Anti-tourist canal cruises since 2024, captained by lifelong Amsterdammers
5(395 reviews)
Bow's Journeys was started by Boudewijn, who began giving canal tours at 14 on his family's small boat and built the company around one idea: people don't want to be passengers, they want to be guests. The fleet is two fully electric boats — Sophie, a 1911 salon boat restored to her original elegance, and Pien, a sleek private cruiser — with Sophie running both the shared cruises and private charters, and Pien available for private charters only. Every tour caps at 12 guests and is led by a local captain — a mix of former photographers, historians, musicians and leadership coaches — sharing lived stories instead of a rehearsed script.
Boudewijn
Quick facts
Founded: 2024, by Boudewijn — five generations of Amsterdam boat enthusiasts
Fleet: 2 boats, both fully electric — Sophie (1911 salon boat) and Pien (private cruiser)
Capacity: maximum 12 guests per tour
Captains: local Amsterdammers with 20+ years on the water, from varied backgrounds (photography, history, music, coaching)
Specialty: anti-tourist positioning — no fixed script, no crowds, no queues
Tours: shared cruises aboard Sophie; private cruises aboard either Sophie or Pien
Pricing: shared cruises from €55/adult, €35/child; private cruises from €275–€350 + €15/guest
Company profile supplied by Bow's Journeys. Rating from 395 Google reviews. Cruise pricing, schedules and availability shown below are BoatLocal's own live booking data, refreshed hourly.
Bow's Journeys is a good fit if
Travellers who want a scheduled, shared canal cruise from €55 per person
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 need a boat for more than 12 people
Where to find us
What guests say
Zach C.
August 2026
“Pleasant experience. The Fonz was delightful.”
via Google
David A.
August 2026
“Fons is the absolute best!! Such a memorable experience :)”
via Google
Manuel U.
August 2026
“The tour was excellent and that day it didn’t rain, the weather was nice 🌞. The captain was super friendly 😊 and even spoke to us in Spanish 🇪🇸. Thank you very much! 🥂”
via Google
Nick D.
August 2026
“Amazing canal tour on a beautiful boat, plus Fons was a brilliant captain and host. Would highly recommend.”
via Google
Kelly G.
August 2026
“Fonz was fantastic!
He made our cruise so enjoyable and really gave us a lot of info that made it memorable!
Thank you Fonz!”
via Google
Lily S.
August 2026
“really amazing tour experience that focused on keeping the group small and the experience fun. will be telling all my friends this is the tour to do! Fons was an incredible guide”
via Google
Doğukan S.
August 2026
“Amazing tour, Mr Fons was very knowledgeable and kind. The tour is really informative and beats the generic touristy boat tours. Highly recommended!”
via Google
Jessica M.
August 2026
“We had a wonderful time aboard the Sophie! She’s a beautiful boat and so comfortable. The drinks and snacks aboard were great. Fons was super knowledgeable and he made the tour special for us! We got lucky with the weather but I think it’s awesome to have the option of sitting outside or in.”
via Google
Hafeez S.
August 2026
“Fons is as exceptional in navigating the canals as he is knowledgeable about the city's history and beyond. Highly recommended. Great value. He also allows for a curated experience based on the group.”
via Google
Martin H.
August 2026
“Took the group tour today. Really amazing, captain Fonzi was great fun and knowledgable. If your looking for something a little better that everything else, this is it!”
via Google
Sue
August 2026
“Fons was the best! He was so personable and truly understands the culture and history of Amsterdam. He shared o personal connections to the sites we passed. I really like that it was a small group. I went on my own to this canal tour and I felt welcomed by Fons and the other guests. There were beautiful sites to see and great laughs. I would 100% book again. I found this through an Instagram ad and liked that the experience was unique and affordable. Thank you so much and I'm glad I stumbled upon this experience. I would highly recommend to anyone. The booking was seamless through the website and I messaged the WhatsApp and called them to ensure I was in the right location and they helped me while staying on the phone until I found the boat. Thank you for a great time.”
via Google
joanne M.
August 2026
“Fons was a fabulous Captain/Tour Guide/Bar man. Small format canal cruise, really informative and a beautiful boat. Highly recommend.”
via Google
Michael S.
August 2026
“Wonderful canal tour. Fons was terrific. It really couldn’t have been any better!
Enjoy!”
via Google
D P.
August 2026
“Amazing boat tour, entertaining and attracted a great group of people. 10/10”
via Google
Frank S.
August 2026
“Nick took great care of us. The boat was clean, good vibes, and perfect experience seeing the views from the canal.”
via Google
Jimmy S.
August 2026
“Best boat tour! The captain was fantastic and the full bar had everything you need, including garnishes.”
via Google
Chava W.
August 2026
“Wonderful cruise. Perfect way to spend time in Amsterdam. Jan, our captain, was engaging, funny, warm. He made everyone welcome. He shared lots of information and stories. Snacks and beverages were available and nice. Highly recommend.”
via Google
Barmak C.
August 2026
“Bow is the best person you can find for a private tour who knows and explains everything about the city. He is so nice, knowledgeable and explains everything you need to know. His boat is so clean, lots of refreshments, alcoholic drinks and non alcoholic drinks. Thank you so much for such an amazing experience!!”
via Google
Owen L.
August 2026
“Very fun ride, small groups, amazing skippers. Jane was the best he was the best, he was very informative and funny. The boat was nice and clean. Overall an amazing experience and would definitely do again.”
via Google
Victoria B.
August 2026
“Highlight of our 3 week European trip! Highly recommend!!!!”
Yes. Bow's Journeys offers private canal cruises where the boat is reserved exclusively for your group, for up to 12 guests.
Yes. Bow's Journeys runs scheduled shared canal cruises where individual seats can be booked, starting from €55 per person.
Bow's Journeys' shared cruises are priced at €55 per person.
Private charters with Bow's Journeys range from €275 to €350 for the whole boat, depending on the boat and duration.
Bow's Journeys' cruises range from 1 hour & 30 minutes to 1 hour & 30 mins, depending on the tour — see the cruise list above for exact durations.
Bow's Journeys' 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.
Bow's Journeys cruises depart from Singel 7, 1012 NA Amsterdam.
You can book directly on BoatLocal — select a cruise above, choose your date, time and number of guests, and pay securely online.
Boudewijn
