Schollevaar

Shared Canal Cruise on Schollevaar

Schollevaar is a salon boat built in 1912, now fully restored and running on quiet electric power. She carries a maximum of eight guests at a time, which means you will share the deck with only a handful of others as you drift through Amsterdam's canal ring. The captain doubles as your guide, steering from up front while pointing out whatever catches the light or the conversation.

Onboard Comfort

The boat's layout splits neatly between an indoor salon with comfortable seating and a small rear deck for those who want open air. A retractable roof covers you if the weather turns, and there is a toilet on board — a small detail that matters more than it should on a ninety-minute cruise. Teak decking runs the length of the vessel, and the long, low silhouette still carries the lines of its original Edwardian build.

Drinks and food are available as add-ons rather than included in the base fare. An open bar runs at fifteen euros per person per hour, and you can arrange cheese boards, a snack platter, or a slice of freshly baked apple pie through the chat after booking. Champagne — Piper-Heidsieck, Veuve Clicquot, or Ruinart — is on the list for those marking something worth marking.

Cruises depart from Keizersgracht 106 and run for ninety minutes, two hours, or three, depending on how long you want to stay on the water. This is a small canal cruise in Amsterdam in the proper sense: a historic boat, a local captain, and a pace that lets you actually see the city from water level rather than just pass through it.