Amsterdam: Canal Cruise & VR 17th Century Experience

See Amsterdam's Golden Age Without Leaving the Boat

You board a luxury enclosed boat at Leidsekade and cruise Amsterdam's canals for 75 minutes while an audio guide narrates in English or Dutch. At seven stops, you put on a VR headset to see the same locations as they were in the 1620s: the harbor full of merchant ships, the elite neighborhoods, the shipyard, the city wall. You get a drink included and help with the equipment. The whole thing keeps you moving through present-day Amsterdam while showing you its past.

Step-by-step itinerary

Luxury VR canal cruise tour

• Arrive at Leidsekade 101
• Board the luxury canal boat
• Listen to audio guide in English or Dutch
• Enjoy present-day Amsterdam sights
• Put on VR headset at 7 locations
• View 17th century Amsterdam surroundings
• See historic elite residences and trading sites
• Observe harbor, shipyard, and city wall
• Complete the historic VR canal cruise

The experience

The VR headset feels heavier than you'd expect when they hand it to you on the boat, and then you put it on and the canal around you vanishes. You're standing in the same spot, but it's 1620 now. The water is packed with merchant ships, the warehouses are stacked with goods, and the buildings beside you look completely different. That's the thing about this Amsterdam canal cruise: you're moving through the present-day waterways the whole time, but at seven points along the route, the 17th century overlays itself on top of what you're seeing. The audio guide (in Dutch or English, your choice) ties it together, explaining what you're looking at in both centuries as the boat glides past.

The tour runs for 75 minutes total, and the VR segments add up to about 15 minutes spread across those seven stops, so you're not spending the whole time in a headset. You'll see where the merchant elite actually lived, watch an animation of the harbor when it was crammed with trading ships, stand at what used to be a major shipyard where they built warships, and get a view of the old city wall that was five meters high. The boat is enclosed and heated, which matters in Amsterdam weather, and they hand you a drink when you board. The pickup is at Leidsekade 101, right next to Lido Bar & Kitchen, so it's easy to find if you're coming from the city center.

What makes it work is that the VR isn't trying to be a full immersive experience. It's layered on top of the real canal, so you're always aware you're on a boat moving through Amsterdam. The neighborhoods are historically accurate, according to the company, which means you're not just seeing a pretty animation. You're seeing what was actually there. The crew helps you with the headset if you need it, and the whole thing is wheelchair accessible, so mobility isn't a barrier. It's the kind of tour where you get the history without having to walk around a museum or stand in a queue.

What’s included

Your 75-minute cruise includes a one drink, an audio guide in Dutch or English, access to VR headsets at seven stops along the route, and assistance from the crew with the equipment. The boat is enclosed and climate-controlled, and pickup is at Leidsekade 101.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 10:50, the last at 21:20

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 90 years) · Child (8 to 17 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

Live guideEnglish and Dutch

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by VR Voyage

Is this one for you?This works well if you want Amsterdam's history without a walking tour or museum visit. The boat keeps moving, the VR shows you what was actually there 400 years ago, and you're done in 75 minutes with a drink in hand.

Traveler reviews

4.93★★★★★★★★★★

405 verified traveler reviews

5 ★383

4 ★18

3 ★3

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 17 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the whole tour?

75 minutes on the boat, with about 15 minutes of VR spread across seven stops.

Do I have to wear the VR headset the entire time?

No. You wear it at seven specific locations along the route. The rest of the time you're watching the real canal and listening to the audio guide.

Where do I meet the boat?

Leidsekade 101, next to Lido Bar & Kitchen.

Is the boat accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, the boat and all areas are wheelchair accessible.

What's included in the price?

The 75-minute cruise, one drink, the audio guide, VR headset use at seven stops, and assistance with the equipment.

What will I see in the VR animations?

The merchant elite's homes, a major trading location and warehouses, the harbor with hundreds of ships, a shipyard where warships were built, the city wall, and other 17th-century Amsterdam landmarks.