The Netherlands · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

Top 15 Cruises & Boat Tours in the Netherlands

112 tours  ·  from $12 a head

The 15 best cruises & boat tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

Amsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese - Prinsengracht and the Anne Frank House
Cheese & Wine Tastings, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese

1.Amsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31,825 reviews · from $21Our pick

Spend about an hour aboard a classic covered saloon boat, passing the Anne Frank House, Jordaan, Rijksmuseum, Skinny Bridge, and canal belt. Your guide shares local stories while you enjoy Dutch Gouda, mustard, and, with the drink option, unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks. Boats and routes vary by departure point.

“Very nice tour. The crew was very friendly, and the boat was very nice. I would have enjoyed even more history, but still it was a fun experience!”

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Amsterdam Luxury Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks & Bites option - Electric Engines and the Guide’s Voice
Canal Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Party & Booze Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam, VIP

Amsterdam Luxury Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks & Bites option

2.Amsterdam Luxury Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks & Bites option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30,518 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $18

Cruise Amsterdam’s canals for about an hour on a small electric boat, passing the Jordaan, Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Magere Brug, and 15 Bridges. Guides such as Arnoud, Sophia, and Franz have earned praise for lively commentary. Boats vary by departure and weather, so confirm the drinks and bites package before booking.

“This is a fun experience. The crew is friendly and knowledgeable, and quick to fill your wine glass! The dock is easy to find, and the ticketing through Viator is simple and straightforward. I was in Amsterdam for a short visit, and this was a great way to experience some of Amsterdam’s famous canals.”

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Amsterdam: Classic Boat Cruise with Optional Cheese & Wine - From the Anne Frank House to the Jordaan
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Amsterdam: Classic Boat Cruise with Optional Cheese & Wine

3.Classic Boat Cruise with Optional Cheese & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 22,925 reviews · from $18

Spend an hour on a covered, fully electric boat with a local skipper and English-speaking hostess. You’ll pass the Skinny Bridge, Golden Bend, Anne Frank House, Jordaan, Old Harbor, and Red Light District. Choose the basic cruise or add unlimited Dutch cheese, wine, beer, and soft drinks.

“wonderful! we were able to add the wine & cheese after onboard and the guide was great! we all felt at home and entertained! great little boat trip for the $ and we were covered which was great bc it was raining. I would have preferred the better view of an open top but with the rain this boat was perfect.”

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Amsterdam: Evening Cruise with Optional Wine and Snacks - Starting near the Rijksmuseum and Museumplein
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dinner & Pancake Cruises, Evening Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam: Evening Cruise with Optional Wine and Snacks

4.Evening Cruise with Optional Wine and Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 19,696 reviews · from $22

Cruise Amsterdam’s UNESCO canals for 90 minutes with an audio guide in 19 languages. You’ll pass canal houses, Westerkerk, Centraal Station, the EYE Film Institute, Magere Brug, and the Rijksmuseum. Add a snack box with chips, popcorn, stroopwafels, peanuts, and a drink, or simply enjoy the warm covered boat and city lights.

“Learning about the canal systems of Amsterdam and seeing all the sights”

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Amsterdam: 75 Minute City Canal Cruise with Audio Guide - Getting to the Stadhouderskade departure docks
Audio Tours, Canal Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Guided, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam: 75 Minute City Canal Cruise with Audio Guide

5.75 Minute City Canal Cruise with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 17,501 reviews · from $17Best value

See Amsterdam from its historic waterways on a 75-minute Blue Boat Company cruise. You’ll pass the Anne Frank House area, Westerkerk, the Amstel, Magere Brug, NEMO, and the Museum Quarter while listening to commentary in 19 languages. Add a snackbox, or choose the kids’ option with a Fresh Water Pirate story and booklet.

