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Amsterdam Canal Tours

Updated: January 5, 2024

This post covers the most popular cruises and tours available in the Amsterdam canals, including details about the different types of cruises, ticket prices, and how to save money on this activity.

We also provide a free, 20-minute virtual canal cruise video.

Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.


Are Amsterdam Canal Cruises Worth It?

Yes, Amsterdam canal cruises are worth it for most visitors. They offer scenic views of the city's canals, bridges, and architecture.

Canal cruises provide a unique perspective and a leisurely way to explore Amsterdam. Informative commentary enhances the experience, and there are various options to choose from.

However, some people find the canals overcrowded and some also describe the boats as "hot and stuffy."

To help you decide better, here are the top Pros and Cons of taking an Amsterdam boat tour.


Pros of taking an Amsterdam canal cruise:

  1. Scenic Views:

    Amsterdam's canals are a picturesque sight, and a canal cruise offers an excellent vantage point to admire the city's beautiful architecture, charming bridges, and waterfront houses.

    It provides a unique perspective and stunning photo opportunities.
  2. Historical and Cultural Insights:

    Amsterdam's canals have significant historical and cultural importance. A canal cruise allows you to learn about the city's trading history, urban planning, and architectural heritage through informative commentary.

    It can deepen your understanding and appreciation of Amsterdam's rich past.
  3. Relaxation and Leisure:

    A canal cruise provides a leisurely and relaxing experience. You can sit back, enjoy the gentle breeze, and soak in the ambiance of the city while gliding through the water.

Cons of taking an Amsterdam canal cruise:

  1. Crowds and Tourist Volume:

    Boat tours in Amsterdam are popular tourist activities, particularly during peak seasons.

    The cruises can get crowded, and you may have to contend with large numbers of tourists on board, which can detract from the peacefulness and personal space.
  2. Limited Flexibility and Schedule:

    Canal cruises typically operate on fixed schedules and predetermined routes. This limits your flexibility to explore at your own pace or make spontaneous changes to your itinerary.
  3. Weather:

    If the weather is poor, with heavy rain, strong winds, or extremely cold temperatures, it may impact your overall experience.

    Inclement weather conditions could limit visibility, dampen the scenic views, or make the cruise less comfortable. Also, in the sunny days, you may feel hot and dry during the ride.

TYPES OF CRUISES

There are currently several different types of this service offered in Amsterdam: guided canal cruises, hop-on-hop-off cruises, and dinner and evening cruises.

No matter which service you choose, you can expect to enjoy views of various famous landmarks on an open boat tour or canal cruise in Amsterdam.

The canals themselves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so when you take one of these tours, you'll be traveling across one of the most famous sites in the world!


Guided Canal Cruise

A canal tour cruise is typically 1 - 1½ hours in length, and they cover a lot of the Amsterdam canals and waterways in the Dutch capital.

A live canal boat tour guide or audio guide will provide details about the history of the city as you pass by notable sites and landmarks.

Blue Boat Canal Cruise in Amsterdam

The main difference between this and a hop-on hop-off cruise is that you won’t be hopping off. A guided canal cruise typically won’t make frequent stops.


Hop on Hop off Cruise

Much like the guided canal cruises, these excursions will take you about 1 - 1 ½ hours to complete – but you’ll have the opportunity to jump off at several locations and take a closer look at historic landmarks.

View from Amsterdam Canal Boat

An open boat canal cruise typically also includes audio commentary in several different languages, making it easy to learn about the city as you go along.

Tickets last for 1 or 2 days depending on which service you select.


Dinner Cruise

While the other cruise options are more about exploring the city and learning about the history of Amsterdam, these excursions are focused on sightseeing while enjoying a nice meal.

Dinner cruises typically include a 3- or 4-course meal, drinks, and commentary about the city and everything you’ll see along the way.

This type of cruise typically lasts for between 2-3 hours on average.


