Table of Contents
- Amsterdam's Canal Fleet — Sightseeing, Salons, and Sloops
- Rosé
- Lucky Strike
- Emilia (Eco Boats Amsterdam)
- Toon Hermans
- Beurtschip Anna Maria
- Jean Schmitz
- Holyboot
- Frans van Mieris
- Roosevelt
- Willy
- De Lange Dapper
- De Pannenkoekenboot
- Frequently Asked Questions
Amsterdam's 165 kilometres of canals and roughly 90 islands have been navigated by passenger boats since the early 20th century, but today's fleet is more varied than ever. Alongside the glass-roofed sightseeing boats that have carried visitors past the Golden Bend and Anne Frank House for generations, the canals are now home to fully electric sloops, restored 1900s salon boats with teak interiors and red velvet upholstery, 420-friendly lounge boats, and even a floating pancake restaurant on the IJ. Amsterdam's canal ring has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, and boat operators sail under strict municipal rules on noise, emissions, and routes — which is why so many companies have switched to whisper-quiet electric propulsion in recent years.
This guide covers the boats you'll most often see behind popular Amsterdam water tours listed on Alle Travel, a marketplace bringing together offers from many different Amsterdam boat operators. Each vessel has its own personality, capacity, and best-fit occasion — from an intimate saloon boat for eight to a 420-friendly lounge cruise for groups of friends — so you can pick the boat that matches the experience you're after.
Amsterdam's Canal Fleet — Sightseeing, Salons, and Sloops
Boats on Amsterdam's canals generally fall into a handful of families. Rondvaartboten (sightseeing boats) are the large glass-topped cruisers most visitors picture first, built for one-hour city tours with an audio guide. Salonboten (saloon boats) are smaller, often historic vessels with an enclosed cabin, upholstered seating, and a bar — ideal for private dinners, high teas, and celebrations. Sloepen (open sloops) are open-top boats, usually electric, that seat groups of 10 to 35 people for parties, birthdays, and social cruises. And a handful of specialty boats, such as the pancake boat on the IJ or 420-friendly lounge cruises, are built around a single themed experience.
You can browse Alle Travel's full catalogue of Amsterdam canal cruises to see live availability, prices, and reviews across every boat covered below.
Rosé
Dutch name: Salonboot Rosé | English name: Rosé | Type: Saloon boat (riverboat small)
The Rosé is one of the smallest saloon boats in the Flagship Amsterdam fleet, a 100% electric vessel purpose-built for intimate occasions rather than large parties. Flagship Amsterdam itself has grown into one of the city's best-known canal cruise operators, rated the world's number one day cruise by Tripadvisor, and its fleet spans open sloops through to large multi-deck saloon boats such as the Titanic.
Pier: Oosterdokskade 8, Amsterdam (near Amsterdam Centraal Station).
Cruise types: Private cruises, intimate dinners, baby showers, small birthday celebrations, romantic outings.
Capacity: Up to 12 people for a transfer or drinks cruise; 6 for a walking dinner/buffet; 4 for a seated dinner.
With a length of just 7 metres and a width of 2.5 metres, the Rosé is built for small, personal groups rather than crowds. Its highlights include a fully electric drivetrain for a near-silent ride, a stylish interior with comfortable seating, an on-board toilet, and a private skipper included with every booking who shares the city's stories along the route.
- Operator: Flagship Amsterdam
- Boat class: Riverboat small (saloon boat)
- Length: 7 metres
- Width: 2.5 metres
- Propulsion: 100% electric
- Toilet: Yes
- Capacity: 12 max
Water tours on the Rosé
The Rosé is part of the Flagship Amsterdam saloon boat fleet used for several popular small-group cruises on Alle Travel:
- Panoramic Canal Cruise with Optional Cheese & Wine
- Boat Cruise with Unlimited Drinks & Bite Option
- Private BBQ Cruise with Personal Chef & Drinks
Note: as Flagship Amsterdam operates a mixed fleet of saloon boats and sloops, the exact vessel assigned to a booking may vary by group size, date, and operational scheduling.
Lucky Strike
Dutch name: Sloep Lucky Strike | English name: Lucky Strike | Type: Open sloop
The Lucky Strike is one of Flagship Amsterdam's open electric sloops, part of the same fleet family as sister boats Vibe, Naut, and The Dutchman. Open sloops like this one are the classic choice for groups who want to feel the breeze, hear the city, and sip a drink on the water rather than sail inside an enclosed cabin.
