Shared Cruise on the Pien • Hotel Estheréa departure
90-min shared cruise on a classic canal boat · open bar, snacks & expert captain included
Exceptional
395 reviews
What guests loved most
Tay Huggins
“Support Local! The Duke was a great guide and I learned a lot about the city. Would recommend to any…”
Book up to 0.1h before departure
From €55
About this tour
Small Group Max 6 • Hidden Canal Routes • All-Inclusive Cocktails
Shared Canal Cruise on the Pien
This small amsterdam canal cruise departs from Singel 5, just outside Hotel Estheréa, and winds through quieter stretches of the city's waterways over ninety minutes. With a maximum of six guests on board, the Pien offers something closer to a private outing than a typical group tour — enough space to settle in, enough company to make it sociable.
All-Inclusive Drinks and Snacks
The cruise includes a full international open bar running throughout, alongside a small selection of sweet and savoury nibbles. You won't need to flag anyone down or reach for your wallet mid-route. The captain handles the commentary too, weaving in local history and neighbourhood anecdotes as you pass through the canal belt. It's informative without feeling scripted, the kind of storytelling that comes from actually living here.
The Pien steers away from the most congested tourist routes, which means fewer tour boats jostling for position and more time to take in the architecture, the houseboats, the small details you'd miss on a busier stretch. The pace is unhurried. Whether you're visiting Amsterdam for the first time or you've lived here for years, this amsterdam boat tour offers a slower, quieter way to see the city from the water. Cancellation is fully refundable up to 24 hours in advance.
What's Included
- Free Cancellation
- Unlimited Cocktails
- Roof in Case of Rain
What guests say
Tay Huggins
July 2026
“Support Local! The Duke was a great guide and I learned a lot about the city. Would recommend to anyone visiting Amsterdam!!”
Burke
July 2026
“John was so friendly and amazing!”
Mark Silver
July 2026
“This was an incredible tour! Much better than the large tour boats. Captain John was a fun and engaging tour guide. Free drinks and snacks as well.”
Annemarie Silver
July 2026
“We had a wonderful time on the cruise with Captain John. The Sophia is a beautiful boat and John was a great tour guide/captain. The views were beautiful and we learned a lot. I highly recommend it!”
Adam Silver
July 2026
“Very good service and a calm, scenic ride. Our captain John was very kind and gave helpful insights on the history and culture of the Amsterdam area. Would highly recommend to any tourists wanting to explore the Amsterdam area.”
Teresa Silver
July 2026
“Such a cool way to tour Amsterdam! Captain John was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the area and so much fun! Amazing experience overall.”
Kevin Greschler
July 2026
“Such an incredible peaceful canal tour! Our tour guide was also so friendly and insightful, such a beautiful ride!”
Christine Farrell-Riley
June 2026
“Beautiful boat, not too big. Very comfortable seating area outside and room inside in case the weather turns. What a delightful way to see the canals and learn some history. Our captain (Fonzi) was full of knowledge, funny, and welcoming. This is the one!”
Jen Freitag
June 2026
“We had a group of 11 and did a private canal tour on the Sophie. Our captain, Fokko, was so much fun. The boat was beautiful with the perfect amount of outdoor seating. There was also indoor seating available, but we did not need to use that since the weather was beautiful. There were blankets available to use on the boat. Drinks (including wine, beer, liquor, and soft drinks) were included as well as light snacks. There was also a bathroom available on the boat. This was the perfect way to end our time in Amsterdam.”
Daniel Howell
June 2026
“Tour was a highlight of Amsterdam. Captain Fokko was personable, a native of the city, and full of local lore. The drinks and snacks were great. It was fun being in a relaxed smaller boat where the guide was flexible based on the interests of the guests.”
Bill Fiddian
June 2026
“What a great river tour. Bow was a great host and shared lots of interesting information in a very relaxing atmosphere.”
Bieta Andemariam
June 2026
“Lovely and informative!”
Meaghan McCloy
June 2026
“Great experience with the shared cruise on the Sophie! John made us feel welcomed and was skillful at multi-tasking—navigating the canals while providing interesting nuggets of wisdom about Amsterdam…Awesome sense of humour too! Would recommend this tour”
Kevin Klein
June 2026
“Highly recommend Captain Fonse and this canal tour. Fonse is highly knowledgeable of Amsterdam and its history, but he's even more personable and made the tour incredibly enjoyable! We met great people from the UK and the US as well (we're also from the US). Worth every penny!”
ANUSHKA SABHARWAL
June 2026
“Had the best time would definitely recommend this. The boat is beautiful and captain John was a great host and super hospitable.”
Kerri Ammirata
June 2026
“We had the best time with Bow's Journeys. Definitely recommend! Captain John was friendly and very knowledgable. He geared the information about the city toward our interests. The boat was beautiful and Captain John suggested other things to do in our time in Amsterdam (which were all great).”
Emily Dahley
June 2026
“Only canal tour I've ever been on in Amsterdam, but I'm confident that it's the best!! Super friendly and funny team, beautiful boat, great bar, and informative guide!”
Ed Robinson
June 2026
“fokko was a great host and we thoroughly enjoyed the canal cruise, alongside his insight and knowledge of amsterdam”
Leanna Sarinana
June 2026
“Fantastic experience, we had a full view of the city and all from sitting. We got a lot of history including images of Amsterdam when it was originated. Our captain, Fonz, was so kind and informative.”
Alina Sarinana
June 2026
“Our tour was amazing. Fons was an amazing tour guide and was very informative. He knew the answer to every one of our questions!”
Things You Need To Know
Food
- ✓Sweet & savoury nibbles included
- ✓Light grazing — won't spoil dinner
Drinks
- ✓Full international open bar
- ✓Unlimited cocktails, wine & beer
- ✓Soft drinks & water available
More Benefits
- ✓Comfortable seating
- ✓Classic Dutch canal boat
- ✓Quiet, crowd-free canals
- ✓Local captain on board
- ✓Max 6 guests
- ✓90 minutes on the water
- ✓Rain canopy included
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation 48h before departure time
Change time 24h before departure time
Increase guests 1h before departure time