Evening Cruise

This is an excellent option if you’re not interested in a meal, as it allows you to see the city after dark while drifting down the canals of Amsterdam.

Evening cruises are essentially the same service as a guided canal cruise, but they’re offered at night.

These outings typically last 1 - 1 ½ hours and include an audio guide.


Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise

Every winter, the Amsterdam Light Festival is held and there is usually a wide variety of lighting displays to see along the canals.

This is a special time of year for an evening cruise, and most companies offer services exclusive to the festival.

If you're interested in this type of service, consider getting the Amsterdam Winter Card to save money on an evening cruise during the months of November - January.


GUIDED CANAL CRUISES

The following section will provide information about the top guided cruises through the Amsterdam canals, including details about ticket prices, availability, and tour length.

NOTE: Each of these cruises is available at a discount through either a combo package or a tourist pass.


Stromma NL

If you’re looking for a slightly shorter outing, this company offers a 70-minute outing that still manages to cover over 100 highlights in Amsterdam.

While their competitors only offer commentary in a few different languages, Stromma NL provides an audio guide for almost every audience imaginable with the following language options:

Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Polish, Portuguese, and Russian.

  • €21/Adults | €10.50/Children
  • Availability: Daily with departures from 9 am - 6 pm
  • Duration: 1 - 1 ½ hours
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

Lovers Canal Cruises

Similar to their competitors, this company also has a 1-hour cruise that covers a lot of historic landmarks in Amsterdam including the Skinny Bridge (also known as Magere Brug)f, the Anne Frank House, Museum Square, and more.

Lovers Canal Cruises in Amsterdam

Just like Stromma NL, Lovers offers audio commentary in dozens of different languages to make things easier for locals as well as tourists from around the world.

The audio guide is GPS-activated, providing commentary based on where you are on the cruise.

Language options include Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Polish, Portuguese, and Russian.


Blue Boat Company

At about 75 minutes in length, this canal cruise falls squarely in line with most of the others offered in Amsterdam, covering sites like the Skinny Bridge (made over the Amstel river), Golden Bend, the Music Building, and more.

The main difference between Blue Boat cruises and others is that their audio guide isn’t offered in as many languages as some competitors. 

As with Circle Line, this company offers a live host who provides commentary in Dutch, English, and Danish.

The pre-recorded audio guide is offered in Spanish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Russian.


Circle Line

This is one of the most popular cruise lines in the world, and they offer a pretty good service in Amsterdam as well.

Not only do they cover a lot of notable sites, but they also provide amenities to keep you comfortable.

During the winter, their seats are heated to keep you warm. However, during the summer they open the boat to help you keep cool!

Circle Line Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Sites visited include the Anne Frank House, the Floating Flower Market, the Red Light District, Prince’s Canal, Golden Bend, and more.

As you travel through the city, a tour guide will provide commentary in both Dutch and English.

Alternatively, you can also use their audio guide which is available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.


Classic Canal Cruise

If you’re looking for a more traditional cruise, this outing takes place on a classic saloon boat.

Your captain will guide you through the city and you’ll receive free coffee or tea while on board.

Classic Canal Cruise in Amsterdam

In addition to being one of the longer guided cruises in Amsterdam, this is also the only tour that does not rely primarily on pre-recorded audio commentary.

Instead, it provides a live guide who will cover everything.

  • €29.50/Adults | €19.50/Children
  • Availability: Daily
  • Hours: 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm
  • Duration: 1 ½ hours
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

HOP-ON-HOP-OFF CRUISES

This section covers each of the hop-on-hop-off cruise options in Amsterdam, including information about ticket prices, places visited, departure locations, availability, and tour length.

For a more in-depth look at these types of cruises, take a look at our hop-on-hop-off tours post.

TIP: Some of these cruises are available through either combo packages or tourist passes.


Circle Line

In addition to their guided canal cruises, this company also offers a hop on hop off cruise option.

There are a few notable differences between these services that you should consider.

