A private boat rental on the Amsterdam canals is an awesome experience. For sure it’s the best way to explore and appreciate our beautiful city. The atmosphere on the canals is very laid-back.

So take your friends or family out for a boat hire. Bring some food and drinks on board and enjoy some of the most relaxed hours you will spend in Amsterdam!

A boat rental is actually very easy. You don’t need any license or experience to rent a small boat on the Amsterdam canals. Of course we will give you a proper personal instruction before departure.

Do you like large crowds and sitting right next to people you don’t know? Then you should definitely book a standard canal tour on a large tourist boat. Otherwise, go for a private boat rental.

Then you can fully enjoy the company of the one(s) you like. Whether it be your partner, your family, your friends or your colleagues. And did we mention that hiring a private boat is also a great way to conquer the heart of your date?

One hour or an hour and a half might be a suitable time slot for a game of basketball or soccer, or a television show. But it is definitely too short to have a relaxed canal tour while enjoying the full beauty of the Amsterdam canals.

Whereas all standard canal tours on large tourist boats last between one hour and an hour and a half, you can rent your own private boat for a longer period of time: two or three hours.

Driving a boat yourself is great fun. In particular on such beautiful waterways as the Amsterdam canals. But the options for driving yourself are limited. Of course all large tourist boats are driven by professional skippers. And so are the large private rental boats. No way they will let you drive their valuable boats.

The only rental boats you may drive yourself are small electric canal boats that we provide. How come? Because this type of boat is safe and easy to drive. Even if you have no boating experience and no license. The only things you need are our personal instruction before departure and some common sense.

Amsterdam has around 165 canals with a total length of roughly 75 kilometers. There is a lot of variety: in size, in looks, in age and in the amount of traffic. So there is a lot to explore and a lot to choose from.

With your own private boat it’s you who decides where to go. Do you fancy the more intimate and less frequently visited canals in the Jordaan area? Just go there! Or would you like to spend some more time admiring the houseboats on the Amstel river. Just do it, with your own private boat.

On our boats you are allowed to bring your own food and drinks. Whatever you like, with the exception of barbecues. The nearest supermarket is Sterk Amsterdam on De Clercqstraat 7, just one minute by foot from our dock.

Do you want to stop for a nice coffee or an ice cream on your way? Do you need some more time to take that perfect picture? Too bad if you’re not in charge and your boat goes on. That’s different with a private boat rental.

You decide where and when to stop on your way. Whether it’s only for a short toilet break or for lunch at a water front terrace. If that appeals to you, please check the water front terraces on the canal map that we provide with your boat rental.

Boats4rent is the cheapest Amsterdam boat rental. Let’s do the math and compare renting a private boat with a standard tour on a large tourist boat. The average price for a standard canal tour on a large tourist boat is around euro 15,- per person for a one hour trip.

The average price for renting your own private boat is euro 89,- for three hours (excl. €2.50 tour tax p.p.), equaling about euro 30,- per hour for the boat. Considering you may take up to six people on your boat, that’s great value for money.

And needless to say: driving your own boat is much more fun than joining a standard tour on a large tourist boat.

No, a licence is not required. Neither is experience. Our boats are easy to steer yourself and rather slow. Before you go out we’ll explain everything you need to know:
* we show you how to sail the boat and stay safe;
* we explain the most important rules on the canals;
* we advise you on the best boating routes through Amsterdam.

Not at all, our boats are really easy to sail. Before you set off, we show you how everything works. There is a simple throttle which controls the basic direction (forwards or backwards) and the speed. For steering, there is a rudder. It may take a few moments getting used to that, but then it’s a piece of cake. 

Boats4rent is the cheapest boat rental in Amsterdam. They start at just € 79 (excl. €2.50 tourist tax per person) for a 2 hour boat rental.

You can take our boats almost anywhere in Amsterdam. We recommend the main canals (Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht, Singel) and the connecting canals in between (Brouwersgracht, Leliegracht, Leidsegracht, Reguliersgracht). The small canals in the Jordaan (Egelantiersgracht, Bloemgracht, Lauriergracht, Looiersgracht and Passeerdersgracht) are also very worthwhile.

The Amstel river is also easy to navigate and very beautiful with our boats. You can also go further into the western, eastern or southern city center. The IJ (port area), Kostverlorenvaart and Nieuwe Herengracht are prohibited for safety reasons.

Your private Amsterdam canal tour starts and ends at our centrally located dock. Our location is easily accessible and from there you can make beautiful city center tours.

Our boats are suitable for up to six people and that is also the maximum for our license and our insurance.
Even with six people on board everyone still has enough space. 

Please check out our extensive FAQ-page.