10 Best Amsterdam Canal Cruises (2026 Ranked & Tested)

🏆 Best Amsterdam Canal Cruise Overall With Unlimited Food and Drinks (Captain Jack)

5.0

+20410 reviews

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Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

💡 Tip: All cruises have a generous cancellation policy, allowing a full refund if canceled 24 hours before the activity. Additionally, they offer a reserve now, pay later flexible payment scheme.

This is a 90-minute canal cruise that starts from either the Rijksmuseum or Central Station and takes a leisurely paced lap counterclockwise of Amsterdam’s canals, making it perfect for sightseeing.

Our skipper, an older gentleman, added to the experience with his entertaining and informative commentary, making the trip even more memorable.

For those who want to indulge in all the iconic Dutch nibbles, this cruise is perfect as it offers unlimited food and drinks with the greatest variety out of all the cruises available.

The boats have a 20-person capacity, so it won’t feel crowded. The seats are comfortably padded with pillows, and the boats are insulated in the winter but not heated. The boat loses its cover and becomes open-air in the summer.

In summary, this is the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Amsterdam. It is a relaxing and enjoyable canal cruise with unlimited food and drinks, where you can sit back, relax, and take in the beauty of the city.

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🎥 Video: Watch this short video I made of the highlights of Captain Jack's Amsterdam canal cruise.

Summer Cruise Photos (New!)

Here are some photos showing what to expect during the summer on a Captain Jack cruise (unlike my original winter photos).

Detailed Breakdown

❓ Should I book canal cruise tickets in advance? Is it worth it?
💡 Yes — It's worth reserving your ticket in advance to ensure your place on the ship, although you can purchase tickets in person.

You’re in for an amazing treat with this 60-minute canal cruise starting from Central Station, which comes with a built-in audio guide available in 12 different languages.

Our skipper was an absolute gem, a true people person who kept us entertained with jokes, interesting commentary, and pointed out key landmarks throughout the entire cruise. He was fully invested in delivering an incredible experience.

The boats are quite long and can accommodate up to 60 passengers. There are 4 and 6-person tables, making it possible for larger groups to sit together. The audio guide was of excellent quality, both in terms of content and sound, although there might be some issues with the earbuds connection.

Disposable earbuds were provided, which was a pleasant surprise as it allowed passengers to enjoy the audio in different languages.

However, considering the Dutch are known for being environmentally conscious, I was not expecting disposable earbuds. Perhaps they could consider installing permanent headphones, like this cruise company in Budapest, to reduce their environmental impact.

The boats are covered, insulated, and heated during winter and stay covered in the summer, but the windows can be opened to let the breeze in. It is actually quite nice to be protected from the sun, in my opinion. There is also a few square meters of open-air area at the back of the boat.

In summary, this is another relaxing and enjoyable canal cruise for exploring the city’s sights and learning about its history.

🎥 Video: Watch this short video I made of the highlights of Lover's Canal's Amsterdam canal cruise.

Detailed Breakdown

💡❓ Is it possible to reserve seats on Amsterdam canal cruises? Seats on virtually all canal cruises are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note: During my canal cruise, unfortunately, it was dark, freezing, and raining, which overshadowed my experience a little bit (visibility was low, so I couldn't see much and I was cold). I would definitely recommend going during the day instead of at night and hoping for good weather.

This is a 60-minute canal cruise that starts from either the Rijksmuseum, Anna Frank House, or Central Station.

The actual length of the cruise was more like 45 minutes whenI went, and it felt rushed. To be honest, I was so cold I didn’t mind.

Our skipper, a fine young lad who had strong energy and was in good spirits, added to the experience with his entertaining and informative commentary in English, making the trip even more memorable. There was also a friendly lady serving customers food and drinks.

During the cruise, you have the option to enjoy unlimited consumption of two types of Gouda cheese and wine. It’s great if you just want some chow and have drinks with your friends, but if you want to try the bigger palate of iconic Dutch nibbles, I’d go with Captain Jack.

The boats have a 30-35-person capacity. The seats are comfortably padded with pillows; however, the boats weren’t insulated well in the winter, nor were they heated, and I was cold. The rain also leaked in several places.

The boat loses its cover and becomes open-air in the summer. In fact, the boats may change slightly in size and features, so take a look at the listing for what boat you can expect exactly.

In summary, Flagship offers a great canal cruise experience for sightseeing. Personally, I’d book the basic ticket without the food and drinks unless you’re a cheese addict. I recommend going in the summer season during the day to eliminate the risk of dark, cold, or rain ruining your experience.

🎥 Video: Watch this short video I made of the highlights of Flagship's Amsterdam canal cruise.

Detailed Breakdown

💡 Tip: If you like sightseeing, go during the day rather than at night. Otherwise, if you just want something to eat, drink, and hang out with friends, go during the night.

Blue Boat is similar to Lover’s Canal —  they have large 55-person capacity boats with a built-in audio guide in 19 languages that can be listened to via free earbuds which they provide.

What I found to be a bit of a letdown, is that our skipper doesn’t interact with the passengers at all. The skipper didn’t make any comments or point out what the audio guide was talking about, and they didn’t even introduce themselves. In my experience, canal cruises with friendly, talkative skippers are much more enjoyable.

The same environmental problem with disposable earbuds applies to Blueboat as to Lover’s Canal.

Blue Boat vessels are excellent. They are covered, well-insulated, heated, spacious, and equipped with 4-person tables. No surprises from bad weather here!

The boats are kept covered during the summer, but the windows can be opened to allow fresh air in. I personally find it pleasant to be shielded from the Sun. There is also a few square meters of open-air area at the back of the boat.