“everything is great! the captain told me how to use the audio guides, and also gave additional comments on the buildings around us. at the end he congratulated my mother on her birthday. thanks for the reception and the quality of work”

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Amsterdam All-Inclusive 90-Minutes Heated Cruise by Captain Jack - The Amstel and the city’s eastern sights
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam All-Inclusive 90-Minutes Heated Cruise by Captain Jack

6.Amsterdam All-Inclusive 90-Minutes Heated Cruise by Captain Jack

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16,101 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Cruise Amsterdam’s canals for 90 minutes from near the Rijksmuseum or Central Station. Your captain guides you past the Jordaan, Anne Frank House, canal ring, Amstel, and Red Light District while you enjoy unlimited Heineken, wine, and Dutch snacks. Boats are small, open or partly enclosed, and narration is in English.

“Left late because of a light festival but made up the time so nothing was lost. Captain was good to listen to and the boat itself is pretty nice.”

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Amsterdam: Open Boat Cruise option Unlimited Drinks & Bite - Skinny Bridge, Hermitage Museum, and the Amstel Hotel
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Amsterdam: Open Boat Cruise option Unlimited Drinks & Bite

7.Open Boat Cruise option Unlimited Drinks & Bite

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 15,046 reviews · from $22

See Amsterdam from its canals on a 1 to 1.5-hour electric boat cruise led in English by a local skipper and host. Pass the Skinny Bridge, Hermitage Museum, Amstel Hotel, Anne Frank House, and Maritime Museum. Choose unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, and a small snack, with open or covered boats depending on weather.

“We were incredibly pleased with our experience. The boat was beautifully decorated and comfortable, with the option of onboard drinks, the tour was relaxing, beautiful and fascinating, the guides were incredibly friendly and their vibe added to the whole experience. Well worth every penny and would 100% recommend and do it again.”

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Amsterdam: City Centre Canal Cruise - Leaving from Central Station
Canal Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam: City Centre Canal Cruise

8.City Centre Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 12,827 reviews · from $18

Start near Amsterdam Central Station for a one-hour cruise through the UNESCO-listed canal district. You’ll see merchant houses, gables, churches, houseboats, and the Magere Brug, with audio commentary in 19 languages. Captains such as Simon and Mo may add their own humor and local observations. Evening departures are available.

“Lovely tour at night and funny captain! You don’t get to see so much of Amsterdam unless you book a tour like this. Food and drink available to purchase at the cafe beforehand.”

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Amsterdam: Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise - From Central Station into Amsterdam’s canal belt
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam: Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise

9.Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 8,572 reviews · 1 hour - 70 minutes · from $27

Start near Central Station and cruise Amsterdam’s central canals, the Seven Bridges, Amstel River, Skinny Bridge, and Dancing Houses. This relaxed 420-friendly boat carries up to 22 people, with music, heated seats, and English or Dutch guides such as Radi, Emma, Boris, and Stef appearing on different departures. Bring your own cannabis and add drinks on board.

“Excellent trip! Very relaxed and our guide (began with an M sorry didn’t catch the name properly) was amazing.”

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Rotterdam: Harbor Sightseeing Cruise - From Willemsplein into the working docks
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off & Sightseeing Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Rotterdam

Rotterdam: Harbor Sightseeing Cruise

10.Harbor Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 7,599 reviews · 1h 15m · from $22

Cruise from Willemsplein through Rotterdam’s working harbor for 75 minutes, passing shipyards, docks, container operations, the city skyline, and SS Rotterdam. A clear audio guide is available in Dutch, English, French, and German. The boat has indoor and outdoor seating, a bar with snacks and drinks, and wheelchair access.

“Really interesting tour of Rotterdam harbour that you wouldn’t normally get to see - our toddler loved it!”

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Amsterdam: Luxury Saloon Boat Cruise with Cocktails & Waffle - From the Red Light District to the Old Church
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam, VIP

Amsterdam: Luxury Saloon Boat Cruise with Cocktails & Waffle

11.Luxury Saloon Boat Cruise with Cocktails & Waffle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,935 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $21

Set out from the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky dock for a one-hour open boat cruise through Amsterdam. A captain and host explain the canals, bridges, buildings, and city life in English. Drinks are bought onboard, blankets are provided, and boats run through the day and evening for groups of up to 24.

