To avoid the busiest canal traffic, cruise before 1pm or after 6pm. You'll see more of the canals outside peak hours. Saturdays tend to be the busiest day overall, as many privately owned boats are out on the water too.

If you prioritise comfort and personal service over budget shared boats, yes. Our fleet of vintage saloon boats — some dating back to 1912 — comes with a local captain who can double as your personal guide.

The Ritz has a restroom on board. On Tzar or Undine, we can make a stop if needed — for example at our partner restaurant during a dinner cruise — so you can use their facilities.

Customised pick-ups are possible on request. We regularly pick up at Waldorf Astoria, Pulitzer, Hotel Estheria, Rosewood, Hotel de l'Europe, Sofitel The Grand, Andaz, Hyatt, Amstel Hotel, Pillows Hotel Mauritskade, The Dylan and more. If your hotel isn't on a canal, we'll help find the closest pick-up point — please reach out before booking. A minimum cruise time or pick-up surcharge may apply depending on location.

Our small boats can navigate the most scenic narrow canals: the famous canal belt (Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht), the Dancing Houses, the Red Light District, the Anne Frank House, the Houseboat Museum, the Amstel River and more. Exactly what you see depends on your cruise duration.

We recommend at least 90–120 minutes to see the main sights — long enough for your captain to share local stories while covering most of the famous districts.

Yes, self-drive rental boats exist — but our private canal cruises are guided, covered and comfortable. Self-drive tourist boats come without commentary, weather protection, or local knowledge, and visitors can easily get lost in the canal network.

Our private boat tours start from €250 for the first hour, with each extra 30 minutes at €90. A small surcharge applies for groups larger than 4 persons.

Our boats comfortably seat up to 12 guests. Travelling with a larger group? Contact us and we'll help arrange a bigger private canal boat.

Small snacks or easy-to-eat food are fine. Outside drinks usually aren't permitted, as we offer a full onboard minibar — though we can apply a corkage fee per bottle if you'd prefer to bring your own.

The most scenic route takes in the Skinny Bridge, the Seven Bridges, the Dancing Houses, the historic canal belt, the Red Light District and the VOC ship.

Yes — all private boat tours need to be booked online in advance.

Unfortunately, our boats aren't wheelchair accessible. If a guest can step on board and uses a foldable mobility device, it's often possible to accommodate them — please contact us beforehand to confirm.

Up to 14 days before your tour, you can cancel for a 90% refund. Within 14 days, the booking is non-refundable, though we'll try to reschedule where our planning allows (not guaranteed).

All captains speak English and Dutch. Some also speak German (mention this in your booking comments). French guests can add an extra guide; Italian and Spanish may be possible on request for a surcharge.