Pier: Oosterdokskade 8, Amsterdam (near Amsterdam Centraal Station).
Cruise types: Group cruises, birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, social drinks cruises, private rentals.
Capacity: Up to 35 passengers.
The Lucky Strike is fully electric for a whisper-quiet ride with no exhaust fumes, and comes with a fully equipped bar on board. A removable canopy can be fitted for rainy days, and the boat includes cushioned lounge seating and an on-board toilet — making it a practical choice year-round rather than only in summer.
- Operator: Flagship Amsterdam
- Boat class: Open sloop
- Propulsion: 100% electric
- Weather protection: Removable rain canopy
- Toilet: Yes
- Bar on board: Yes
- Capacity: 35 max
Water tours on the Lucky Strike
The Lucky Strike sails as part of the Flagship Amsterdam open-sloop fleet on tours such as:
- Panoramic Canal Cruise with Optional Cheese & Wine
- Boat Cruise with Unlimited Drinks & Bite Option
- Private BBQ Cruise with Personal Chef & Drinks
Note: the specific sloop assigned may vary by date and group size, as Flagship Amsterdam rotates several open sloops of similar size across these cruises.
Emilia (Eco Boats Amsterdam)
English name: Emilia | Operator fleet name: Eco Boat | Type: Electric open/semi-covered sloop
Emilia sails as part of the newly built fleet of Eco Boats Amsterdam, the sister company of Canal Motorboats, the oldest boat rental business in Amsterdam, established in 1996. Eco Boats Amsterdam launched with a fleet of purpose-built, fully electric vessels designed specifically to reduce noise and emissions on the canals, and its captains actively encourage passengers to fish plastic out of the water during cruises using on-board equipment.
Pier: Stationsplein 18, Amsterdam (in front of Amsterdam Centraal Station), with additional locations at Zandhoek 22 and Daniël Goedkoopstraat 1.
Cruise types: Public sightseeing cruises, small private group cruises, sustainable/eco-tourism experiences.
Capacity: Approximately 25–30 passengers on public tours.
Emilia's biggest highlight is her fully electric, whisper-quiet drivetrain — guests regularly note how much easier it is to hear the captain's commentary compared with diesel-powered boats. The boat can sail fully open, half-covered, or fully covered depending on the day's weather, and passengers receive a digital multilingual guide covering the sights along the route.
- Operator: Eco Boats Amsterdam
- Fleet built: 2024
- Propulsion: 100% electric
- Roof configuration: Open, semi-covered, or fully covered (weather-dependent)
- Digital guide: 8 languages
- Capacity: ~25–30 passengers
Water tours on Emilia
Emilia is used on the following Eco Boats Amsterdam cruise available through Alle Travel:
Toon Hermans
Dutch name: Rondvaartboot Toon Hermans | English name: Toon Hermans | Type: Glass-roofed sightseeing boat (rondvaartboot)
The Toon Hermans is one of the classic glass-topped rondvaartboten in the fleet of Rederij Lovers, one of Amsterdam's oldest and best-known canal cruise companies, founded in 1950. Many of the Lovers fleet's boats are named after well-loved Dutch entertainers, and this vessel honours Toon Hermans (1916–2000), the celebrated Dutch cabaret performer, singer, and comedian regarded as one of the founders of modern Dutch cabaret.
Pier: Prins Hendrikkade, near Amsterdam Centraal Station, with additional Lovers boarding points at Leidseplein, near the Anne Frank House, and near the Rijksmuseum.
Cruise types: Public sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, themed cruises, combination tickets with museums and attractions.
Capacity: Typically 60–80 passengers, in line with Lovers' standard rondvaartboot class.
Like the rest of the Lovers fleet, the Toon Hermans is fitted with an adjustable glass roof so cruises can continue comfortably in rain or shine, on-board heating for the colder months, a toilet, and a free audio guide available in numerous languages.
