Amsterdam: Small Group Canal Cruise with Dutch Bites & Local Captain
Two Hours on the Water with Ten People and a Captain Who Knows Every Bridge
You get a two-hour Amsterdam canal cruise with a local captain steering a historic electric boat through the UNESCO canal belt, the Amstel River, and neighborhoods where large tour boats can't reach. The group stays under ten, so you're not competing for space or the captain's attention. Dutch snacks, cheese, and a full bar (Jenever, Cava, wine, gin) are included. The boat has both open and heated indoor seating, a restroom, and runs year-round except during official weather alerts.
Step-by-step itinerary
Intimate 2-hour Amsterdam canal cruise
- Board 100-year-old electric boat
- Sail through UNESCO canal belt
- Pass Westerkerk church
- See Jordaan neighborhood
- View longest Amsterdam canal
- Pass Anne Frank House
- Travel along Amstel River
- Cross Magere Brug bridge
- Pass Waterlooplein Market
- See Amsterdam's oldest area
- Pass NEMO Science Museum
- View National Maritime Museum
- Pass ARTIS Zoo
- See Homomonument
- Stop for traditional Dutch snacks
- Enjoy cheese platter and Dutch cookies
- Drink local spirits and cocktails
- Return to Emperor's Canal start point
What’s included
Your cruise includes hotel pickup arrangements via public transportation nearby, a two-hour sail through Amsterdam's canal belt and Amstel River, Dutch fried snacks picked up mid-tour, a cheese platter and Dutch cookies on board, a full selection of drinks (Jenever, Cava, Prosecco, gin and tonic, wine, Heineken, water, and soft drinks), access to both the open deck and heated indoor cabin, a restroom on board, and live narration from your local captain. The boat operates year-round and only cancels during official weather alerts.
Times
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 13:00 14:00 16:00 19:00
- Thursday 14:00 16:00 19:00
- Friday 13:00 14:00 16:00
Last departure this season: 31 Jan 2027
Another time? ›Before you book
Operated by Sebi Boat Tours
Prices and times updated yesterday
Need assistance?Message us on WhatsApp or by emailTraveler reviews
The experience
The boat fills up to exactly ten, no more, and that's the whole point. You're standing on the deck of Giuliana, a 100-year-old electric vessel with both an open and heated indoor area, watching the captain untie from the Emperor's Canal. He's not reading from a script. He's lived here, and he talks like it. The UNESCO canal belt slides past: Westerkerk rising above the rooflines, the Jordaan's narrow streets branching off into neighborhoods where tourists mostly don't wander. You pass the Anne Frank House on the water side, the Magere Brug's white frame catching the light, the red light district's windows and their quiet geometry. The Amstel River opens up wider, and then you're moving through the maritime quarter where the big tour boats can't fit.
Halfway through, the captain pulls up to grab traditional Dutch fried snacks: the kind that taste better when you're on the water. Back on board, there's a cheese platter and Dutch cookies waiting. The drinks aren't an afterthought: Jenever (the local spirit, nothing like gin), Cava, Prosecco, a proper G&T, wine in three colors, Heineken. You're two hours in, and nobody's rushed you or herded you toward the gift shop. The boat has a toilet, the inside cabin is heated if the weather turns, and the captain's still talking: real stories, not the rehearsed kind you hear on the big boats that hold a hundred.
This works year-round. They only cancel when there's an official weather alarm, which means most days you're going out. The small group means you can actually hear each other, ask questions, move around without bumping shoulders. It's the opposite of the standard canal cruise: no crowds, no scripts, no feeling like you're part of a factory line. Just a boat, a captain, the water, and nine other people who also decided that's enough.
Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to skip the crowded big-boat cruises and actually hear their guide. The small group size is what makes conversation and real stories possible instead of just sightseeing in a queue.
Compare the 12 alternatives
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years); Infant (under 3): free.
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.
What's included in the drinks?
Jenever (local Dutch spirit), Cava, Prosecco, gin and tonic, red/white/rosé wine, Heineken beer, bottled water, and soft drinks. Dutch snacks, cheese, and cookies are also on board.
How many people are on the boat?
Maximum 10 guests. That's the limit, no exceptions.
Does the boat run in winter?
Yes, year-round. The inside cabin is heated. They only cancel if there's an official weather alarm.
Is there a toilet on board?
Yes, there's a restroom on the boat.
What's the boat like?
Giuliana is a 100-year-old electric vessel with both an open outside area and a heated indoor cabin. It's designed for comfort in any season.
Who narrates the tour?
Your local Amsterdam captain. It's live narration, not a recording.
What neighborhoods and landmarks do you see?
The UNESCO canal belt, Jordaan, Westerkerk, Anne Frank House, Amstel River, Magere Brug, the red light district, maritime area, and places where large tour boats cannot go.
How long is the cruise?
Two hours.
Is this suitable for people with mobility issues?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, and a restroom on board.
Are service animals allowed?
Yes, service animals are allowed.
Amsterdam: Small Group Canal Cruise with Dutch Bites & Local Captain
2h · EN
from € 56.95 per person
≈ US$ 65 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.