The first big difference is that you can jump off at several docks and take a look around at your own leisure.

Once you’re finished, you can get back on the boat and continue your tour.

https://youtu.be/pR0Pn2nujsY

Tickets are valid for a full day, so even though the cruise itself is only 1 ½ hours, you’ll have 7-8 hours to explore the city at any pace you wish.

It’s also important to note that while their guided cruise includes commentary from a live guide, this outing only provides an audio guide which is available in English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German, and Italian.


Stromma NL

Much like its competitors, this company also offers a service that allows you to jump off at several notable locations and explore the area.

When you’re done looking around, hop back on and continue the cruise!

Although the cruise only takes about an hour to complete, Stromma NL offers tickets for either 1 or 2 days, allowing you to really take as much time as you want to explore the city while taking the tour.

As with their guided cruise, this outing also includes an audio guide in English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German, Thai, Turkish, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Polish, Russian, Portuguese, and Korean.

  • 1 Day Ticket: €24.50/Adults | €12.50/Children
  • 2 Day Ticket: €29.50/Adults | €14.75/Children
  • Availability: Daily from 9 am - 6 pm
  • Duration: 1 - 1 ½ hours
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

City Sightseeing

This company is very well known for its bus tours, but they also offer hop-on-hop-off canal cruises in Amsterdam. 

As with their competition, this outing will take a total of 60-90 minutes to complete, but tickets are valid for 1 full day.

Unfortunately, they do not offer a 2-day ticket option.

City Sightseeing provides a GPS enabled audio guide which is available in 18 different languages including the following:

English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, Turkish, Polish, Indonesian, Thai, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Hebrew and Arabic.

  • €22/Adults | €11/Children
  • Availability: Daily from 9:30 am - 6 pm
  • Duration: 1 - 1 ½ hours
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.
  • Not Currently Available as of Jan 2024.

DINNER CRUISES

The following section will cover dinner cruises you can take in Amsterdam, including details about the types of meals offered, ticket prices, and any other activities or attractions you can expect.

NOTE: A few of these cruises are available through either tourist passes or combo packages, allowing you to save a few euros on admission.


Lovers Canal Cruises

In addition to its guided canal cruise options, this company also offers three different dining cruises in Amsterdam.

Each cruise provides a different experience that lasts for 1 ½ - 2 hours on average.

Their main dinner cruise is designed as a more luxurious and intimate experience complete with fine dining and a 3-course meal.

As you sip on wine and other drinks, you’ll drift past several notable sites in Amsterdam.

Not interested in a full meal? This company also offers a romantic Candlelight Cruise with unlimited drinks and a selection of Dutch cheese and other snacks. 

If you’re looking for a more family-friendly experience, you might want to consider either their pizza or burger cruise – each of which includes unlimited drinks and a free brownie, as well as a live guide!

3-Course Dinner Cruise

  • €79 per person
  • Availability: Nightly at 7:30 pm
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Includes Meat, Fish, Vegetarian & Kids menu.

Candlelight Cruise w/ Unlimited Drinks

  • €42.50/Adults | €25/Children
  • Availability: Nightly at 9 pm
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Includes unlimited wine, beer, soft drinks, etc.
  • Includes a selection of Dutch cheeses and charcuterie.
  • Not currently available as of Jan 2024.

Pizza Cruise w/ Unlimited Drinks

  • €34-€40 per person
  • Availability: Nightly at 6:30 pm, 9 pm
  • Duration: 1 ½ hours
  • Includes Meat, Fish, Vegetarian & Margarita menu.

Burger Cruise w/ Unlimited Drinks

  • €42.50/Adults | €28.50/Children
  • Availability: Nightly at 6:30 pm, 9 pm
  • Duration: 1 ½ hours
  • Includes Beef or Vegetarian option.
  • Not currently available as of Jan 2024.

Stromma NL

Like its competitors, this company also provides dinner cruises for both young and old.

