Discover the oldest parts of town in an intimate setting
Exceptional
2,848 reviews
What guests loved most
Sarah Gold
“Nice little boat - felt intimate rather than a tourist cash cow. Eddie the guide did a great job of…”
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.
Sarah Gold
July 2026
“Nice little boat - felt intimate rather than a tourist cash cow. Eddie the guide did a great job of giving us Infos while also keeping things relaxed and friendly”
Kristina Brodd Bragsjö
July 2026
“We took a guided tour with captain Adam. After 90 minutes I didn’t want the tour to end. I could have done another 90 minutes. Adam was fantastic!!”
Tobias Brodd
July 2026
“Captain Adam gave a great sightseeing that me and my wife never will forget. A highly recommended activity if you are visiting Amsterdam”
Shipra Das
July 2026
“Amazing experience! eddy’s excellent knowledge in the history of the place which makes the ride so much more enriching . Goodvibesonlyyyy”
Wolfgang F.
July 2026
“We were booked on the evening cruise and really enjoyed it. The trip is very personal - thanks to the boat size, the small group and “Captain Eddie”. He is a seasoned guide who talks with knowledge about city, willing to answer any questions of the passengers. I will book another tour with “Captain Eddie” on my next visit to Amsterdam.”
Patrikas
July 2026
Ignas Jasinskis
July 2026
David Travers
July 2026
“Captain Guus is very funny and showed us the whole city in 90 min”
Miriam Dafoe
July 2026
“Wonderful captain. Very knowledgeable. Also humorous. Highly recommend!”
Oliver Old
July 2026
“Very friendly and welcoming also very historic knowledge of the area. You can take REALLY good photos 👍🏻👍🏻”
Ethan
July 2026
“Captain Attila was fantastic. Incredibly knowledgeable and had great energy. The cruise was relaxing while also allowing us to see Amsterdam from a completely different point of view and gain a new appreciation for the ingenuity that went into building this great city.”
Amber Rouleau
July 2026
“The perfect canal cruise! Their small boats are exponentially better than the huge ones, and not cheesy like the theme ones. If you can, book with Attila, he is a fantastic guide - deeply knowledgable and equally personable. The perfect mix of peaceful, fun, informational, and of course... beautiful.”
Austin King
July 2026
“Griffin was great”
Nichola Mott
July 2026
“A really lovely 90 minutes that flew by. Our captain, Griffin was super friendly, knowledgeable and a great host. We were lucky to have lovely people with us too, from Canada and New Zealand (via Australia!) who helped to make this our favourite part of our Amsterdam trip. Will definitely be recommending the Amsterdam Boat Adventures to any friends and family visiting in the future. I personally really liked that it was a small boat, with a very personal feel. Extra good was the cover that went up to allow us some shade on an extremely hot day.”
Ishil Morrell
July 2026
“We booked an evening boat tour for our anniversary. What a wonderful experience- only 12 of us on the boat. Atilla was the most hospitable, engaging guide; joyful and informative with a gentility and charisma that didn’t overwhelm or dominate the experience. The perfect guide. He had stories that came from real research he had undertaken, bringing to life both the historical aspect of Amsterdam and the people within it. This is the only way to really see Amsterdam. Under Bridge and through the serenity of the canals. Thank you so much Atilla - you were the best!”
J. H.
July 2026
“A big thank you to João, who guided us on this wonderful tour. My family isn't fluent in English, and he went out of his way to translate everything he said into French for them! It was a lovely surprise.”
Alix Perso
July 2026
“je recommande absolument, c’etait génial et notre guide Attila était vraiment super ! Une belle balade avec de magnifiques paysages et toujours une pointe d’humour chez Attila. Parfait en tout point!”
Brent McGregor
July 2026
“The trip was fantastic with Captain Griffin being the most enthusiastic and helpful captain and guide you could have. His information and knowledge really made the trip enjoyable and because it was a small boat we really had a great time with the other passengers along the way. I would highly recommend this company over any of the bigger boats as it was much more of a “family” type outing. Well done Captain Griffin👌🥇💯”
pan dimitriadis
July 2026
Kristin Hovie
July 2026
“Griffin is a delight. He is very handsome, knowledgeable about the city, and charismatic. I highly recommend his boat tour—everyone on our tour was laughing and engaged. It’s a great way to escape the summer heat!”
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.
