Canal Cruise Amsterdam: Every Way to Cruise the Canals
From a classic private sightseeing tour to a candlelit dinner cruise, a quiet countryside trip down the Amstel, or a lit-up ride through the Light Festival. Every cruise below is a private charter for your own group, on our own fleet of historic saloon boats.
Every canal cruise we offer
Same private boats, same local captains. Each cruise below is simply built around a different pace, route or occasion. Pick the one that fits, or get in touch and we will help you choose.
Private Boat Tours & Sightseeing
Our flagship private canal tour past the main sights and the quieter corners of Amsterdam. Full pricing, routes and fleet details.
Explore tours & prices →Evening Canal Cruise
Lit-up bridges, the Skinny Bridge glowing on the water, and the Seven Bridges point after dark.
Explore evening cruise →Open Boat Tour
Roof back and open front seating on the Tzar, ideal for groups who want space, air and unobstructed photos.
Explore open boat tour →Private Dinner Cruise
A multi-course meal on board from canal-side restaurants while you cruise the illuminated canal belt.
Explore dinner cruise →High Tea Cruise
Sweet and savoury bites paired with a curated tea selection, cruising at an easy afternoon pace.
Explore high tea cruise →Breakfast Cruise
Start the day gently with fresh pastries and coffee on the water, before the city wakes up.
Explore breakfast cruise →Brunch Boat
A relaxed late-morning cruise built around a full brunch spread. Good for slow weekends.
Explore brunch boat →Countryside Cruise, Amstel River
Leave the city centre behind for quiet water, open polder, houseboats and secluded villas. 2 to 4 hours, from €430.
Explore countryside cruise →Zaanse Schans Boat Trip
A full day up the Zaan River to the working windmill village, by private boat instead of by train.
Explore Zaanse Schans trip →Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise
Glide past the illuminated art installations along the canals during the winter festival season.
Explore light festival cruise →Last Minute Canal Cruise
Spontaneous plans welcome. Check same-day and next-day availability across the fleet.
Explore last minute cruise →Christmas Canal Cruise
A festive private cruise past Amsterdam’s holiday lights and decorated canal houses.
Explore Christmas cruise →Three boats, three personalities
Every cruise above runs on one of these three historic saloon boats. All three have a minibar, music speakers, an enclosed area, an outdoor area, heating, double-pane windows and a luxury wood interior. Undine and Tzar seat you close to the captain, which suits small groups and guided tours; the Ritz puts more distance between captain and guests if you would rather have privacy.
Undine
A monument-status saloon boat built in 1920. Up to 8 guests with an open sundeck that closes up in minutes, ideal for couples and small groups.
View Undine →Tzar
A sliding roof over the indoor area plus a fully open front deck for unobstructed views. Two steering wheels mean the captain can give you privacy on request.
View Tzar →Ritz
A 1915 classic with a mahogany saloon, a sliding rear roof and the only restroom in the fleet. Well suited to dinner and high tea cruises in any season.
View Ritz →Compare all three side by side, feature for feature, on the fleet page.
Private cruises from €250 per hour
Starting-from rates for a private sightseeing cruise, based on up to 4 guests. A small surcharge applies for larger groups. Themed cruises such as dinner, high tea, breakfast, brunch and the countryside route are priced separately on their own pages.
All cruises include one non-alcoholic welcome drink per guest plus complimentary tea and coffee. For groups larger than 12 guests, get in touch about larger boat options. Full breakdown on the tours and prices page, or estimate your whole evening with the budget calculator.
Life aboard the fleet
Canal cruise Amsterdam FAQ
All our cruises are private and run on the same fleet, but each is built around a different focus. Sightseeing tours cover the main canals and landmarks, evening and dinner cruises are timed around food and lit-up bridges, high tea and brunch cruises centre on a meal, and the countryside cruise trades the city centre for the quiet Amstel River. Pick the one that matches the experience you are after, or contact us to combine elements.
Every cruise on this page is a private charter for your own group only, never shared with other passengers. One booking is one boat. The boats take up to 12 guests depending on the vessel.
Between 2 and 12 guests depending on the boat. For bigger groups than 12, please contact us for larger boat options.
The dinner cruise and evening cruise are the most popular choices for anniversaries and celebrations, especially after dark when the bridges are lit up. For a lower-key daytime celebration, the high tea or brunch cruise works well.
Yes. The countryside cruise heads south down the Amstel River into open, quiet countryside, passing houseboats and secluded villas. It is a slower, nature-focused alternative to the central canals.
Private canal cruises start from €250 per hour. A 1.5-hour cruise starts at €340, a 2-hour cruise at €430 and a 3-hour cruise at €610. Those are starting-from rates for up to 4 guests, with a small surcharge for larger groups. Themed cruises such as dinner or high tea have their own pricing based on the menu chosen.
Your private boat, a local captain who doubles as your guide, one non-alcoholic welcome drink per guest, complimentary tea and coffee, VAT and tourist tax. Additional drinks come from the onboard minibar and are settled at the end. See the full drinks menu.
Book any of our cruises directly through our booking system, or contact us by WhatsApp on +31 6 39051068 or phone on +31 6 45 25 1000 if you would like help choosing the right cruise, boat or route for your group.
Ready to get on the water?
Three historic boats and eleven ways to cruise Amsterdam, from €250 per hour. Whether you want a guided private sightseeing tour or a culinary experience on the water, the boat is always yours alone.
WhatsApp +31 6 39051068 · Call +31 6 45 25 1000