What sets these services apart is that their main Amsterdam evening canal cruise is a bit longer at 2 ½ hours in duration and you get to watch the chefs cook your dinner!

If you’re looking for a service the kids will love, their pizza cruise is sure to be a hit.

As with Lovers Canal Cruises, this outing includes unlimited drinks. The main difference is they provide free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream instead of a brownie.

In addition to these options, there are also dining cruises for guests who don’t want a full meal. 

Stromma’s cocktail cruise includes 2 free cocktails and nachos, while their Dutch cheese & wine outing provides a selection of cheeses, wine, bread, olives, and nuts.

4-Course Live Cooking Dinner Cruise

  • €95/Adults | €47.50/Children
  • Availability: Thur - Sun at 7:30 pm
  • Duration: 2 ½ hours
  • Includes chefs preparing your meal live.
  • Not currently available as of Jan 2024.

Evening Pizza Cruise

  • €44.50/Adults | €22.25/Children
  • Availability: Nightly at 6 pm
  • Duration: 1 ½ hours
  • Includes pizza of your choice.

Evening Cocktail Cruise

  • €42.50 per person
  • Availability: Thur - Sun at 8:30 pm
  • Duration: 1 ½ hours
  • Includes drinks, nachos, crostinis w/ tapenade and aioli.
  • Not currently available as of Jan 2024.

Dutch Cheese & Wine Cruise

  • €49.95 per person
  • Availability: Thur - Sun at 8:30 pm
  • Duration: 1 ½ hours
  • Includes wine, cheese, bread, olives, and nuts

EVENING CRUISES

This section will cover cruises available after dark in Amsterdam, including information about the duration of each boat trip, when it starts, and what you can expect to see on these outings.


Lovers Canal Cruises

While this company offers several dinner cruises that take place during the evening, they also understand that not every customer is going to be interested in eating or drinking anything while on an evening outing.

As such, Lovers provides an evening cruise that lasts for approximately 1 hour and includes commentary about Amsterdam.

This is similar to their daytime cruises, but it is offered after dark.

The main reason to take this tour is to experience the city after the sun goes down and the lights turn on, seeing all the historic sites and landmarks from a different perspective.


Blue Boat Company

If you’re looking for a slightly longer cruise after the sun goes down, this company offers a 1 ½ hour trip which actually includes bar service for those who also want a drink.

As with their competitors, you can also enjoy pre-recorded audio commentary about the city as you drift along the well-lit canals and experience Amsterdam at night!


DISCOUNTS AND DEALS

In this section, we’ll provide details about all the different ways you can save money on Amsterdam cruises, including tourist passes, combo packages, and more.


Tourist Passes

If you’re planning to do more than go on a cruise while visiting Amsterdam, a tourist pass could save you a lot of money on various attractions, museums, tours, and other activities.

Several tourist passes include Amsterdam cruises, including the following:

I Amsterdam Card

  • Blue Boat Company Guided Cruise | Free
  • Lovers Canal Cruises Guided Cruise | Free
  • Stromma NL Guided Cruise | Free

Go City Amsterdam Pass

  • Stromma NL Hop on Hop off Cruise | Free
  • Stromma NL 100 Highlights Cruise | Free

Amsterdam City Pass

  • Lovers Canal Cruise | Free

In addition to these services, you can also use these passes for activities like these:

Depending on which pass you choose and how you use it, you could save anywhere from 20% - 50% off general admission prices.

For more details, please read our post covering Amsterdam tourist passes.


Combo Packages

There are a lot of combo deals (over 30!) available which include an Amsterdam canal cruise and one additional activity or attraction, allowing you to save at least a few euros on each service.

NOTE: Many of these combo packages are unavailable as of Jan 2024, but they might return later!

