Self-drive boat in Amsterdam: relax and enjoy!
Driving your own boat through the Amsterdam canals is an experience and without doubt the best way to enjoy our beautiful city. The atmosphere on the water is always relaxed. You're with your friends or family, bring along tasty food and drinks and you'll find that the hours fly by. Self-drive boating in Amsterdam is easy, because you can rent a boat without a boating licence. Before departure you'll receive instructions so you can navigate Amsterdam safely.
Why drive your own boat in Amsterdam?
How much does it cost to drive a boat yourself in Amsterdam?
Renting a boat and driving it yourself in Amsterdam is not expensive at all, especially if you share the costs. You can already cruise Amsterdam for half a day from just €79.
| Rates | Monday to Sunday |
|---|---|
| 2 hours sailing | € 79,- |
| 3 hours sailing | € 99,- |
Our rates exclude €2.70 tourist tax p.p.
Discount!
*Depart at 09:00, 09:30 or 10:00 and enjoy 10 euros discount!
How does renting a boat work?
Step 1: You book in advance.
Step 2: Your boat is ready clean and fully charged.
Step 3: You receive instructions on steering, rules and routes.
Step 4: And then: enjoy!
Our boarding point
Our boarding point is in the heart of Amsterdam. You'll find our boat rental:
- 10 minutes walk from the Westerkerk and Anne Frank House.
- 15 minutes walk from Leidseplein.
- Around the corner from bus stop Elandsgracht.
- At the stops of trams 3, 5, 13 and 17.
- Opposite Q-Park Europarking.
Since our jetty has no street number, use 'Nassaukade 155' for GPS navigation. Here you'll see our boats moored at the door.
Self-drive boat Amsterdam – 7 advantages
1. You go on the water with your own friends, family or colleagues
Do you prefer to sail only with your friends, family or colleagues in Amsterdam? Then rent a boat at Boats4Rent!
2. You decide how long you want to sail
We recommend sailing at least 2 hours, but if you prefer 3 hours that's also possible!
3. Self-drive boating is fun and not difficult
Driving one of our boats yourself is really fun and easier than you think! You rent our boats without a boating licence. Before departure we explain the most important rules on the water, how to steer the boat and the best routes through the city.
4. You decide where you sail
Amsterdam has about 165 canals with a total length of approximately 75 kilometres. With your own boat you decide where you go. Fancy exploring the small charming canals of the Jordaan? Or do you prefer the wide Amstel? It's up to you!
5. You can bring your own food and drinks
On our boats you can bring your own food and drinks on board (except barbecues). So you decide how simple or elaborate you want to make it.
6. You decide where and when to stop along the way
Fancy a warm cup of coffee along the way? Or a nice ice cream? When you drive yourself, you also decide where and when to stop along the way.
7. Self-drive boating is often even cheaper than a canal cruise
Renting your own boat to cruise through Amsterdam is in many cases even cheaper than a traditional canal cruise. For an average canal cruise nowadays you pay about €15 per person for approximately one hour. With us you can already drive yourself for two hours from €79 (excl. €2.70 p.p. tourist tax).
Choose your own route
When you cruise with one of our boats, you choose the route. From our boat rental you'll sail through the most beautiful canals of the Jordaan, the Canal Ring and Oud-West. Cruising three hours by boat through Amsterdam? Then you easily reach a bit further, for example the Amstel, the eastern city centre or Oud-Zuid.
What do our customers say?
Want to know how other customers experienced renting a boat? Take a look at the many reviews our customers have left. On both Google and Tripadvisor they give us an average of more than 4.5 stars.
Linde Nuyts
Google, 2020
"Enjoying the sunshine and the views while cruising carefree past all the tourist gems. Great service and a handy map so you definitely won't get lost. Absolutely recommended, highlight of the trip!"
Sahar Z.
Tripadvisor, 2020
"We went to Amsterdam on Saturday to go boating. We rented a boat from Boats4rent and got fantastic help from Rico and Rijk. Cheerful guys, friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed the Amsterdam canals in our boat."
Maartje Krijnen
Google, 2020
"We really enjoyed boating. The boat is very easy to steer, even without experience. From the water, Amsterdam looks completely different, allowing you to admire the city in a whole new way. You also have plenty of time to cruise through the centre of Amsterdam. In short: highly recommended!"
Frequently asked questions about self-drive boating in Amsterdam
Do I need a boating licence to navigate the Amsterdam canals?+
No, you don't need a boating licence to navigate the canals yourself. Since our boats are easy to operate, no experience is needed either. Before departure, we personally explain how everything works: we show you how to steer your boat safely, explain the most important navigation rules and give you tips on the best routes through Amsterdam.
Is it difficult to steer your boats?+
No, even without experience, our electric boats are very easy to steer. They have a simple throttle to control direction (forward or reverse) and speed, plus a rudder. It might take a minute to get used to, but after that it's super easy. Before departure, we personally show you how everything works.
How much does it cost to drive a boat yourself in Amsterdam?+
Renting a boat and driving it yourself in Amsterdam is not expensive at all, especially if you share the costs. You can already cruise Amsterdam for half a day from just €79. For 2 hours you pay €89 (€79* morning rate) and for 3 hours €99 (€89* morning rate). Rates exclude €2.70 tourist tax per person.
Where can I sail?+
With our boats you can sail almost everywhere in Amsterdam. For safety reasons, sailing on the IJ, the Kostverlorenvaart and the Nieuwe Herengracht is not permitted. We especially recommend the main canals (Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht, Singel) and the connecting canals in between (Brouwersgracht, Leliegracht, Leidsegracht, Reguliersgracht). The small canals of the Jordaan and the Amstel river are also very beautiful.
Where does my boat trip start and end?+
Your boat trip starts and ends at our jetty, centrally located in Amsterdam at Nassaukade 155. Our location is easily accessible by bicycle, car and public transport. You sail directly into the Jordaan and in 2 or 3 hours you'll do a beautiful route through the city centre.
How many people can sail together?+
Our boats can accommodate a maximum of 6 people. More than 6 people is not permitted for safety reasons.
Ready to book?
Book directly online and discover Amsterdam from the water. Our electric boats are easy to steer, even without a boating licence.
Book my boat now! →