You can spend a day on Amsterdam's water without owning a boat or knowing anyone who does. A shared cruise sells you a seat, a skippered charter gives your group a whole boat with someone else at the wheel, and a self-drive rental puts you in charge with no licence needed.
This is the guide for the person who is not the captain: the guest, the friend who got invited, the visitor with one free afternoon. For the captain's side, start with how to rent a boat in Amsterdam.
Three ways on, pick by how much you want to be in charge
1. A shared cruise: you bring nothing. You book a seat, step aboard with other passengers, and a skipper does the rest. It is the cheapest way afloat and the right one for a first look at the canal ring. Flagship Amsterdam runs cruises you can join seat by seat. Current prices are in our rental cost breakdown, since they move with the season.
2. A skippered charter: your group, someone else steering. You hire a private boat with a captain, so the route is up to the group and the skipper rather than a fixed loop. This is the one for a birthday, visiting family, or anyone who wants a drink in hand. Several companies in our rentals directory work this way, from classic saloon boats to electric open boats.
3. A self-drive rental: you are the captain for two hours. Small electric boats, handed over after a short briefing, no licence. It is the most fun and the most responsibility. If one person in your group is happy to steer, this is the cheapest per head for a group of six. See how many people fit before you book.
The honest rule of thumb: alone or two of you, take a shared cruise. A group that wants the day to itself, take a charter. A group with one keen driver, go self-drive.
If someone else is steering, suggest the stops
A passenger's real power is the suggestion. Whoever is driving is watching the water, the wash and the bridges, so they will thank you for a plan. Three stops worth putting in front of them:
- A swim. Amsterdam has monitored bathing water, and the official status is on our map. Check the day's result before anyone goes in, using our swim guide. The Nieuwe Meer is the classic, though on a self-drive boat it is usually outside the sailing area, so it is one for a skippered charter.
- A drink at the waterline. Pllek at NDSM is a place to land and sit. Filter the map to eat and drink to see who has their own dock.
- A toilet before you need one. Boats do not have the facilities a ferry does, and the quayside options are few. Filter to toilets and plan one stop in the middle of the afternoon.
If you would rather have the stops chosen for you, the pub crawl by boat and the golden hour route down the IJ are laid out as routes you can hand to a skipper.
Before you go
- Tell the company your group size and ages. Small children still count towards the limit, and some companies ask for extra life jackets.
- Ask what the route is. A shared cruise follows a loop. A charter is open. A self-drive stays inside the company's area.
- Ask about the weather. Rain on the water is gentler than it sounds, but wind is not, so ask what happens if the day is cancelled.
- Book the sunny Saturday early. It is the first slot to go.
Compare Amsterdam's rental companies by type, or open the map to see the stops before you choose the boat.
A note on rules
Prices, routes and conditions are each company's own and can change. Confirm what is included when you book, and follow the crew's safety briefing on the day. Signage on the water always wins over any map, ours included. Floating Today lists companies and spots as suggestions, not bookings we take on your behalf. See our Terms.
