Amsterdam Canal Cheese Cruise with Drinks & Local Guide

Summary

Cheese boards drifting by candlelight as canal houses glow

You’ll float through Amsterdam’s canals with local hosts pouring unlimited drinks and serving four kinds of Dutch cheese. Expect stories about bridges and canal houses, soft candlelight on old water, and moments when the city feels like it’s letting you in for real.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the smell — not the cheese (that came later), but this cool, slightly damp scent off the Amstel River as we stepped onto the little Dutch boat near Rokin. I kept thinking how the water here always seems to carry stories. Our skipper, who introduced himself as Bram with a grin, handed us a glass of white wine before we even sat down. The city felt different from the water — softer somehow, even though people were still bustling along Damrak just a few meters away.

I’ll admit: I thought “cheese tasting canal cruise” sounded like something my parents would drag me to. But there’s something about passing under Magere Brug at dusk that makes you forget about being cool. The bridge lights flicked on one by one and everyone on board got quiet for a second — except Bram, who started telling us about how the bridge used to be so skinny two sisters could barely pass each other. He pointed out Herengracht’s old merchant houses while our hostess brought over a wooden board loaded with slices of jong belegen and this cumin cheese that tasted kind of nutty and warm. I tried to pronounce “Oude Kaas” right and she laughed (I probably butchered it). The mustard-dill one was weirdly addictive.

We drifted past Waterlooplein Market and I caught a whiff of something sweet — maybe stroopwafels from somewhere nearby? Or maybe it was just my brain mixing up memories. The NEMO Science Museum looked almost unreal in the evening light, its copper hull glowing greenish above the waterline. There was a moment where nobody said anything; just glasses clinking softly and some distant bike bell echoing across Prinsengracht. I still think about that view sometimes.

By the time we looped back toward Damrak, I felt oddly at home — or at least like Amsterdam had let me in for an hour or so. It’s not fancy or formal (thank god), just good cheese, easy wine, and locals who seem happy to share their city if you’re willing to listen for a bit longer than usual.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cheese tasting canal cruise in Amsterdam

• Board cozy Dutch Sloep boat
• Set sail through Amsterdam canals
• Enjoy traditional cheese tasting
• Savor four Dutch cheeses
• Pass by Red Light District
• View Old Church architecture
• See Sea Palace Restaurant
• Pass NEMO Science Museum
• View Waterlooplein Market
• Pass Stopera cultural complex
• See Dancing Houses at Damrak
• Glide along Herengracht canal
• Pass Sevenbridges in Jordaan
• View Prinsengracht canal
• Pass Amstel River
• See Magere Brug bridge
• Pass Rokin street

Top questions

Is unlimited beer and wine included on this Amsterdam canal cruise?

Yes, if you select the all-inclusive drinks option at booking.

What types of cheese are served during the tasting?

You get four Dutch cheeses: jong belegen (young), cumin cheese, oude kaas (aged), and mustard-dill cheese.

Does the cruise include a live guide or host?

Yes, there is both a local host/hostess serving guests and a professional skipper guiding the boat.

Where does the canal cruise start in Amsterdam?

The departure point is near Rokin in central Amsterdam.

Are vegan options available for the cheese tasting?

No, vegan options are not offered on this tour.

Which landmarks will we see during this canal cruise?

You’ll pass sites like Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), Amstel River, Herengracht, Damrak, Waterlooplein Market, NEMO Science Museum, Old Church, and more.

Is this Amsterdam cheese tasting suitable for families?

Yes, families are welcome; infants must sit on an adult’s lap though.

How long does this Amsterdam cheese cruise last?

The exact duration isn’t specified but most similar cruises last around 1–1.5 hours.

What’s included

Your evening includes unlimited beer, wine or soft drinks if you choose that option when booking; four types of Dutch cheeses served by your host; commentary from both your skipper and hostess; plus all cruising fees — so you can just relax as you float through Amsterdam’s canals without worrying about anything else.