Boat Rental Amsterdam – Tips
Renting a boat in Amsterdam? Benefit from our practical tips and best deals
Want to rent a boat in Amsterdam? Good preparation is half the work! What should you look out for when renting a boat?
We give you practical tips to ensure you get the best deal when renting your boat in Amsterdam and enjoy it to the fullest!
This is (almost) everything you need to know about renting a boat in Amsterdam:
- Boat with skipper or without skipper?
- What does it cost to rent a boat in Amsterdam?
- Cheap boat rental without skipper
- Cheap boat rental with skipper
- Watch out for these conditions and additional costs
- Food and drinks on board: arrange it yourself or outsource it?
- Where can you rent a boat in Amsterdam?
- These are the best neighbourhoods to sail through
- How long should you rent your boat for?
- What facilities are on board and what do you bring yourself?
- Make sure nobody misses the boat
- What if it rains?
- Why you should never rent a boat from an unlicensed operator
- How far in advance should you book your boat?
- Book now!
1. Boat with skipper or without skipper?
The search for a boat in Amsterdam starts with the choice of whether you want to sail yourself or prefer to be taken by a professional skipper:
- Self-drive is only allowed in Amsterdam on small boats. You do NOT need a boating licence for this;
- In Amsterdam you may never sail large rental boats (longer than 6 metres) yourself. These are only available with a skipper.
1.1 How many people do you want to rent a boat for?
To start with, it's helpful to know how many people will be sailing. In general, small groups of 2 to 6 people have enough with a small boat rental.
1.2 Is there someone who wants to steer?
If you want to rent a small, affordable boat without a skipper, someone in your group needs to steer. It's not difficult to sail yourself and you don't need a licence or experience.
1.3 Are you flexible about pick-up and drop-off?
Self-drive boats are picked up and returned to the rental location. If you rent a boat with a skipper, you can (usually for an extra charge) arrange a pick-up and/or drop-off point of your choice.
2. What does it cost to rent a boat in Amsterdam?
Your budget probably also plays a role. Renting a large boat with a skipper is obviously much more expensive than renting a small self-drive boat. However, a large boat can work out cheaper per person if you have a large group.
If cost is a deciding factor for you, it's good to know that the tipping point is around 20 people.
- The cost of renting a large boat with a skipper is normally between €300 and €400 for two hours of sailing (+ €2.70 tax per person).
- The cost of renting a small self-drive boat in Amsterdam starts at €69 for a half day (+ €2.70 tax per person).
3. Where can you rent a cheap boat without a skipper?
Boats4rent is by far the most affordable option if you want to rent a boat in Amsterdam to sail yourself through the canals. A maximum of 6 people fit on a boat. Rates for a half day (2 or 3 hours of sailing) start at just €69 incl. VAT (+ €2.70 p.p. tourist tax).
For this price you obviously won't be renting a hip, sleek, luxury or fast boat. If that's what you're looking for, keep searching. What can you expect at Boats4rent? Solid electrically powered aluminium boats, with which you can easily and relaxingly sail yourself through the canals and the river Amstel.
Boat rental without skipper at Boats4rent
4. Where can you rent a cheap boat with a skipper?
We at Boats4rent don't rent out boats with a skipper ourselves. But we do know where to find them.
Renting a large boat with a captain at a good price is best done at our colleagues at Sloepvrienden Boat Rental Amsterdam. They have various boats with skippers that are ideal for sailing with large groups of friends, family or colleagues.
5. Watch out for these conditions and additional costs
When renting a boat, not every rental company is equally transparent about additional costs. Make sure you're not comparing apples with oranges and always know what the actual costs of your boat rental are.
5.1 How many hours can you sail for the listed price?
Many boats with a skipper can be rented for a minimum period of 2 hours. For self-drive boats, it's worth paying close attention to the time periods: does the listed rate apply per hour, for 2 hours, or even for a 3-hour rental period, like at Boats4rent?
5.2 VAT: 9% or 21%, included in the rental price or not?
It also makes quite a difference whether listed prices include or exclude VAT. For renting a boat with a skipper, the low VAT rate of 9% always applies. For renting a self-drive boat, the high VAT rate of 21% always applies.
5.3 Save on commission by booking directly with the rental company
During your online search for a rental boat in Amsterdam, you'll come across many intermediary platforms and web portals. Bear in mind that part of the price you pay on such a platform consists of their commission. It almost always pays to search further for the rental company's own website.
5.4 Cancellation conditions
If everything goes well, cancellation conditions don't matter. But what happens in case of illness, bad weather or force majeure? Check how the provider where you rent your boat handles this.
5.5 Additional costs
Additional costs that are not always clearly mentioned include:
- 'entertainment tax'. This is a type of tourist tax of €2.70 per person;
- 'transfer costs', if you want to board and/or disembark at a location of your choice;
- catering options (mainly applicable to boats with a skipper).
