CANAL CRUISE
Harbour and IJ cruise
Tours that leave the canal ring for the IJ and the docks, where Amsterdam’s harbour and new architecture meet.
The other side of the water
Most canal cruises stay in the canal ring, but Amsterdam was built as a port, and some tours go out to show it. They cross the IJ behind Centraal Station and follow the waterfront east and west: the eastern docks, the cruise terminal, the old warehouses and the new housing on former harbour islands.
It is the cruise for people who have seen the canals and want something different, or who like architecture.
What you see
The EYE film museum and the A'DAM tower on the north bank, the green ship-shaped NEMO science museum, the old harbour of the Oosterdok and the converted warehouses and new homes of the eastern docklands. Many tours also loop through a part of the canal ring.
Good to know
The IJ is open water, so it can be windy: bring a layer, even on a covered boat. For the cheapest view of the IJ, take the free ferry to Noord; a harbour cruise adds the commentary and the docks you cannot reach by ferry.
Before you go
- Harbour tours mostly leave from the jetties by Centraal Station.
- It is windier on the IJ than in the canals; bring a layer.
- For a quick free look at the IJ, take the ferry to Noord instead.
What people say
Related spots
More things to do in Amsterdam ›
LANDMARKFree ferry to Amsterdam Noord
The free ferries behind Centraal Station: the best cheap view of the IJ.
CANAL CRUISEWater taxi
A small boat that takes you from one quay to another, or around the canals for as long as you book it.
CANAL CRUISEAmsterdam Light Festival cruise
In winter, light artworks hang over the canals; the evening boats follow the route past them.
CANAL CRUISEEvening canal cruise
The canals after dark, with the bridges lit and the windows of the canal houses glowing.
CANAL CRUISEDinner cruise
A meal served on board while the boat takes the long way through the canals, usually in the evening.
CANAL CRUISECovered glass boat cruise
The classic one-hour canal tour in a big boat with a glass roof, running all year in any weather.
Tours and quests that pass here
These walks have a stop a few minutes from Harbour and IJ cruise. Free, on your phone, start any time.
AUDIO TOURAmsterdam Ghost Tour
Plague pits, public executions and the canal that swallowed people. The city's grim side, told without the cheap scares.
AUDIO TOURMaritime Amsterdam
Warehouses, shipyards and the trading empire run from these docks — including the parts the statues leave out.
CITY QUESTThe Ghost Ship
Follow one ship from the wharf to the replica. Ending on her deck is the point.