Historic Boat Tour: Amsterdam Canal Charm

Embark on an all-inclusive private cruise with a captain and explore the stunning canals of Amsterdam. Sightsee, sip a drink, and enjoy good conversation in this unforgettable experience.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Amsterdam Canal Ring - Join me on a journey to explore Amsterdam over the canals.
    All cruises are captained and guided by myself Boudewijn Metzelaar aka ¨Captain Jack¨ for those that are unable to pronounce my impossible Dutch name.
    We will sail on a fully electric luxury salon boat. There is comfortable seating for each guest indoors and outdoors,…
What's Included
  • Complimentary snacks
  • Extensive open bar including local beers, top shelf liquors, soft and hot drinks
  • Specialty G&T with local gin prepared by a dedicated bartender
Additional Information

Discover why countless travelers consider this the highlight of their Amsterdam adventure! Step aboard Sophie—a meticulously preserved historic boat from 1911—and experience the allure of Amsterdam’s canals like never before.
With both indoor and outdoor seating, Sophie provides the ideal combination of comfort and elegance, allowing you to move freely…

Location
Singel 9
Singel
Located next to the "Koepelkerk" a big domed church (please call the number on your voucher/ticket for Jack if not able to find him)
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(24 Ratings)
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Lazydaisydee
Apr 28, 2025
Delightful trip on board the Sophie! - Delightful trip on board the Sophie! The boat is beautiful, clearly loved and cared for, and comfortable. We appreciated the break from the city’s crowds as the boat glided, silently, through several canals. The charming captain provided a perfect amount information and chat. While there is a plentiful selection of good alcohol available as part of the cost, that was not the focus. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are also on board, as well as a bathroom. I highly recommend this boat tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ambassador258249
Apr 28, 2025
Top Notch Private Canal Boat Tour! - We booked a private tour for a large family group (7 adults, 3 kids) on Drift Away, the smaller of his two boats. I called and spoke directly with Bow to answer a few questions prior to booking and then booked easily online. We had the best time with Bow. He is an Amsterdam native who grew up boating on the canals and now runs his own business. We had the all inclusive tour, with a wonderful selection of drinks and snacks. (He makes a great Aperol spritz.) The boat was spotless, including the bathroom. We had gorgeous weather, but it was spacious enough to fit all of us inside had it been drizzly. Bow is gracious, funny, knowledgable and clearly enjoys his work. We learned about the city's history and got to hear his hot takes on life in Amsterdam. His is the kind of small, local business that I love to support while traveling. He has our strongest recommendation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mclevesq123
Apr 24, 2025
Beautiful cruise on a cozy boat - The trip was wonderful! It was a beautiful cruise on a cozy boat. Captain John was very insightful and very sweet. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S4104qtmargarets
Apr 11, 2025
Perfect family canal tour - Highly recommend Captain John and the Bows Journeys. The boat is beautiful, drinks are included, and there is a bathroom (with three kids is a necessity!). Captain John provided us with an interesting history of Amsterdam and the canals. The tour struck the perfect balance between being relaxing while also learning a bit about the city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeannemr0229
Mar 19, 2025
Amsterdam Canal Tour with Captain Bow on the Sophie - What an incredible experience we had with Captain Bow and his beautiful, refurbished boat, the Sophie, during our private tour of Amsterdam! From start to finish, everything was perfect. Captain Bow was not only incredibly knowledgeable about the city’s history and landmarks, but he also had a fantastic sense of humor that made the tour so much fun for our whole group, including our 10-month-old. The Sophie itself was stunning—sleek, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed. It was clear that a lot of care went into refurbishing it, and it provided the perfect setting for our private tour. We all felt so relaxed and at ease as we cruised through Amsterdam's picturesque canals. Captain Bow made sure we were all comfortable, which was greatly appreciated. Throughout the tour, Bow shared interesting facts about the city, pointing out hidden gems and giving us a deeper understanding of Amsterdam’s rich history. His stories were both educational and entertaining, keeping everyone engaged from start to finish. It felt like we were cruising through the heart of the city with a friend who was not only an expert but also genuinely passionate about sharing his knowledge. We also really appreciated how welcoming and accommodating Captain Bow was to our entire family. He took extra care to make sure we had everything we needed, and we felt like he went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. If you’re looking for a private, personal tour of Amsterdam, we absolutely recommend Captain Bow and the Sophie! It was an experience we’ll cherish for years to come.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W5981rvalexanderk
Feb 17, 2025
Can’t Miss Experience - We had an amazing time with Captain Jack. He’s very knowledge of all things Amsterdam and was the perfect captain for our family. Thanks again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H6390gulindsayt
Jan 5, 2025
Amazing intimate tour! - My husband and I had the most amazing tour with Captain Jack! We even went to the wrong dock and he picked us up from there! Fine drinks were served and he was so informative of the history of Amsterdam. Would recommend highly and go back again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shannonbe3384tf
Dec 19, 2024
This Is THE Amsterdam BOAT Experience - The family canal boat tour through Amsterdam during the holidays was magical. The boat steered by our personable, fun captain past twinkling bridges and gorgeous architecture. Cozy blankets and a vast array of drinks made the experience even better. The captain shared fascinating stories, creating an unforgettable journey through Amsterdam’s winter wonderland. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michaelba7211xy
Dec 4, 2024
An Incredible and Unmatched Amsterdam Experience! - I was looking for a unique and private tour of the Amsterdam canals on a vacation with my girlfriend. I found Jack's tour and decided to try it out given all his amazing reviews. The tour did not disappoint and Captain Jack was amazing. Before booking the experience, I emailed Jack and let him know I was planning to propose to my girlfriend on the tour. Jack spent the time to help me plan an amazing proposal and made suggestions about how best to do it / what had worked well in the past. During the trip we enjoyed the open bar onboard, the wonderful Dutch snacks, and the wealth of interesting knowledge our captain had about Amsterdam and its canals. When the time came for the proposal, Captain Jack inconspicuously convinced my girlfriend that the lovers bridge was a great photo op. He took my phone and was able to get the entire proposal on video while keeping it a total surprise. Our canal tour with Captain Jack was truly amazing and something we will remember forever. Thanks for making our experience so amazing!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Iexpectgoodkai
Dec 4, 2024
Just do this one! - Such a great way to see this amazing city. I'm sure Captain Jack has done this tour so very many times, yet he was able to make this really personal and fresh for me and the other guest on board. We both enjoyed it so much. A chilly December night, but warm inside the boat. Just do it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $66
up to 12 guests
2 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).