- Operator: Rederij Lovers
- Boat class: Rondvaartboot (glass-roofed sightseeing boat)
- Roof: Adjustable/retractable glass roof
- Heating: Yes
- Toilet: Yes
- Audio guide: Multilingual
- Capacity: ~60–80 passengers
Water tours on the Toon Hermans
Boats from the Lovers fleet, including the Toon Hermans, are used on several popular Amsterdam cruises listed on Alle Travel:
- City Centre Canal Cruise Including Audioguide
- Amsterdam Dinner Cruise with 4-Course Menu
- New York Pizza Canal Cruise with Drinks Included
- Van Gogh Museum & Canal Cruise Combo
- Canal Cruise and Icebar Combo with 3 Free Drinks
- Amsterdam Wine and Cheese Evening Cruise
Note: as a large operator running dozens of daily departures, Lovers rotates several near-identical rondvaartboten across these routes, so the exact boat assigned can vary by sailing time.
Beurtschip Anna Maria
Dutch name: Beurtschip Anna Maria | English name: Anna Maria | Type: Traditional passenger cargo vessel (beurtschip), converted for cruising
The Anna Maria belongs to the "beurtschip" tradition of Dutch inland vessels — flat-bottomed working boats that historically ran scheduled cargo and passenger services ("beurtvaart") between Dutch towns before being converted for pleasure cruising. She is part of the fleet operated by Rederij de Nederlanden, one of several classic-boat operators sharing Amsterdam's canal network alongside Rederij Lovers, and is typically chartered for sightseeing and themed cruises around the historic centre.
Pier: Central Amsterdam boarding points, confirmed at time of booking depending on the specific cruise.
Cruise types: Public sightseeing cruises, group cruises, themed and combination tours.
Capacity: Group-sized, in line with standard Amsterdam rondvaartboot classes.
The Anna Maria's main appeal is her traditional Dutch hull form and heritage as a former working vessel, giving passengers a slightly different silhouette on the water than the modern glass-roofed cruisers, while still offering covered, weather-protected seating for year-round sailing.
- Operator: Rederij de Nederlanden
- Boat class: Beurtschip (converted traditional passenger/cargo vessel)
- Roof: Covered cabin
- Region of operation: Amsterdam canal ring
Water tours on the Beurtschip Anna Maria
The Anna Maria is used alongside other classic Amsterdam boats on cruises such as:
- City Centre Canal Cruise Including Audioguide
- Amsterdam Dinner Cruise with 4-Course Menu
- New York Pizza Canal Cruise with Drinks Included
- Van Gogh Museum & Canal Cruise Combo
- Canal Cruise and Icebar Combo with 3 Free Drinks
- Amsterdam Wine and Cheese Evening Cruise
Note: the specific vessel used for these cruises depends on daily scheduling across the operator's fleet.
Jean Schmitz
Dutch name: Salonboot Jean Schmitz | English name: Jean Schmitz | Type: Classic saloon boat
The Jean Schmitz is a genuine piece of maritime history, built in 1902 (sources from her current operator also cite 1906) in Königswinter, Germany — the same Rhine shipbuilding town that produced several of the elegant salon boats now sailing Amsterdam's canals. She is operated by Rederij Aemstelland, part of the Amsterdamse Salonboot Rederij group, and holds a Green Key gold sustainability certification, the first salon boat company in the Netherlands to receive it.
Pier: Amsterdam city centre, with pick-up and drop-off available at more than 100 jetties across the canal ring at no extra charge.
Cruise types: High tea cruises, business dinners, buffet cruises, corporate meetings and events, family celebrations, private charters.
Capacity: Up to 30 people for drinks/cocktail cruises; up to 24 for a served buffet or seated dinner.
The Jean Schmitz's signature feature is her period interior: polished copper fittings, a teak-wood cabin, and rich red velvet upholstery that recreate the chic atmosphere of early-1900s canal travel. Despite her age, she is fully modernised for comfort and is available for a flexible range of catering formats, from an English-style high tea to a multi-course culinary dinner prepared by partner restaurants.
- Operator: Rederij Aemstelland (Amsterdamse Salonboot Rederij)
- Year built: 1902 (Königswinter, Germany)
- Boat class: Classic saloon boat
- Interior: Copper fittings, teak wood, red velvet upholstery
- Minimum charter time: 1.5 hours
- Capacity: 30 max (drinks); 24 max (seated dinner)
Water tours on the Jean Schmitz
You can experience the Jean Schmitz on several curated cruises listed on Alle Travel:
- High Tea Cruise on a Luxury Salon Boat
- High-End Dinner Cruise: A Culinary Canal Experience
- Amsterdam High-End Brunch Canal Cruise
Holyboot
English name: Holyboot | Type: Covered lounge boat (420-friendly)
The Holyboot is a covered canal lounge boat used for Amsterdam's 420-friendly cruises, part of a category of themed boats that has grown alongside the city's well-known coffeeshop culture. Rather than a traditional sightseeing commentary, these lounge cruises focus on a relaxed social atmosphere, with comfortable seating, heating, and open windows for ventilation.