6. What are the catering options when renting a boat?
Never underestimate the importance of food and drinks! Boating in Amsterdam isn't just about the beautiful scenery. It's mainly about being together with your friends, family or colleagues. And you make it much more enjoyable by providing tasty snacks and drinks on board.
There are several options:
- Bring your own food and drinks (most affordable and you have exactly what you like);
- Have something delivered in advance or pick something up along the way (e.g. pizzas or a picnic basket);
- Outsource the catering to the company where you rent the boat.
7. Where can I rent a boat in Amsterdam?
If you rent a self-drive boat, you pick it up yourself and return it to the rental location:
- Boats4rent is located on the Nassaukade in the water opposite number 156. That's in the centre of Amsterdam on the edge of the Jordaan. This location is easily accessible by bicycle, car and public transport.
- Boats4rent also has a sister company with the same boats, service & similar rates: Boaty Boat Rental. Boaty is located on the south side of the centre, in De Pijp.
If you rent a boat with a skipper, you're usually not tied to a fixed pick-up and drop-off location.
8. What are the best neighbourhoods to sail through?
Sailing through Amsterdam is always enjoyable, wherever you go. But there are big differences between the sailing areas.
8.1 The city centre neighbourhoods
A boat trip through Amsterdam is not complete without the canal ring. The Prinsengracht is the most popular and busiest canal.
The Jordaan is immediately west of the canal ring. Everything here is a size smaller: the canals, the houses and the bridges.
Where do you still have a sense of space right in the city centre? On the northern Amstel! Here you'll find the Munt, the Stopera, the Hermitage, the Magere Brug, Carré and the Amstel Hotel.
8.2 Slightly quieter sailing near the centre
The Weesperbuurt, Plantagebuurt and the Eastern Islands are also highly recommended to sail through, with a bit more greenery and tranquillity.
9. How long should you rent your boat for?
At almost all boat rental companies you need to indicate in advance how long you want to rent the boat. Of course you know best what fits your schedule. But it's helpful to keep the following in mind:
- Time flies when you're having fun! That's why most boats are rented for a minimum period of 2 hours. Shorter than that isn't really worth it.
- In general: the longer your rental, the more affordable the hourly rate becomes.
- Experience shows that a period of 3 hours is ideal. In that time you can see a really substantial part of the city and properly relax.
- Don't want to be tied to strict times and prefer a whole day on the water? Then the cost of a boat with skipper gets very high. Most self-drive boat rental companies have attractive rates for a full day.
10. What facilities are on board and what do you bring yourself?
It's helpful to know in advance what facilities are available on the boat and what you need to bring yourself. Most large rental boats with a skipper are equipped with:
- a small fridge;
- a power socket;
- cushions;
- life jackets.
Most self-drive electric boats have much more basic equipment. Cushions and life jackets are usually included, but a fridge or power connection is typically not available.
11. Make sure nobody misses the boat
It seems obvious, but this is exactly where things often go wrong. A waste of time and money. And completely unnecessary! Therefore the following tips:
- confirm the exact location, time and boat name with the rental company;
- share all these details in a group chat with all guests;
- make sure you get the skipper's mobile number;
- make sure everyone arrives early, as waiting for latecomers eats into your precious sailing time!
12. The weather: know your options and prepare for different scenarios
It's natural to expect good weather when booking your boat trip. But things can turn out differently. Then it's good to know in advance what the options are:
- Check with the rental company about bad weather conditions. Can you cancel your trip and get your money back? Or can you reschedule your trip for free?
- Ask the rental company what they can do with the boat in less-than-ideal weather. Can the boat be fully or partially covered?
- A Swedish saying goes: "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!" Prepare your guests just in case for 'four seasons in one day'.
13. Why you should never rent a boat from an unlicensed operator
When renting a boat, always check whether the provider has an operating licence from the City of Amsterdam. Then you know for certain you're dealing with a serious company that meets all requirements.
Unlicensed operators who rent out their boat without a permit are operating illegally. Cheap can easily turn expensive:
- First of all, with such providers you can't be sure whether your boat is safe, inspected and insured;
- Furthermore, with such providers you have no legal recourse if they don't honour their agreements;
- And if that unlicensed boat is stopped by Waternet or the Water Police, your enjoyable trip is suddenly over!
14. How far in advance should you book to not miss out?
Renting a boat to sail through Amsterdam is enormously popular. The chance of finding a nice boat at the last minute in good weather is very small.
Our advice is to book as soon as you know what you want. Then you're sure not to miss out.
- The most popular days of the year are King's Day and Gay Pride. Book at least a few weeks in advance.
- In the period from April to September, weekends, public holidays and holiday periods are in high demand.
- Always make sure you receive a confirmation of your reservation.
15. Book now!
Boat rental without skipper at Boats4rent