Off The Beaten Path Hidden Gems Canal Cruise

5.0
(9 reviews)

1 hour 30 minutes (approximately)
Offered in: English

We drift different. While other boats herd 50+ people with megaphones, we keep it small and real. Think Amsterdam friends who own a boat.

Your captains, Jannah & Beer were born here. They know which bridge lights up best, where locals like to drink coffee and share some real life stories of crazy stuff we experienced on the canals.

Come as you are. Kick off shoes, grab blankets, help yourself to drinks. This isn't a museum boat - it's floating through Amsterdam in your friend's living room.

We skip tourist traps for hidden gems. You'll float past where Amsterdam actually lives. Max 6 people means real conversations.

Amsterdam moves fast. We move at water speed. No rush, no stress. Just good people and calm water.

You'll see Amsterdam like locals do - from the water, with people who live here. Plus you get a Polaroid and our insider map.

Welcome aboard. Welcome home.

What's Included

Small group energy
Insider Map of the cafés, museums, restaurants & more, that we like to go too.
Covered in case of rain
Cozy blankets
Good vibes guarantee
That Polaroid moment
Available for regular prices onboard
Feel free to bring your own though!
Available for regular prices onboard
Instagram performance pressure
Weather guarantees
Scripted tour guide speech

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
Picnic spot

Go to the jetty/dock on the canal side. That's where we will wait for you!

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes (approximately)
  • Brouwersgracht (Pass by)

    Brouwersgracht, the brewers' canal, made Amsterdam rich with beer money 400 years ago. The fancy houses you see? Built by beer makers who got wealthy here. Now artists and locals live in old warehouses. You'll spot houseboats covered in flowers where people actually live year-round

    Admission ticket free
  • Herengracht (Pass by)

    Herengracht has been Amsterdam's fanciest street since 1612, when rich guys built massive houses here. These belonged to mayors and traders who got wealthy from spice trading. These aren't museums - they're still the most expensive homes in Europe. The canal stretches 2.4 kilometers through the heart of the city.

    Admission ticket free
  • Blauwburgwal (Pass by)

    Blauwburgwal is tiny at just 100 meters long but packed with big history. The name means "blue fortress wall" from when it protected the city. In 1940, bombs hit this street and killed 44 people. Now it's quiet and narrow. Most tourists miss it completely.

    Admission ticket free
  • Singel (Pass by)

    Singel is Amsterdam's original moat that kept enemies out until the city got too big for its boots. Spot the world's narrowest house at number 7

    Admission ticket free
  • Haarlemmersluis (Pass by)

    Haarlemmersluis is the 17th-century lock where herring used to get packed and shipped. Now canal boats pass through daily where fish traders once made their fortunes.

    Admission ticket free
  • IJ (Pass by)

    The IJ is Amsterdam's huge water that used to connect to the North Sea. This is where the city's sea adventures began and ships from everywhere still dock. You'll see old Amsterdam on one side and modern buildings on the other - showing how this city keeps growing.

    Admission ticket free
  • Amsterdam North (Pass by)

    Amsterdam Noord is where young creatives live across the water. Artists took over old factories here after industry moved out. The NDSM Wharf used to build ships but now it's full of art studios and startups. Old meets new everywhere you look.

    Admission ticket free
  • Houthavens (Pass by)

    Houthavens loaded timber for centuries. Now young professionals live in glass towers while old harbor cranes watch like metal giraffes.

    Admission ticket free
  • Prinseneiland (Pass by)

    Prinseneiland is the smallest Western Island where artists made their home. After WWII, creative people moved into empty warehouses here. It used to store wine, tobacco, and salt for the Dutch West India Company. Now those same buildings house charming canal homes.

    Admission ticket free
  • Westelijke Eilanden (Pass by)

    Realeneiland, named after the rich Reael family, is where Amsterdam built its ships. Shipbuilders, fish packers, and tar companies made this island buzz with work. Thirteen sea captains' houses still stand from when ocean money was made right here.

    Admission ticket free
  • Lijnbaansgracht (Pass by)

    Lijnbaansgracht, the rope canal, got its name from rope makers who needed long spaces to make ship rigging. Built in 1612, parts got filled in during the 1800s to create squares and streets you still see today connecting neighborhoods.

    Admission ticket free
  • Bloemgracht (Pass by)

    Bloemgracht, the flower canal, ranks as one of Amsterdam's most beautiful waterways. Trees and 1600s buildings create perfect light that everyone tries to capture. Locals bike past while visitors stop for photos. The name flower canal makes total sense when you see it.

    Admission ticket free
  • Cafe Papeneiland (Pass by)

    Café Papeneiland has been operating since 1642 on this famous corner. This brown café serves the apple pie that made Bill Clinton order a whole one to take away. The wooden inside and old tiles tell stories of Dutch history with pure Amsterdam vibes.

    Admission ticket free
  • Prinsengracht (Pass by)

    Prinsengracht - 3.2 kilometers of Amsterdam's longest canal. Anne Frank hid here. Rembrandt's buried at Westerkerk. Houseboats where creatives live.

    Admission ticket free
  • Egelantiersgracht (Pass by)

    Egelantiersgracht gets its name from the wild rose and was built for skilled workers and craftsmen. The houses are smaller than the fancy main canals because real working people lived here instead of rich merchants. That's exactly why they're so popular with locals now.

    Admission ticket free
  • Leliegracht (Pass by)

    Leliegracht, the lily canal, offers one of Amsterdam's most peaceful waterways lined with beautiful 1600s buildings. Small boats float by while locals drink coffee at cute cafés along the banks. It's a hidden gem that most visitors never find.

    Admission ticket free
  • The Jordaan (Pass by)

    The Jordaan neighborhood used to be Amsterdam's poor area but now it's the most wanted place to live. Built for craftsmen and working people who made their own music and culture. Since the 1970s, artists and young professionals discovered this maze of small streets and cozy cafés.

    Admission ticket free
  • Emperor's Canal (Keizersgracht) (Pass by)

    Keizersgracht, the emperor's canal, stands as Amsterdam's widest famous canal. Built during the Golden Age, it shows off preserved merchant houses that now hold cozy cafés, shops, and galleries. The trees explode with color every spring.

    Admission ticket free
  • Brouwersgracht (Pass by)

    The corner where Keizersgracht meets Brouwersgracht creates the Instagram spot photographers hunt for. Two canals meet and make four lit tunnel views at night. When bridge lights come on, this becomes pure Amsterdam magic and the perfect end to your water journey.

    Admission ticket free
  • Amsterdam (Pass by)

    We'll snap a classic Polaroid of your group with Amsterdam's canal houses behind you. Stick it on your fridge and remember the day you saw Amsterdam like locals do - from the water, at the right pace, with good people.

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by Off Course Cruises Amsterdam

Tags

Day Cruises
Cultural Tours
Water Tours
Canal Cruises
Small Group
Best Conversion
Low Supplier Cancellation Rate
Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate
New Product
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

5.0 Based on 9 9 reviews
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