Pier: Prins Hendrikkade 33A, next to Amsterdam Centraal Station, in front of the Victoria Hotel.
Cruise types: 420-friendly lounge cruises, social/group cruises for adults, evening cruises.
Capacity: Up to 22 passengers.
The Holyboot's main highlights are its heated seats and covered cabin with opening windows, letting the cruise run comfortably in any season while keeping the interior ventilated. The boat is set up specifically for a relaxed, adults-only cannabis-friendly cruise rather than a party-boat atmosphere, with a focus on chilled-out sightseeing along the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and the Seven Bridges.
- Boat class: Covered lounge boat
- Seating: Heated lounge seating
- Windows: Openable, for ventilation
- Age requirement: 18+
- Capacity: 22 max
Water tours on the Holyboot
The Holyboot is the vessel used for the following Alle Travel cruise:
Frans van Mieris
Dutch name: Rondvaartboot Frans van Mieris | English name: Frans van Mieris | Type: Glass-roofed sightseeing boat (rondvaartboot)
The Frans van Mieris is a rondvaartboot in the fleet of Amsterdam Circle Line, operated by the historic Rederij 't Smidtje. She is named, in keeping with several boats in this fleet, after a Dutch Golden Age painter — Frans van Mieris the Elder, a 17th-century Leiden fine painter known for his detailed genre scenes. According to Dutch inland-shipping registry records, the vessel was built in 2016 and measures 18 metres long by 3.75 metres wide, powered by a 245 hp engine.
Pier: Amsterdam city centre departure points operated by Amsterdam Circle Line / Rederij 't Smidtje.
Cruise types: Public sightseeing cruises, group cruises, themed food and drink cruises, larger private charters.
Capacity: Sized for larger groups, in line with standard Amsterdam Circle Line rondvaartboot class.
The Frans van Mieris's open rear deck is its stand-out feature, giving passengers a place to step outside and enjoy the surroundings directly, which the operator highlights as especially suited to larger groups and companies. The boat runs on electric engines, keeping the ride quiet as it moves through the canals.
- Operator: Amsterdam Circle Line (Rederij 't Smidtje)
- Year built: 2016
- Length: 18 metres
- Width: 3.75 metres
- Draft: 1.10 metres
- Engine power: 245 hp
- Deck: Open rear deck
Water tours on the Frans van Mieris
The Frans van Mieris sails on the following Amsterdam Circle Line cruises listed on Alle Travel:
Roosevelt
Dutch name: Rondvaartboot Roosevelt | English name: Roosevelt | Type: Glass-roofed sightseeing boat (rondvaartboot)
The Roosevelt is a sister boat to the Frans van Mieris within the Amsterdam Circle Line fleet, operated by Rederij 't Smidtje. Like her fleet-mates, she shares the same fixed-interior layout with an open rear deck, built to comfortably handle Amsterdam's busiest sightseeing routes.
Pier: Amsterdam city centre departure points operated by Amsterdam Circle Line / Rederij 't Smidtje.
Cruise types: Public sightseeing cruises, highlights tours, group cruises.
Capacity: Sized for larger groups, in line with standard Amsterdam Circle Line rondvaartboot class.
The Roosevelt's highlights mirror the rest of the Amsterdam Circle Line fleet: an open rear deck for taking in the surroundings, electric propulsion for a quieter cruise, and a fixed interior configuration well suited to larger companies and corporate outings.
- Operator: Amsterdam Circle Line (Rederij 't Smidtje)
- Boat class: Rondvaartboot with open rear deck
- Propulsion: Electric engines
- Deck: Open rear deck
Water tours on the Roosevelt
The Roosevelt is used for the following Amsterdam Circle Line cruise on Alle Travel:
Willy
Dutch name: Sloep Willy | English name: Willy | Type: Open sloop
The sloop Willy is a luxury open sloop built for larger social groups, fitted with a whisper-quiet electric motor and a full round-seating lounge layout. Her name is a nod to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, chosen to suit a sloop that carries its passengers around Amsterdam's canals in style.
Pier: Amsterdam city centre, exact boarding point confirmed at time of booking.
Cruise types: Group cruises through Amsterdam's quieter waterways, private parties, social outings, family and corporate outings.
