Cancel

Open app

Search

Blue Boat Company

3.4 (76 reviews)
Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Blue Boat Company Photos

Recommended Reviews - Blue Boat Company

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Henry's T.

When visiting Amsterdam I'm not sure how you could avoid traversing at least some of their 165 canals, but why would you want to? We set out to experience as many as possible, but with nearly 50 miles of them to explore, a plan was surely warranted. Fortunately we just happened to be visiting during the 13th Annual Amsterdam Light Festival and were able to enjoy a cruise along a multitude of canals. As we passed beneath an unnumbered collection of the city's 1,281 bridges, we eagerly awaited what form of lighted artwork might be awaiting us on the other side. This year's event spans November 28th-January 19th and celebrates Amsterdam's 750th birthday. The majority of the seating is enclosed, but the best views and pictures/videos can be captured from outside at the back of the boat. Most of our fellow travelers were dissuaded by the cold on the evening of our tour, so great vantage points were readily available. Audio tours in multiple languages are provided, there is a restroom on board, small snacks can be purchased prior to boarding, and the staff is willing to assist those who are unable to descend/ascend the boat's steep staircase. And that's...Henry's Take. #amsterdamcanals

Boat
Darrell K.

I was dropped off at the wrong location and had to walk a little ways to get to the boarding in Amsterdam. Just follow the canal. No problem. It was a nice scenic walk. On arrival I was checked in and boarded. We were told that we could listen via the headsets for the presentation of the tour. It is a 90 minute ride and worth ot. The only downside was a group in front that decided that they should open a window on a chilly night. The route was scenic and very informative. It is lit up and beautiful at night. Exiting the boat was interesting. We all went the wrong way. The guide finally opened the correct gate. I am glad I finally did this and would definitely recommend.

Tyler L.

This is one of many boat companies that do canal cruises. Their standard boat is a longer, slower boat where you sit inside a covered ceiling. We chose this company due to their affordable price and convenient location near Damrak. The cruise on the canal was informative, though relatively boring overall. I think if I was to do one of these ever again, I would go for a smaller boat with an open top.

Blue Boat does canal boat tours. I used my I amsterdam city card to get on for no additional fee. The process is different from buying tickets directly from Blue Boat. You can't do it online. I went to a ticketing office, showed them the I amsterdam app and the QR code. They scanned it and gave me a boarding pass. The boarding pass let me on the boat. They give you free ear buds. You can listen to an audio tour in one of about 20 different languages. The audio tour didn't have much; the captain spoke a lot more (and in English). There are a few different location. I started at the dock near the Heineken Experience. The 75 minute tour went around the center of the city. Up to the Keizergracht, up to the Ij river, east to the Nieuwe Herengracht, south along the Amstel, then back to the starting point. You get some views that you can't normally get just by walking around. Even without the I amsterdam card, it doesn't cost much. I can't compare this company to other canal tours, but a canal tour is definitely worth it. I would recommend wearing sunglasses.

Blue Boat Company - Canal Tour
Jim B.

We selected the Blue Boat Company as we'd purchased a voucher with a discount through "Booking". Our tour was about 75 minutes in length. We sat near the center of a long boat. The roof was mostly open. We sat at a table for 6. Lucky for us - only 4 sat at our table. Six would have been tight. There was an audio guide through the use of ear buds. The narration was sparse. I would have preferred a live English speaking guide but I understand the tour has tourists who speak many different languages, so the ear buds was the best fit. I was able to go to the back of the boat and stand outside for some pictures. Other pictures, I just stood up and raised my camera up over the boat roof. The canal tour was decent, but honestly, you see most of the same things as you walk around the city. The exception was when we hit the main waterway near the main train station. And that was cool to see the station from the water and other landmarks in that area.

Anastazia V.

We ended up buying tickets (32 EUR for 2) for the canal cruise after we visited Heineken. We were scheduled to leave at 1:45pm. We lined up to get on the boat and they oversold tickets for the time slot. We had a seat but we ended up giving it up to a group that was having a bachelorette party so they could sit together. We were told we could go on the other boat - which we did and it was horrible. The boat was OLD and the guy giving the tour we couldn't even understand. 3 stars is because it is cool to cruise through the canals and see all the houseboats and neat buildings but I would choose a different company if I were you!

Ana K.

We had a boat trip at 8pm - which was great, because we saw the sun go down and so we had some time in the sunshine, some in the dusk and then in the dark with all the beautiful lights. I can only recommend this trip, really shows the city of Amsterdam from a different perspective. We had a great evening - really good value for the money!

See all

1 year ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 3
Love this 6
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Tyler L.
769
1949
3276

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Amy H.
36
113
1

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mike P.
0
297
62

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Nick S.
70
1593
1955

14 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Jo M.
4
327
3

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Cindy K.

