In a nutshell
- A canal cruise through Amsterdam is a must when you are in the city! The canals make up Amsterdam and the trip offers you a different perspective of Amsterdam.
- Unfortunately, many canal trips are completely overloaded, which is why the charm of the trip is lost. A more exclusive boat tour is therefore the better option. This way you can really enjoy the canals.
- Flagship Amsterdam offers a relaxed open boat tour including drinks at really fair prices.
- We took the tour and share our experience with you. Spoiler: No city tour has ever been this chilling.
What is the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam?
The Open Boat Tour is a canal cruise through Amsterdam in an open boat – just as the name suggests.
The open boat gives you an undisturbed all-round view of the route and is the perfect way to discover Amsterdam from the water.
The tour operator is Flagship Amsterdam. A well-known and popular company that offers various first-class boat tours in Amsterdam.
The Open Boat Tour lasts 1 hour and includes:
- Super cozy boat
- Live commentary in English
- View of many sights and pretty canal districts
- Drinks on board

Open Boat Tour Amsterdam Tickets & Prices
The best way to buy tickets for your Open Boat Tour with Flagship Amsterdam is online. Either directly via Flagship Amsterdam or via the providers GetYourGuide and Tiqets.
It is also possible to buy tickets directly on the boat. However, this does not guarantee that there will be a free seat.
How much does the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam cost?
The ticket price is the same for all three online providers at around 22 euros for an adult. A spontaneous ticket on site also costs the same.
A ticket for children aged 3 to 11 costs around 11 euros.
Open boat tour with and without drinks option
The Open Boat from Flagship Amsterdam has a small bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. And there are two ways to get drinks during the trip.
The easiest option: you order your drink during the trip and pay for it on the spot. Easy.
The second option is to book an additional drinks option for your boat trip. This costs just under 10 euros more.
However, the drinks option cannot be booked for every trip and we personally advise against it. Nobody can manage more than one drink during a relaxed trip. And a drink on the spot costs “only” 4 euros.
But you can also simply take your own drink with you and drink during the journey. This is not forbidden. There is no coffee on board, for example.
Important information for buying tickets
The Open Boat Tour of Flagship Amsterdam has three different piers in the city. One at the Anne Frank House, one at the Central Station and one at the Rijksmuseum.
You choose the most suitable pier for you when booking and then make sure you are at the right address on the day of the boat trip. You will also find the address in your booking.
How the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam Works
So that you are optimally prepared for your Open Boat Tour through Amsterdam, we will let you know how the trip works.
How often does the Open Boat Amsterdam depart each day?
How often the boats depart depends on the pier you choose.
From the Anne Frank House jetty, the boats depart daily from 10.00 to 21.30 every 15 to 30 minutes. The same applies from the Central Station jetty.
Boats depart less frequently from the jetty at the Rijksmuseum. From here, only around 8 trips depart daily between 10.00 am and 08.30 pm. In the low season there may be fewer.
Where does the Open Boat Amsterdam depart from?
As already mentioned, there are three different piers in the center of Amsterdam for the Open Boat tours of Flagship Amsterdam:
Anne Frank House jetty
Prinsengracht 263-267
1016 DW Amsterdam
Jetty Rijksmuseum
Museumbrug 1
1017 RW Amsterdam
Jetty Central Station
Prins Hendrikkade 33A
1012 TM Amsterdam
You choose the right pier for you when you book your ticket!
What can you take with you on the canal cruise?
Of course, you should definitely take a camera with you on the Open Boat Tour through Amsterdam. In good weather, sunglasses are advisable. When it rains in Amsterdam, bring a rain jacket or umbrella. However, there are also umbrellas on board that you can borrow.
Read more about the best time to visit Amsterdam
You can also bring your own snacks and drinks.
Smoking is not permitted on the boat. But if you are interested, the guides will give you insider information about the coffee shops in Amsterdam.
When should you be at the pier and are there waiting times?
For the Open Boat Tour, you should be at your chosen pier around 15 minutes before departure. It’s better to be too early than too late.
With a ticket booked online, you don’t have to worry about waiting times. You show your ticket to a guide and can get on the boat straight away.
However, if you don’t have an online ticket and want to take a boat trip spontaneously, you will have to be prepared for waiting times. These depend on the pier, season, day and time.
Our tip: If possible, choose the Rijksmuseum pier when booking. The tours from here are very quiet and not as crowded as the tours from Anne Frank House and Central Station.
What can you see during the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam?
The neighborhoods, canals and sights you see on the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam depend on the pier you choose.
From the Anne Frank House pier, for example, you will see the famous Prinsengracht, the Anne Frank House, the Westerkerk and the beautiful Jordaan district.
From the Central Station pier, you can see the Amsterdam harbor, the VOC ship Amsterdam and the docks.
From the Rijksmuseum jetty, you will see the huge Rijksmuseum building and the Museum Quarter as well as the chic canal district with the most expensive canal houses in the city, the Magere Brug and the Reguliersgracht with its 7 bridges.
Where does the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam end?
The Open Boat Tour ends where it started. At your chosen starting point.
Our Experience with the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam
We took the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam from the Rijksmuseum at 10 am. Everyone else was probably still having breakfast at that time. There were only 6 of us on board.
The small group meant that everyone had a free choice of seats and we were able to ask lots of questions. A canal cruise in the morning is therefore a good option if you like it quieter. Amsterdam is also wonderfully quiet at this time of day.
We were accompanied by 2 local guides with immense insider knowledge.
We had expected to hear only the usual platitudes about the most famous sights in Amsterdam. Instead, we got one cool fact after another:
Why are the canal houses leaning forward? Why are some houses so narrow and others so wide? How expensive were and are canal houses? How was Amsterdam built in the first place? Can you swim in the canals?

We were even shown a water sample taken from the canals. And contrary to expectations, the water was completely clear!
But our favorite little tip was this one: Touching an Amsterdam bridge from below brings a lifetime of good luck. Of course we didn’t miss out on it, hehe.
And some of the bridges under which the boat passes are so low that you have to crouch down while sitting. A cool experience.
All in all, the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam is a great way to discover Amsterdam in a relaxed way from the water, learn a lot about the respective neighborhood and get first-hand Amsterdam insider tips.
And even if we think that the quiet boat trip from the Rijksmuseum can’t be beaten, we would also try the trips from the other piers. We thought it was great!
FAQ about the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam
Are children allowed on the Open Boat Tour?
The Open Boat Tour Amsterdam is suitable for children aged 3 and over.
Can strollers be brought on board?
If the stroller can be folded up and doesn’t take up much space, then it can be taken on board. Large strollers are not permitted.
Are dogs allowed on the Open Boat Tour?
Yes! Flagship Amsterdam’s Open Boat Tour is one of the only Amsterdam canal cruises where dogs are allowed.
Is the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam barrier-free?
No. The Open Boat Tour Amsterdam is not barrier-free and therefore not suitable for people with mobility limitations or wheelchair users.
Does the Open Boat Amsterdam rock a lot?
No. Because there are no real waves on the Amsterdam canals, the boat doesn’t really rock.
Can I cancel my Open Boat Tour Amsterdam ticket?
Free cancellation is possible on GetYourGuide and Tiqets up to 24 hours before your booked trip.
If you booked your ticket directly through Flagship Amsterdam, the refund depends on the respective situation.
Changing the date and time is always free.
This was our experience with the Open Boat Tour Amsterdam
Have you already done the tour, do you have any questions or can you recommend another trip? Then please write us a comment. We look forward to hearing from you!