Capacity: Up to 32 passengers.
At roughly 9 metres long, the Willy is built around a comfortable round-seating lounge with cushions on the front deck, letting groups sit together facing one another rather than in rows. Her electric motor keeps the ride quiet enough for easy conversation even at full capacity.
- Boat class: Open sloop
- Length: ~9 metres
- Propulsion: Electric
- Seating: Round lounge seating with cushions
- Capacity: 32 max
Water tours on the Willy
The Willy sails on the following Alle Travel cruise:
De Lange Dapper
Dutch name: De Lange Dapper | English name: De Lange Dapper | Type: Covered lounge boat (weed-friendly)
De Lange Dapper is one of Amsterdam's weed-friendly canal boats, part of the wider category of cannabis-tolerant lounge cruises that has become a distinctive niche of the city's canal tourism. These cruises let adult passengers bring and consume their own cannabis on board in a comfortable, ventilated cabin while sailing past the city's historic sights.
Pier: Amsterdam city centre, exact boarding point confirmed at time of booking.
Cruise types: Weed-friendly/420 canal cruises, social group cruises for adults.
Capacity: Small to medium group sizes, typical of Amsterdam's lounge-boat class.
As with other boats in this niche, De Lange Dapper's main highlights are a relaxed lounge interior, ventilation suited to on-board smoking, and drinks included as part of the cruise package, making her a laid-back alternative to a conventional sightseeing tour.
- Boat class: Covered lounge boat
- Age requirement: 18+
- Ventilation: Designed for on-board smoking
Water tours on De Lange Dapper
De Lange Dapper is the vessel used for the following Alle Travel cruise:
De Pannenkoekenboot
Dutch name: Pannenkoekenboot | English name: The Pancake Boat | Type: Themed restaurant boat
De Pannenkoekenboot is Amsterdam's dedicated pancake-cruise vessel, sailing the IJ river rather than the narrower canal ring so that groups can enjoy an all-you-can-eat Dutch pancake buffet on the move. Unlike the canal-ring boats above, her route runs past Amsterdam's more modern waterfront landmarks — the A'DAM Tower, the EYE Film Museum, and the NDSM shipyard area — giving passengers a very different view of the city.
Pier: NDSM wharf, reached via the free F4 ferry from behind Amsterdam Centraal Station.
Cruise types: Family outings, group outings, corporate and school trips, birthday celebrations.
Capacity: Large group capacity, split across multiple decks.
The boat's signature highlight is its unlimited pancake buffet, served fresh throughout the 75-minute cruise with a choice of natural, apple, and bacon pancakes plus a full range of sweet and savoury toppings. A ball pit on the lower deck keeps younger passengers entertained, and the upper deck offers open-air views over the IJ.
- Boat class: Themed restaurant boat
- Route: IJ river (Amsterdam Noord waterfront)
- Cruise duration: ~75 minutes
- Decks: Multiple, including covered dining areas
- Onboard catering: Unlimited Dutch pancake buffet
Water tours on De Pannenkoekenboot
You can sail — and eat — aboard De Pannenkoekenboot on the following Alle Travel cruise:
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a saloon boat and a sloop in Amsterdam? A saloon boat ("salonboot") is an enclosed vessel with a cabin, upholstered seating, and typically a bar — built for dinners, high teas, and events in any weather. A sloop ("sloep") is an open-top boat, usually electric, better suited to a breezy sightseeing or drinks cruise with friends.
Do I get to choose the exact boat when booking a canal cruise? On public, shared cruises, the operator usually assigns the boat on the day based on group sizes and scheduling, so while the boats described above are the vessels typically used for a given tour, a sister boat from the same fleet may sail instead. Private charters generally let you request a specific vessel.
Are Amsterdam's canal boats wheelchair accessible? This varies by boat and operator — some classic vessels, including several historic saloon boats, are not wheelchair accessible due to their age and layout, while newer electric sloops and rondvaartboten are more likely to offer step-free boarding. Always check accessibility details on the specific tour page before booking.
Why do so many Amsterdam boats run on electric power? The city of Amsterdam has tightened rules on noise and emissions on the canals in recent years, and several operators — including Eco Boats Amsterdam, Flagship Amsterdam, and Amsterdam Circle Line — have shifted much of their fleet to fully electric propulsion, which is quieter, emission-free, and better suited to the UNESCO-listed canal ring.