Amsterdam Food Tour & Private Canal Cruise: 6-7 Tastings

Taste Gouda, herring and centuries-old apple pie, then drift through Amsterdam's canals on a boat that's yours alone.

A combined food walking tour and private canal cruise in Amsterdam, starting in the Jordaan neighborhood where you taste 6-7 Dutch delicacies at local artisan stops, then board a private luxury boat for a one-hour cruise through the city's historic canals with Bitterballen and a jenever tasting on board. The walking portion runs through hidden spots (a cheese maker, a 400-year-old brown café, a traditional fishmonger), while the boat is reserved for your group only, maximum 11 guests. The tour lasts 3.5 hours total and includes an English-speaking guide, all tastings, and four drinks across both portions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Food tour and private canal cruise

• Start walking tour in Jordaan neighborhood
• Enjoy legendary apple pie with coffee or tea
• Taste herring and kibbeling at fishmonger
• Savor four organic Goudas in historic café
• Walk along beautiful canal and admire architecture
• See De Gangen Willemstraat alleys and learn history
• Taste homemade Moroccan Briwat or chicken Roti Roll
• Enjoy freshly made poffertjes mini pancakes
• View exterior of Anne Frank House and learn context
• Board private luxury boat for one-hour canal cruise
• Enjoy Bitterballen tasting with Jenever and drink

The experience

The day starts in Jordaan, a neighborhood shaped by workers and artists, where your guide leads you through its canals and lanes to meet the people behind the food. You'll taste four organic Goudas in a cozy brown café, sample herring and kibbeling at a traditional fishmonger, and stop at a 400-year-old café for the apple pie that's been drawing locals and visitors for generations. The recipe is a family secret that even Bill Clinton has tried. Along the way, you'll pass Brouwersgracht, one of Amsterdam's most beautiful canals, where your guide shares stories of the city's Golden Age and how it shaped Dutch cuisine.

Between the walking stops, you'll taste poffertjes (fluffy mini pancakes with butter and powdered sugar), a Briwat from Morocco made by a chef in a catering shop where women share their culinary heritage, and a drink the locals swear by at a jenever bar that's been pouring since before your grandparents were born. The guide points out the exterior of the Anne Frank House and explains Amsterdam during WWII and its impact on the city's culture. You'll also walk through De Gangen Willemstraat, the narrow alleys that were once the city's poorest neighborhood.

After the walking tour, your group boards a private luxury saloon boat, not a shared tourist vessel, for a full hour cruising the Prinsengracht, the Amstel, and the Herengracht. On board, you'll taste Bitterballen and have a jenever drink, plus your choice of beer, wine, or soda. The boat holds a maximum of 11 guests, so it stays intimate. Arrive 15 minutes early. The boat departs on schedule and cannot wait for latecomers.

What’s included

• Your English-speaking guide leads the walking portion and shares stories of the neighborhood and the city's history.
• 6-7 tastings of Dutch delicacies including Gouda, herring, apple pie, Moroccan pastry, and poffertjes.
• four drinks across the tour: coffee or tea with your first stop, a jenever drink at the bar, and Bitterballen with jenever plus beer, wine, or soda on the private boat.
• a full hour on a private luxury saloon boat cruising the Prinsengracht, Amstel, and Herengracht with your group only (max 11 guests).
• 'Food & the City' insider tips about the neighborhoods and the artisans you meet.

Options for this experience

2 options

Food tour for small groups (maximum 11 people)Guide in English · 11:30, 14:00, 16:30 and 17:30Lasts 3 hours 30 minutes

Upgrade to a private food tourGuide in English · 10:00, 13:30 and 16:30Offers a more personal, intimate food experience, enjoyed only with your own group. Lasts 3 hours 30 minutes.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 17:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Eating Europe Food Tours Amsterdam

Is this one for you?Choose the small-group option if you want to meet other travelers and keep the cost lower. Upgrade to a fully private tour if your group wants the boat and all the stops to yourselves. Either way, the fixed itinerary and included tastings mean you're not deciding where to eat or what to order. The guide handles the route and the stops, so the afternoon stays on track without anyone building it.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What food do I actually taste on this tour?

The tour includes 6-7 tastings: four organic Goudas at a brown café, herring and kibbeling at a fishmonger, apple pie at a 400-year-old café with coffee or tea, a Briwat (Moroccan pastry) or Roti Roll with chicken, poffertjes (mini pancakes), and a drink at a jenever bar. The exact selection varies by day or season, but you'll sample a mix of street-food classics and local specialties.

Is the canal cruise really private, or am I sharing the boat with other groups?

The canal cruise is private to your group only. You're on a luxury saloon boat with a maximum of 11 guests, no other parties. The one-hour cruise traces the Prinsengracht, the Amstel, and the Herengracht while you enjoy Bitterballen and a jenever drink on board, plus your choice of beer, wine, or soda.

How long does the whole experience take?

The tour runs 3.5 hours total: the walking portion through Jordaan with food stops, then the one-hour private canal cruise. You'll need to arrive 15 minutes early so the boat can depart on time.

Can I do this tour if I have dietary restrictions?

Yes, email the operator or add a note at booking to request vegetarian, gluten-free, or other dietary accommodations, and they'll do their best to arrange them. The tour is not suitable for guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies to ingredients featured on the tour.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

All 6-7 food tastings, four drinks (including jenever and Bitterballen on the boat), the English-speaking guide, and the private canal cruise are included. Gratuities for the guide and any extra drinks beyond the four included are optional at checkout. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Do I need to be fit or have any special ability to join?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Children under 4 years old can join free but food is not included. Paid tickets with food are available for ages 4 and up. A minimum of 4 guests is required for the tour to run.