everything we were passing and was able to answer any questions we asked. 100% recommend Eddie.”
Mathys Besserer
July 2026
“Captain João was absolutely great! I had a great time and managed to learn so much about the city!”
Cheri Campbell
July 2026
“Excellent 90 minute tour through the canals on a fairly quiet morning. Really relaxing and scenic, lots of history . Attila our tour guide was exceptionally gracious and informative, he is an asset to the company. Highly recommended, well worth doing.”
Sonja Kokkonen
July 2026
“The boat tour was an amazing experience. Our captain João was very friendly and he told a lot of facts and stories about Amsterdam. We liked that the group was small so we could ask questions and it was also very peaceful.”
Janni Kitti
July 2026
“We had a super fun tour with João! You can either just enjoy the stories and views or ask anything you wanna know about Amsterdam (history or present). A smaller group size makes it feel more unique and luxurious. We left with a bunch of recommendations! Great for families with kids too.”
amandine potey
July 2026
“Top ! Thank you Captain João !”
Francesca Longo
July 2026
Sarah Butler
July 2026
“We purposefully targeted a small boat and the longer tour 90 mins which proved a perfect choice. Went on Sunday morning and almost had the Amsterdam waterway system to ourselves! Lovely and peaceful! Small group of 7 in total plus Jo, our excellent guide. He was engaging, informative with a good sense of humour. Would highly recommend Amsterdam Boat Adventures!”
Tomasz Kawałkowski
July 2026
“It was great expierience, Captain Adam did excellent job, thank you for wonderfull time !”
Bea Rod
July 2026
“Loved the tour with Jamie! Amazing trip.”
Joshua Ridenhour
July 2026
“Great tour. Capt. Griffin was great.”
Paul Whitley
July 2026
“Highly recommend this tour over bigger boats. Learned a lot and the boat was super comfortable. Captain was great.”
ShinUn Choo
July 2026
“I’ve tried both the Bateaux Mouches in Paris and the Chicago River Cruise, but the Amsterdam Canal Cruise was the prettiest and most fun! Every single alley and building practically breathes the golden history of the Netherlands. Shoutout to Captain Griffin! He made our tour both fun and educational, explaining Dutch history and modern culture perfectly easy to understand even for non-native English speakers.”
James LaRowe
July 2026
“Wonderful way to see Amsterdam. Our captain was a friendly and outstanding guide”
E. Lewin
July 2026
“We had a boat tour with Joan (John). I can honestly say this is one of the best tours i've ever had, John put us at ease from start to finish with his polite and friendly manner. John was so knowledgable about all aspects of the tour but also had lots more information and knowledge around the history of europe and Amsterdam. Well worth every penny. Seats in the boat were heated and also had heated blankets which were very welcome on a cold rainy day. John opened the overhead rain cover when the rain settled a bit so we could fully appreciate the views. Thanks John you were excellent ! Regards Eve and Vin.”
Andrew Lask
July 2026
“My wife and I had a very nice time with Capt. Griffin. Learned a lot about Amsterdam, in a comfortable manner. So glad we chose Amsterdam Boat Adventures. I recommend them.”
Linda Croft
July 2026
“We had a great time with Captain Joao, so friendly and informative! Fun canal ride much more intimate.❤️”
Free cancellation 24h before departure time
Change time & day 24h before departure
Increase guests 1h before departure time
This operator's policy: Free cancellation 24h before departure time; Change time & day 24h before departure; Increase guests 1h before departure time.
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.
The exact departure point is shown on the map further down this page — click "How far is this from me?" for directions from your location. Once you book, the full address and directions are also sent straight to your confirmation email.
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.