Cindy K.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jen Y.
18
12
40

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Don B.
19
43
0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Blue Boat Company Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Blue Boat Company

I can't compare this company to other canal tours, but a canal tour is definitely worth it.

Mentioned in 9 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Pure Boats - Pauline shared the history and stories of the area

Pure Boats

(86 reviews)

West, Staatsliedenbuurt

Best Amsterdam Canal Cruise! Our family of 3 enjoyed the must comfortable and scenic 9am morning…read morecruise. Just the right amount of time on the water, we were fully engaged the whole time. There was a small toilet on our boat but went unused as the tour goes quickly. Waters, wine, and beers were offered and a few of our friends enjoyed beverages. The quality and professionalism was outstanding, with a very knowledgeable English speaking captain (Pauline was great!). After seeing the other boats jam packed with tourists, we knew we made the right choice. Pure Boats is the way to go. Book it!

My boyfriend and I loved our experience at Pure Boats, especially after enduring a French boat…read morecruise that prioritized quantity over quality. Such an intimate boat with an open bar, charcuterie board, and friendly tour guide. I made four or five mimosas before I calmed down. We asked questions about living in the Netherlands that are rather unconventional, and he still managed to answer all of them. He managed to balance guiding the boat and conversing with all guests very well. He also stopped for all the guests to take photos at particularly scenic points in our tour. Definitely worth it to take your tour in the evening while the sun is setting and the weather isn't too hot! Most people who came were celebrating engagements or honeymoons. If that doesn't speak to the testament of the quality of this place, I don't know what does! Trusting a spot with one of the few important moments in your life where you don't splurge is impressive. We definitely passed by our fair share of other boat cruises, and this one has the most lovely interior. The high rating on Yelp is well deserved. What a memorable moment of our Amsterdam trip.

MokumBoot - Thumbs up for our Captain Mike!

MokumBoot

(19 reviews)

West

Highly highly recommend if you're looking to do a canal cruise in Amsterdam. I found Mokumboot…read morethrough the I Amsterdam Card (the cruise is included in the card) and decided to book because it was the only company on the card with an open boat. Making reservations was easy online and the boat was easy to find. We essentially had a semi private tour because there were only 3 other guests on board. Mike and our Captain made it such a fun, safe, and enjoyable experience. Because it was an open boat we got to take amazing pictures and even got to touch the underside of the bridges for good luck. It sprinkled lightly for a few minutes during our tour but they have plenty of clear umbrellas on board. Check out Mokumboot! You won't regret it!

Highest possible recommendation and THANK YOU to the lovely Mike and Mariah for yesterday's canal…read morecruise. This open boat - the ONLY way to do this experience - carried us down the Amsterdam canals and it was the perfect way to wrap my trip to Amsterdam. Mike and Mariah are knowledgeable, courteous guides and they made the trip that much more pleasurable with their history lessons. Drinks are available and the first one is on the house (boat)! Will I ever have the chance again to sip white wine while cruising the Amsterdam canals? Maybe not, but thank goodness I got to do it once. Recommend using your I Amsterdam card for this experience (20 euro otherwise) and, don't worry, there's not a bad seat on the boat. Thank you very much, Mike and Mariah!

Leemstar Amsterdam Canal Cruises - Captain Floris and our crew

Leemstar Amsterdam Canal Cruises

(22 reviews)

Centrum

Why 5 stars? Because this was an amazing way to see Amsterdam…read more --- --- --- In planning our one day to Amsterdam, I assumed we would be doing a canal cruise, but hadn't put much more thought into it than that. When we arrived at our hotel, the concierge asked if we wanted to sign up for a cruise that would pick us up right in front of the door at 3pm that afternoon. That was about as convenient as possible for us, so we signed up for it without knowing much more than that. I was a little hesitant about spending 70 euros on it, but it ended up being worth it. There were only 12 of us on board, plus the captain, who was American, but with Dutch roots. He was the perfect host: informative and entertaining, but also low key. He offered us drinks throughout the 90 minute tour, as well. I liked that the boat we were on did have some cover, but it was also open in parts too. I sat in the very back, which allowed me to get a little warmth from the covered area, but I was still able to get some unobstructed photos. If you are looking for a canal cruise in Amsterdam, I can't think of a single negative about our experience with this one!