The audio guides are interesting and high quality, but it would be better if the narrations were more frequent, longer, and identified the points of interest. Even a simple “to your left/right you can see…” would suffice.

In summary, Blue boat cruises are as good as any for exploring the city’s sights and learning about its history, but I find the lack of skipper interaction with the guests to be a negative.

🎥 Video: Watch this short video I made of the highlights of Blueboat's Amsterdam canal cruise.

Detailed Breakdown

Friendship offers a 60-minute canal cruise that can also be a great option if you like the smaller, intimate, skipper storytelling cruise experience. This cruise is similar to Flagship or Captain Jack’s.

Our skipper was a middle-aged gentleman who added to the experience with his informative commentary, calm storytelling style, plus a lot of back-and-forth conversations. We also had a young gentleman who was our server.

Their boats can accommodate up to 24 passengers. Unfortunately, it was inadequately covered, so the water leaked in several places.

The front and back of the ship were left uncovered, and the cold air flowed in. Because of this, I was freezing and shivering during the cruise.

Thankfully, they had blankets, which helped keep us warm somewhat. But they should definitely cover the entire boat; otherwise, guests will start falling like flies due to hypothermia (joking!).

Otherwise, everything was great. The boat is equipped with comfortable, padded seats and pillows. During summer, the boat’s cover is removed to provide an open-air experience. Optional drinks and snacks are also available during the cruise.

In summary, excluding the bad winter preparation, Friendship Cruises is comparable to its competitors in the same category, but make sure to go during the summer.

🎥 Video: Watch this short video I made of the highlights of Friendship's Amsterdam canal cruise.

Detailed Breakdown

On the Amsterdam Canal Cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival, you’ll experience a unique view of the city’s vibrant canals, lit up with 20 stunning light installations.

The boat is fully electric, providing a comfortable ride, protected from the elements, and wrapped in warm blankets.

As you cruise through the canals, you’ll pass by glowing art pieces and hear interesting stories about the history of Amsterdam and the festival.

The onboard bar offers unlimited drinks, including glühwein, hot chocolate, beer, wine, and soda.

The theme of this year’s festival, Rituals, highlights how light plays a central role in bringing people together, symbolizing energy and joy. It’s a relaxed and magical way to take in Amsterdam’s beauty during the winter months.

• 🗺️ Meeting point: Amstel 178, 1017 AE Amsterdam, Nederland

For a true Amsterdam experience, skip the typical bar scene and hop on a boozy canal cruise.

With a small group of just 26 people, this intimate Amsterdam canal cruise lets you explore the city’s famous waterways while enjoying unlimited drinks from the open bar.

Starting in the city center, you’ll cruise through some of Amsterdam’s main canals and onto the Amstel River. Pass under the iconic 7 bridges and discover hidden spots that only a local skipper knows about.

After the cruise, you’ll return to the city center, the perfect spot to continue enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Amsterdam.

• 🗺️ Meeting point: Amstel 178, 1017 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 🗺️ Meeting point: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 230, 1012 GK Amsterdam, Nederland

For a truly relaxing experience, hop on one of Amsterdam’s most smoke-friendly lounge boat tours. Enjoy your favorite drink, light up, or try a hookah/shisha onboard (available for an extra cost).

Starting at Central Station, you’ll cruise through some of Amsterdam’s most iconic spots, including the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, the Seven Bridges, the Amstel River, Skinny Bridge, and the Dancing Houses.

The boat accommodates up to 22 people, and no matter the weather, the setup ensures a comfortable experience. In summer, all windows open for full views of the city’s landmarks. In winter, the boat has heated seats and closed windows to keep you cozy.

• 🗺️ Meeting point: Prins Hendrikkade 33A, 1012 TM Amsterdam, Netherlands

Hop on the Amsterdam Pizza Cruise for a 30-minute scenic ride, then dock briefly to enjoy a fresh, homemade pizza served straight from the chef’s kitchen. Along with your pizza, you’ll get a delicious homemade brownie slice and drinks.

When booking, you can choose one pizza per booking, but if you want different types, like Pepperoni or Hawaii, it’s best to make separate bookings under the same name to ensure you sit together.

Pizza options include classic Margherita, spicy Pepperoni, sweet Hawaii and tangy Chilli Chicken. They also offer menus for vegetarians, such as Californian Veggie or a Vegan Margherita.

Aside from that, there’s also a smaller Margherita pizza for kids. It’s a great way to enjoy the sights of Amsterdam while indulging in a tasty meal!

• 🗺️ Meeting point: Prins Hendrikkade 25, 1012 TM Amsterdam, Nederland

For the ultimate Amsterdam experience, there’s nothing like dining while cruising through the canals. Departing from Centraal Station, this Canal Cruise offers a 4-course dinner served as you glide past iconic landmarks like the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) and Anne Frank House.

As the boat moves through the city’s famous canal belt, you’ll enjoy a freshly made meal with a selection of wines and soft drinks. Commentary in multiple languages explains the highlights, giving you insight into Amsterdam’s rich history.

Choose from three menu options: Meat, Fish, or Vegetarian. Each meal starts with green pea soup with grilled asparagus and ends with homemade tiramisu made with Dutch Stroopwafels.

The Meat menu features beef tartare and a beef casserole, the Fish menu includes house-smoked salmon and baked cod, and the Vegetarian menu offers brioche with scrambled egg and a roasted vegetable lasagna.

Note: Only one menu can be selected per booking. For different options, it’s best to make separate bookings under the same name to ensure you sit together.

• 🗺️ Meeting point: Prins Hendrikkade 25, 1012 TM Amsterdam, Netherlands