Lovers Canal Cruise + Van Gogh Museum

  • €34.50/Adults
  • €7.50/Children

Lovers Canal Cruise + Rijksmuseum

  • €35/Adults
  • €7.50/Children

Lovers Canal Cruise + Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

  • €35/Adults
  • €21/Children

Lovers Canal Cruise + Body Worlds

  • €35/Adults
  • €21/Children

Lovers Canal Cruise + Xtracold Icebar

  • €39 per person

Lovers Canal Cruise + Nemo Science Museum

  • €30/Adults
  • €25/Children

Lovers Canal Cruise + Red Light Secrets Museum

  • €27 per person

Lovers Canal Cruise + Moco Museum

  • €26.40 per person
  • Not currently available

Lovers Canal Cruise + Heineken Experience

  • €35.50 per person

Lovers Canal Cruise + Stedelijk Museum

  • €35/Adults
  • €7.50/Children

Lovers Canal Cruise + Anne Frank House

  • €29.50/Adults
  • €20/Children
  • Not currently available

Lovers Canal Cruise + Johan Cruijff Arena Tour

  • €27.50/Adults
  • €18.00/Children
  • Not currently available

Lovers Canal Cruise Amsterdam + Bus Tour

  • €40/Adults
  • €20/Children
  • Not currently available

Blue Boat + Rijksmuseum

  • €35.50/Adults
  • €14.50/Children

Blue Boat + Jewish Cultural Quarter

  • €32 per person

Blue Boat + Van Gogh Museum

  • €35.50/Adults
  • €10.25/Children

Blue Boat + Amsterdam Dungeon

  • €37.80/Adults
  • €20/Children
  • Not currently available

Blue Boat + Heineken Experience

  • €35.50 per person

Blue Boat + Moco Museum

  • €35.50/Adults
  • €16.50/Children

Blue Boat + Madame Tussauds

  • €37.80/Adults
  • €20/Children
  • Not currently available

Blue Boat + Maritime Museum

  • €35.50/Adults
  • €20/Children

Blue Boat + This Is Holland

  • €28/Adults
  • €16/Children
  • Not currently available

Blue Boat + House of Bols

  • €28.68 per person
  • Not currently available

Stromma NL Cruise + Keukenhof Gardens

  • €49/Adults
  • €37/Children
  • Not currently available

Stromma NL Cruise + Rijksmuseum

  • €35.50/Adults
  • €9.25/Children
  • Not currently available

Stromma NL Cruise + This Is Holland

  • €25/Adults
  • €15/Children
  • Not currently available

Stromma NL Pizza Cruise + Heineken Experience

  • €58.50 per person
  • Not currently available

Stromma NL Hop on Hop off Cruise + Madame Tussauds

  • €46/Adults
  • €30/Children
  • Not currently available

Stromma NL Hop on Hop off Cruise + This Is Holland

  • €38/Adults
  • €19/Children
  • Not currently available

Stromma NL Hop on Hop off Cruise + Heineken Experience

  • €41.50 per person
  • Not currently available

Stromma NL Hop on Hop off Cruise + A’DAM Lookout

  • €31/Adults
  • €17.50/Children
  • Not currently available

City Sightseeing Hop on Hop off Cruise + Bus Tour

  • €27.50/Adults
  • €13.75/Children

City Sightseeing Hop on Hop off Cruise + Van Gogh Museum

  • €38.75/Adults
  • €10/Children
  • Not currently available

City Sightseeing Hop on Hop off Cruise + XtraCold Icebar

  • €35.50 per person
  • Not currently available

Classic Canal Cruise + Walking Tour

  • €58 per person
  • Not currently available

Discount Sites

If all else fails, you can always find good deals on sites such as Groupon, which often provide access to some of the best canal cruises.

In addition to the discounts you’ll receive just for using their service, these sites typically offer extra coupon codes you can use to save another 10% - 20% – potentially even more!

Before you make a purchase, check both the top and bottom of the page for any banners which may include additional coupons.


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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers. Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
Updated: January 5th, 2024
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