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Renting a sloop on the Amsterdam canals

IgniteLiving

Automatically translated · View original (Dutch)

Half a day cruising through the Canal Ring in an open sloop with no boating licence required. What it costs, how to book, and which route suits Amsterdam best.

duration

€ 350–550

budget

Ignite

pace

Renting a sloop on the Amsterdam canals means sailing through the UNESCO World Heritage Canal Ring, past Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. No boating licence is required for an open electric sloop up to fifteen metres and a maximum of twenty kilometres per hour. The skipper is usually at least eighteen years old, and at some rental companies twenty-one. During peak season between May and July, booking six to eight weeks in advance is advisable; outside that season two to four weeks is sufficient. Rates are around 90 to 140 euros per hour for a sloop accommodating six to eight people.

The standard route runs via Brouwersgracht to Reguliersgracht with its seven bridges, along the Amstel and back via Singel. Many canals are one-way with low clearance heights from 1.80 metres; low sloops can pass underneath. BBQ on board is banned by almost all rental companies within the city, though a cold picnic is perfectly fine. Children under twelve must wear a life jacket, which is provided.

Checklist

0 of 6

Vaarbewijs niet nodig tot 15m
Schipper minimaal 18 jaar
Zwemvesten voor kinderen onder 12
Reservering bevestigen per mail
ID-bewijs schipper meenemen
Koude picknick inpakken

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Renting a boat on the Amsterdam canals

Step aboard a rental boat and spend a day cruising through the Amsterdam canals, past canal houses, bridges, and mooring spots for a lunch stop.

by PlayTryBe team

Choose a rental company based on mooring location and sloop size, and compare Westerdok, Marineterrein and Amstel.

Book at least four weeks in advance, and six to eight weeks ahead between May and July.

Arrive half an hour early for the briefing and the map showing one-way routes.

pause

Put life jackets on children under twelve, and check whether the rental company provides them.

Follow the standard route along Brouwersgracht, Prinsengracht, Reguliersgracht and back via the Amstel.

Keep to the right and give way to tour boats at intersections.

Return the sloop on time, being late often costs fifty euros per quarter of an hour.

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Do as we did

PaceIgnite

Duration4u

RouteAny order

Budget€ 350–550

Suggestions

Start early, before noon the canals are quieter.
Bring a power bank for the speakers and phone navigation.
Book with electric rental companies, it saves you noise and exhaust fumes.
For groups of eight or more, choose a sloop with a canopy in case of rain.
Avoid Saturday afternoon, it gets packed with tour boats.

Variations

- Avondvaart na zonsondergang met de verlichte bruggen aan.
- Combineer met een lunchstop bij Hannekes Boom of REM Eiland.
- Pak een ochtendrit van drie uur als eerste tijdslot, dan zijn de grachten leeg.
- Vaar door naar het IJ en het Oosterdok voor een ruimer perspectief.