Discover the oldest parts of town in an intimate setting
Exceptional
2,848 reviews
What guests loved most
Canada G.H.
“Thank you, dear Adam. My family and I, who came from Canada, really had a great time on your boat an…”
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.
“Thank you, dear Adam. My family and I, who came from Canada, really had a great time on your boat and I wanted to share my experience with you.”
Maria W.
July 2026
“Grand canal tour with Captain Adam. An absolutely kind and humorous guy with a lot of interesting knowledge about Amsterdam and its history. A very pleasant atmosphere in perfect weather. I would book it again right away. Highly recommended.”
Roy G.
July 2026
“This canal tour was one of the highlights of our time in Amsterdam. Captain Julia was warm, engaging, and shared plenty of interesting facts and stories throughout the cruise, making the city come alive from the water. The route covered an incredible variety of Amsterdam's iconic landmarks, including the beautiful Amstel River, the famous Skinny Bridge, the Dancing Houses, Waterlooplein, the Red Light District, Oude Kerk, De Waag, Montelbaanstoren, NEMO, the Maritime Museum, Hortus Botanicus, and the stunning Seven Bridges Canal. We also loved exploring the Eastern Docklands and learning about Amsterdam's rich maritime history while cruising through parts of the UNESCO-listed Canal Belt. The pace was relaxed, the views were spectacular, and seeing the city from the canals gave us a completely different perspective than walking the streets. If you're looking for an informative, scenic, and enjoyable way to experience Amsterdam, I highly recommend taking a canal tour with Captain Julia!”
Bettina J.
June 2026
“Adam was great! We had a lot of fun and learned a lot about the city in the 1.5 hours that we didn't know yet, even though we were in Amsterdam for the sixth time and have always done a canal tour. Thank you very much for that! We took your card with us and will be back! Betty & Florian”
Canada G.H.
August 2026
“Thank you, dear Adam. My family and I, who came from Canada, really had a great time on your boat and I wanted to share my experience with you.”
Natalie P.
August 2026
“Captain Adam was great! Funny, engaging and shared awesome info about the city. It was very cool to learn some history and see the city from a different viewpoint. Highly recommend!”
Michael S.
August 2026
“This was a fantastic canal cruise without the crowds and commercial crap! Bring your own snacks and drinks (if you want) and enjoy the ride. Great history and cultural information about Amsterdam that wasn't blasted over a loudspeaker Much more intimate setting and interactive experience. A very personal tour and low-key experience. Highly recommended!”
Johanna B.
August 2026
“It was our first time in Amsterdam and we were looking for a good tour with an open cruise and with a little group. Then we found this. It was really really beautiful. We loved it! It was easy to come to the start and Jamie our Tourguide was really nice and friendly. He talked about Amsterdam and the history and showed us some special places. U could ask him anything and it was really chill. So it’s worth the money!”
Masha F.
August 2026
“Adam was awesome. We loved the tour.”
Leslie C.
August 2026
“We had the best experience with Captain Griffin! He was so knowledgeable and made the whole experience memorable!”
Danielle S.
August 2026
“Perfect canal tour. Interesting commentary. Leisurely pace. Personalized service.”
C P.
August 2026
“We had an enjoyable and informative canal tour with Captain Gus. It is smaller than some which is what we wanted offering a more interactive experience.”
Lyndsey H.
August 2026
“Artilla, our tour guide, was wonderful and had a lots of interactive stories vibing off our chats. It made for a personal and relaxed style tour in a quiet and eco friendly electric boat. Would recommend it over the larger boats and we also enjoyed having our own food whilst others had the on board offering. It was chill and a great morning. Do it.”
Fabio D.
August 2026
“Wonderful experience. Captain Joao was great, gave us a lot of interesting information and was replied to every question we had. It was like having a cruise with a friend from Amsterdam.”
Diane W.
August 2026
“We had a fantastic 1 1/2 hour boat trip with Attila who was very friendly and had a great sense of humour. He was very knowledgeable and interesting and clearly loves his job. Would highly recommend this if you want a smaller group (12 people max) as you get to explore some of the smaller canals too. Would give 10 stars if we could 😊”
Peter
August 2026
“Captain Eddie took me and some friends around on a canal tour and shared plenty of history and stories. He's friendly and knowledgeable. Was a great addition to our visit to Amsterdam.”
Stefania G.
August 2026
“Eddie is very friendy and funny, he knows the story of the city of Amsterdam very well, recommended!”
Justin O.(.
August 2026
Sierra E.
August 2026
“Captain Guys was great! We had a wonderful night tour 10/10”
Claire N.
August 2026
“We had a fantastic trip with Captain Gus. Very relaxed, lots and lots of interesting sights and stories! It’s a little boat which enables you to see the smaller canals. The start point is away from the crowds which is also a bonus! We were warmly welcomed aboard. Highly recommended”
Ben W.
August 2026
“We stumbled across this tour when walking around Amsterdam. Captain Eddie was very friendly and answered all our questions about Amsterdam and Dutch culture. It felt like an authentic tour with a local. We would recommend for anyone looking to experience the iconic Amsterdam canals.”
Amsterdam Boat Tour of the Old City Center - Shared Cruise departs from Nieuwe Keizersgracht 1, 1018 DS Amsterdam.
The cruise lasts 1 hour & 30 mins.
Amsterdam Boat Tour of the Old City Center - Shared Cruise is a shared cruise with a maximum of 12 guests on board, so you book per seat and travel alongside other guests.
Amsterdam Boat Adventures
Captain Jamie and Bente founded Amsterdam Boat Adventures in the spring of 2018, after Jamie secured the official permit to run canal cruises in the city. What began as a single boat has grown into a two-boat, family-run company with a small team of captains — each one guiding personally, choosing the narrow inner canals the big glass-roofed boats can't reach.
View all cruises by Amsterdam Boat AdventuresPrices for Amsterdam Boat Tour of the Old City Center - Shared Cruise start at €29 per person.
This cruise includes Free Cancellation, Roof in case of rain, On board bar, BYO drinks allowed, Pet friendly, BYO snacks and Small group.
Yes, you are welcome to bring your own drinks 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 is a small-group cruise, capped at 12 guests on board.
Yes, this cruise is pet-friendly, so your dog is welcome on board.
Yes, this cruise offers free cancellation.
Amsterdam Boat Tour of the Old City Center - Shared Cruise is operated by Amsterdam Boat Adventures and can be booked directly through BoatLocal.
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.
Up to 12 guests · from €50