“Sigrid and Kyan were wonderful bartender and guides! We thoroughly enjoyed the last ride at night with them…. We would highly recommend them!”

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Amsterdam: Covered Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks - The Red Light District and Amsterdam Central
Cruises & Boat Tours, Party & Booze Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam: Covered Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks

12.Covered Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 5,435 reviews · 1 hour · from $18

Join a small covered boat for a one-hour cruise from central Amsterdam. Hosts such as Diana, Edward, Sabrina, and Yannis mix canal views with local stories, while the open-bar option provides unlimited beer, wine, and soda. The route passes the Red Light District, Amstel River, Seven Bridges, Herengracht, and Prinsengracht.

“Our cruise was so much fun! The guides were awesome! This is the perfect activity to learn a lot about Amsterdam and have fun with your friends!”

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Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience Ticket - Getting the timing right at Stadhouderskade
Canal Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience Ticket

13.City Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,367 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

Start with a timed visit to the Heineken Experience at Stadhouderskade 78, then take an open-ticket Blue Boat cruise from one of two nearby docks. Explore Heineken’s brewing story, enjoy two drinks, and see Amsterdam’s canals, bridges, museums, and modern waterfront through multilingual audio commentary. The Heineken visit is for ages 18 and older.

“I loved having chosen this plan, The Heineken Experience is spectacular, in front of the building are the boats that you can take, the boat ride is very nice. I am very satisfied with having chosen this and would recommend it 100%.”

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Amsterdam Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option - The boat: quiet, open, and close to the water
Canal Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Party & Booze Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option

14.Amsterdam Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,976 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $21

Cruise Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed canals for about an hour in a sleek electric boat, often with a local captain such as Luuc, Matt, Jaro, or Detrik. Expect views of Westerkerk, Jordaan, the Hermitage Museum, bridges, and canal houses. Choose the unlimited-drinks option, but confirm how self-service drinks work before departure.

“Great location and easy to find. Wonderful staff which made for a great ride on the canals. Despite the time of year we had wonderful weather which made it even better”

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Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Ticket and City Canal Cruise - How much time to allow for the paintings
Canal Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Museums, Museums in Amsterdam, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum Tickets

Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Ticket and City Canal Cruise

15.Van Gogh Museum Ticket and City Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,899 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

Visit the Van Gogh Museum at your chosen time, then take a flexible 75-minute cruise past Amsterdam’s merchant houses, bridges, and modern waterfront. The museum audio guide costs extra, while the boat supplies earphones and commentary in 21 languages. Cruise departures run daily from docks near the Hard Rock Café and Heineken Experience.

“Museum was well curated and spacious. only frustration was people taking numerous photos in front of paintings. An announcement and/ or gentle persuasion by staff m8ght be considered as to mo ing on . Lack of toilets given numbers . cafe was very clean and gave choices. shops also”

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New in Cruises & Boat Tours

★ 4.7Open Boat City Canal CruiseFrom $27250 reviews
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★ 4.5Self-Guided Electric Boat Rental60 reviews
★ 4.8Electric Boat Rental168 reviews
★ 4.4Open Boat City Canal CruiseFrom $21156 reviews
★ 4.7Self-Drive Private Electric Boat Rental59 reviews
★ 4.3Historical Canal CruiseFrom $18158 reviews
★ 5.0Cruise Amsterdam like a Local — Small Group 12 paxFrom $55373 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam Small-Group Canal Cruise With Dutch Snacks and DrinkFrom $89334 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam 2-hour Private Canal Cruise with Live Guide and DrinksFrom $151296 reviews
★ 4.4River Cruise with All-You-Can-Eat Dutch PancakesFrom $32341 reviews
★ 4.4Boat Tour with Optional Unlimited DrinksFrom $23287 reviews
★ 4.7Guided Highlights Canal Cruise on Open BoatFrom $20363 reviews
★ 4.1Terrace Boat Experience with a Cozy BarFrom $18307 reviews
★ 4.7The Original Flower Boat with Local Guide and BarFrom $22342 reviews

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