CANAL CRUISE
Water taxi
A small boat that takes you from one quay to another, or around the canals for as long as you book it.
A taxi on the water
Amsterdam has water taxis: small, fast boats with a driver that you book for a ride between two places on the water, or for a private tour of the canals by the hour. They are a smart way to reach a restaurant or hotel on the water, or to give a small group its own short canal tour.
What you see
On a ride, whatever lies between A and B. On a tour, you choose: the canal ring, the IJ behind Centraal Station or the Amstel with the Magere Brug.
Good to know
You pay for the boat, not per person, and you book ahead by phone or online. A water taxi is quicker than a cruise boat, so an hour goes a long way.
Before you go
- Book ahead and agree on a pick-up point; Centraal Station is the usual one.
- You pay per boat, so it suits a small group.
- For a tour, say which canals you want to see.
What people say
Related spots
More things to do in Amsterdam ›
LANDMARKMagere Brug
The white wooden drawbridge over the Amstel, lit by 1,200 bulbs at night.
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 CRUISEHarbour and IJ cruise
Tours that leave the canal ring for the IJ and the docks, where Amsterdam’s harbour and new architecture meet.
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 Water taxi. 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.
CITY QUESTThe Ghost Ship
Follow one ship from the wharf to the replica. Ending on her deck is the point.
AUDIO TOURRed Light District
Seven centuries of sailors, sin and stubborn tolerance. The real history of the oldest part of town, told straight.