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    Captain Dave Amsterdam

    5.0 (22 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Captain Dave Amsterdam Photos

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    Light breakfast on boat. Bread with butter & orange juice with pulp.
    Jennie T.

    Captain Dave's canal cruise is a nice way to start the day! I took the earliest reservation, which is at 8am, and waited at the meetup spot half an hour early. I'm a real early bird, especially during vacation so I don't miss out on anything, but I would advise you not to worry if you think you'll be cutting it close. The boat didn't arrive until five minutes to the scheduled time, which also is good to note that you shouldn't expect the boat to be sitting there before 8am. I spent most of my free time searching for it, when I could've stayed at the empty part of the canal and waited patiently. So, if you consider taking this tour, remember that you will NOT see the boat early before your start time. Upon arrival, we were invited in by the actual Captain Dave! There are several hosts within the tour, and I was lucky enough to meet the founder. He introduced himself to us, and gave us a chance to introduce ourselves too. This could be a problem to guests who'd rather sit quietly and enjoy the view because throughout their over an hour journey, you will be talking with other passengers. If not, it's likely the Captain will check in with you to make sure you're having a good time. I did speak with people, but I was the only attendee from my reservation, which is probably why the Captain gave me a little more attention at certain points. While it wasn't necessary, as I'm comfortable sitting in silence, I did appreciate his efforts to keep me entertained. I took this cruise on my 1st full day in Amsterdam. I believe it provides a great overview of what the city has to offer on land & sea. I chose the earliest time too because less boats are in motion; so if you're looking for a peaceful, intimate setting to observe the area, then this is your best option. There is sweet bread offered, along with coffee, tea & orange juice. Not exactly filling for breakfast, but enough to keep your stomach from rumbling. It did taste good, and I caught myself refilling my glass with juice and my plate with bread & butter. Captain Dave had a vast amount of knowledge about the area, with things I would've never known about if I hadn't taken his tour. Without spoiling, some information ranged from where you could spot Old versus New Amsterdam, the history behind the buildings, and even how the boat is connected to royalty! The tour did last longer than anticipated, and we were done by around 9:30am, which was warned beforehand, but be wary in case you plan for any other events so they don't clash with the time. Ultimately, I found this to be a worthwhile experience and I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Amsterdam for the first time. Before you head into the most popularized parts of the city (AKA Red Light District) take a step back, relax, and appreciate the history that has been built around you.

    Brian V.

    This is our second Canal Cruise in Amsterdam and compared to the first this was stellar. We didn't have Captain Dave we had Jan. He was absolutely fabulous. He knew more about Amsterdam than most locals. A true gem. It was intimate and despite having hail and rain was warm and, inviting. This was a top 10 for sure!

    Driving the boat

    8am tour was amazing, no other boats our so was able to get amazing photos! Captain Dave was so fun and shared so much information.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    great boat, great tour and great captain (Jan)! This small tour was excellent, totally unscripted and informative.

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    2 years ago

    Cute blond captain was entertaining and knowledgeable. Started and ended on time. Beautiful day.

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    3 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Captain Dave Amsterdam

    great boat, great tour and great captain (Jan)!

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    Captain Jack Amsterdam

    Captain Jack Amsterdam

    5.0(27 reviews)
    1.0 kmCentrum

    Last night we booked a "peaceful, romantic, CO-neutral evening canal cruise" in Amsterdam. What we…read moregot instead was part sightseeing tour, part improv comedy, and part low-speed nautical thriller. Honestly, I am still laughing. Our captain, Stefanie, opened the evening with what I can only describe as a legally binding statement "I will tell you everything about Amsterdam... and I will not lie." Bold. Confident. Inspirational. I trusted her immediately. To be clear, Stefanie was fantastic. Funny, personable, and working hard the entire time to keep things upbeat. The canals at night are stunning. The setting is absolutely top-tier. Now let's talk about the experience. The boat was described as "intimate," and credit where it's due, it actually was. Plenty of room, very comfortable. But the crowd was so international it felt like the United Nations had decided to take a field trip. I am pretty sure we solved at least two global issues before we left the dock. Then the journey began. Reverse gear? Optional. Possibly theoretical. The Red Light District? Hyped like the grand finale. "You have to see it at night." Did we see it? No. The canal was closed. Somewhere, dessert was served without us. At one point, we entered what I can only describe as a delicate negotiation with either another boat or a bridge. It was not a crash. It was more like two vehicles gently disagreeing about personal space. And through all of this, Stefanie remained calm, smiling, and narrating like everything was exactly as planned. Which brings me to my favorite moment of the night. During the chaos, she says "Please, take anything you want, I am so sorry!" Now remember, this is the same woman who PROMISED not to lie. So naturally, when we returned to the dock, I grabbed a bottle of wine. Not greedily. Respectfully. Like a man honoring a verbal contract. Immediately, a deckhand appears out of nowhere "You can't take that." I respond, calmly and with conviction "Stefanie said we could." Stefanie, without even blinking "I meant candies." Candies. At that exact moment, I realized I had just witnessed a masterclass in precision language. She did not lie. Not technically. She simply... left room for interpretation. Did she promise too much at the beginning of the tour? Possibly. Did I misunderstand the scope of "anything"? Also possible. Was I emotionally prepared to trade wine for candy? Absolutely not. All jokes aside, it was a hilarious, memorable, and genuinely fun evening. Not the flawless, whisper-quiet romantic cruise you might expect, but something far better. A boat full of great people, a captain who handled mild chaos like a pro, and a story that gets funnier every time I tell it. Would I do it again? Yes. Would I ask for a written list of what "anything you want" includes? Also yes.

    Alfred the guide was awesome. He was able to answer all our questions. He was knowledgeable and…read moreexplained the history in a way we could understand. Great job!! Judy

    Photos
    Captain Jack Amsterdam - View from the boat - no cover so you can see better

    View from the boat - no cover so you can see better

    Captain Jack Amsterdam - My friend and I enjoying snacks and wine

    My friend and I enjoying snacks and wine

    Captain Jack Amsterdam

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

    Pure Boats

    4.9(86 reviews)
    2.7 kmWest, 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.

    Photos
    Pure Boats - Great Dutch beer that I got to try on board.

    Great Dutch beer that I got to try on board.

    Pure Boats - Our skipper sharing history of Amsterdam with us- very knowledgeable- great way to start the trip.

    Our skipper sharing history of Amsterdam with us- very knowledgeable- great way to start the trip.

    Pure Boats - Captain Jasper

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    Captain Jasper

    Leemstar Amsterdam Canal Cruises - Captain Floris and our crew

    Leemstar Amsterdam Canal Cruises

    4.9(22 reviews)
    1.1 kmCentrum

    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.

    Photos
    Leemstar Amsterdam Canal Cruises - Leemstar ready for the seasonb to start

    Leemstar ready for the seasonb to start

    Leemstar Amsterdam Canal Cruises
    Leemstar Amsterdam Canal Cruises

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    Amsterdam Boat Center

    Amsterdam Boat Center

    4.5(4 reviews)
    0.9 kmCentrum

    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.

    Photos
    Amsterdam Boat Center
    Amsterdam Boat Center - Comfortable open boats with toilet on board

    Comfortable open boats with toilet on board

    Amsterdam Boat Center

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    Rederij P. Kooij

    Rederij P. Kooij

    3.8(24 reviews)
    0.6 kmDe 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.

    Photos
    Rederij P. Kooij
    Rederij P. Kooij
    Rederij P. Kooij

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    Captain Dave Amsterdam - boattours - Updated May 2026

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