I can't imagine how our excursion with Leemstar could have been better. We had a group of 8 take…read morethe canal cruise. Our captain, Floris, was outstanding. He was warm, welcoming and very knowledgeable. He made us feel at home immediately. The boat was very special: all wood, comfortable seating benches and closed in with windows and open areas for easy photo taking. Floris was knowledgeable and asked if we wished commentary, which we wanted. The commentary included maps to help orient us to the trip. We booked a 'cruise' for 5:30 pm but our taxi did not show up at the hotel. I called Leemstar and shortly received a phone call from Floris checking on our progress. Fortunately we obtained alternate taxis and made it on time, but having Floris check with us relieved anxiety. We had ordered two cheese boards and drinks. There was beer, Prosecco, wine and soft drinks. It was all delicious and added a special touch to our cruising. The canals and river area we travelled were gorgeous. Floris' commentary was fascinating and humorous. He is a very articulate. Again, after a Viking Cruise and excursions totaling 19 days, everyone in our group thought this canal cruise was one the the top highlights of our entire trip. You won't go wrong booking a cruise with Leemstar.

Amsterdam Boat Center

Amsterdam Boat Center

(4 reviews)

Centrum

Skip those large canal boat rides and go with a small boat and personalized tour with a native of…read moreAmsterdam. Our guide Jan was a first-rate skipper, guide, and a great on board host. Filled with knowledge and unusual things to see along the way, Jan was as personal and friendly as you could ever hope for in a tour guide / skipper. This was truly one of the highlights of our time in Amsterdam. The boat was small, and comfortable for the 4 of us, we drank beer and wine while nibbling on small bites, as we toured Amsterdam from the water. I lived in Amsterdam for quite some time and had walked most of the canals Jan took us through, but I learned plenty on this boat tour. Jan is a native of Amsterdam, and skippers' tours every day. I would not hesitate to recommend Amsterdam Boat Center if you're looking for a unique way to see Amsterdam.

My family and I very much enjoyed our Amsterdam Boat Center canal tour earlier in August. There…read moreare many canal tour companies in the area to pick from and while this one is on the pricier side, it was a very nice experience and lasted 90 minutes. The boat itself is very authentic and was very comfortable to sit in. We cruised through numerous canals around the city while the captain (who also acted as our guide) talked about the canals, history of Amsterdam, and the buildings flanking the canals. The only drawback was the lack of microphone because the captain/guide was difficult to hear at times if you were sitting in the back and other passengers were talking.

Rederij P. Kooij

Rederij P. Kooij

(24 reviews)

De Wallen, Centrum

I couldn't be in Amsterdam without taking a canal cruise..... Luckily, I was able to hop onto this…read moreone. For EUR14.50 for a hour cruise, I really couldn't go wrong. The boat had several tables to sit at. The tour was a pre-recorded English speaking narration. However, the captain of the boat would interject at times. Go and relax! Enjoy a cruise!

Imagine a budget airline with no frills but gets you from Point A to Point B. Well, Rederji Boat…read moreTours does just that for your Amsterdam canal experience, and that's the way I like it. Seriously can't get better than a €10.50 boat ride that allows you to experience one of the greatest cities in Europe. My friend and I agreed that we just wanted to experience going through the canals on a nice day while still learning a bit about the history of Amsterdam. Rederji popped up in my search mostly for how affordable the experience was! Their departure dock is easy to find and boats set sail roughly every half hour or until it gets filled. The tour lasts for about 90 minutes and you truly get to see what makes Amsterdam so beautiful. The tour is automated with an announcer cycling through 3-4 different languages, with English being the third making it easy to catch the site while hearing what it's about. I'll admit that some parts seemed to stretch a bit (e.g. this random person's mansion squished between two equally as amusing buildings), but we didn't mind. There's no formalities and no bag checks, so you can feel free to bring snacks and drinks on board with you as you set sail around the canals. We enjoyed our time on this boat and would recommend it for anyone on a budget and want an enjoyable experience.

Gs Brunch Boat

Gs Brunch Boat

(10 reviews)

€€€

Centrum

This was really wonderful! I would absolutely recommend getting the bottomless option as they were…read moreconstantly going around to fill drinks and I really felt like I was getting my money's worth.

One of a kind brunch experience - people I tell you, you should definetly go there!…read more When visiting Amsterdam you cannot miss on taking a canal tour - and when you get the opportunity to combine it with a boozy brunch you definitly take that chance! We went last saturday morning at 12 o'clock - expecting not to get a place on board at all, because we only found out about the tour the night before and no reservations were possible (booked out until June!). So if you have a chance to make a reservation, you should definitely try! We only got lucky because of the nicest team on board who made space for us in a tiny corner of the boat with a box-turned-into-table - we couldn't really look outside the window without standing up, but we got our tour and even got charged less. This ist how you make people start great into their day! Right after the boat got off into the canals we were served mimosas and bloody marys and after that very tasty eggs benedict and waffles. The portions were not enormous so we were quite happy that we ordered a portion of starters as well. And there was banana bread included for desert so all in all we left the boat after two hours happily filled and slightly drunk :) What a perfect way to start off a sunny saturday in Amsterdam!

Blue Boat Company - boatcharters - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...