My wife, Tanya, and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary in Amsterdam this summer. We stayed in a townhouse on a canal. We watched the canal boats coming by all day and decided we would take a tour of Amsterdam by canal. Many of the boats were huge and packed with nearly a hundred people. The larger they are the cheaper they are. We wanted something more intimate. We walked the canals often touring the city. We stumbled across a small canal tour boat crew talking next to a small canal boat. It was PureBoats. I began talking with them and they explained the tours they offer. One option was a private tour. Bingo. That's what we wanted. We arrived at the same location the next day for our private tour. A pretty wood-finished boat named Lucy was prepared for us. We traveled around Amsterdam in the back of Lucy, just the 2 of us, with our driver up front moving us around. It was very intimate. It was very private and very quiet. There was a bathroom on the boat with food and drinks. We mostly sat in the back of Lucy taking in Amsterdam and snapping off pictures. Our guide was polite and drove the boat without issues. He was very accommodating. I asked our driver to take us around to a few spots we wanted to see. He smiled and obliged. We saw all we wanted to see of Amsterdam from the water. It was awesome. We both loved it. Lucy was clean and a really nice boat. It was very quiet and very smooth. We moved a little slower than most of the other canal boats when we could and that was fine by me. I highly recommend this service if you want a private tour of Amsterdam by canal. read more

See all

We had an amazing night time cruise with Pure Boats. We were lucky to have a group of just three couples and the boat master, Beir (?sp). He was absolutely AMAZING!! So kind and wonderful at narrating our trip without being over bearing. I would recommend this company without hesitation. read more

A Pure Boats morning cruise on the Amsterdam canals with Captain Greets John at the wheel is a first-class experience. The classic wooden boat was beautiful and quite comfortable with the small group aboard. With fresh tulips and nice tableware adorning the tables, a large selection of premium beverages and the most delicious apple tart with whip cream were offered. We journeyed on the less-traveled, scenic canals, and our captain was a wonderful guide/host, pointing out interesting sites and providing entertaining commentary. It was a perfect way to relax and see Amsterdam and absolutely one of our favorite activities during our 3.5 week stay in Europe. read more

My two girl friends and I took the late night boat cruise. While I would recommend taking a day time cruise if you are looking to sight see, we loved the night time ride. Captain was very pleasant and pointed out landmarks to us and had funny stories to share along with the history of the town. We spent the night chatting with the other guests and captain while we snacked on cheese and crackers. There was a selections of red wine, white wine, rosé, champagne, and beer. Boat was very clean and looked very nice, even had a bathroom on board. definitely worth the price and was an excellent end to our trip read more

I cannot recommend Pure Boats enough for a canal cruise. Not only was the staff incredibly friendly and kind, but their restored 1912 boat was gorgeous! Booking them and finding them on the canal was very easy. The ride was intimate and so different from those other touristy boat rides. Pure Boats provided craft beer, wine, local snacks, and the boat's ambiance was perfectly quaint. I don't think we would have fallen in love with Amsterdam as quickly as we did if it wasn't for James and Pure Boats. We saw and learned so much about Amsterdam in our 2 hour ride. Trust me, this is the way you want to see Amsterdam! It is without a doubt one of the highlights of our entire trip! read more

Pure Boats - Pure Boats Schollevaar 1912 boat with captain James - Boat Charters Near Me - Amsterdam, New Hampshire

See all

This was a recommendation from a friend who has done multiple tours and said this was by far her best exoerience. We couldn't be happier with our evening. The crew made our tour so comfortable and romantic and the stories that were told were so interesting. we would most definitely do Pure Boats in a heartbeat! read more

Delicious snacks, knowledgeable tour guide, nice quiet boat, and small group. A++ would definitely recommend.

We just finished our 2-hour excursion with Captain Mischa and our experience was fantastic. Mischa was both relaxed and informative - the perfect combination! Our tour included house boat viewing, some popular areas, many quieter spots, as well as a portion of the harbor area. What was fun was Captain Mischa sprinkling the tour with interesting architectural and historical bits and trivia, all while encouraging conversation between those of us on tour. It was a lovely experience enjoyed by all in our party (including a teen!). Top notch snacks and beverage (alcoholic and soft) rounded out the experience. read more

See all

Total disappointment. The "captain" Bert and not one single interesting thing to say about Amsterdam. Also, the boat was covered making it hard to see anything. A regular "rondvaart" with a tourist boat would have been a better experience. read more

It was a great experience, it was our last day in Amsterdam so we wanted to end with the boat tour. We had a fantastic captain, learned about the city, and even witnessed a proposal, it was magical! I 100% recommend it to anyone wanting to take a boat tour in Amsterdam. read more

I just loved our Anniversary cruise with Pure Boats. The boat itself is perfect and has been lovingly restored by the team at Pure Boats. It has everything you need on board (including REFRIGERATED drinks and TOILET) so you can all relax and just enjoy the great views, great company and delicious food. The team at Pure Boats are charming and kind and thoughtful. They are a pleasure to deal with every step of the way. One of the things I love about the route they take you on is that it encompasses all the best bits of the Canal Ring, Amstel and IJ but also takes in less known parts of the city such as the canal behind the ARTIS zoo. That's such a gorgeous peaceful canal. The other advantage of pure boats is that the whole thing is covered in the case that the Amsterdam weather is less than kind. All in all a 5***** experience. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. read more

Our tour guide was knowledgeable, kind, and fun! He made sure everyone felt comfortable and had what they needed. I would highly recommend this tour! read more

What a wonderful way to see the city and meet new people! Our captain was knowledgeable and had a larger than life personality. The charcuterie was delicious and the drinks were endless. Do not look any further...book on your visit to Amsterdam! read more

What a great canal tour with Pure Boats. I was originally deciding between the low cost option and Pure Boats but upon arrival and meeting Captain Tony, I knew we had made the right decision. The boats are smaller, fitting 12 people (inclusive of the captain). This makes it perfect to discover the smaller canals and less touristy canals. Tony shared great facts about the city and its history. Plus, we smacked on local beers and a wonderful spread of nuts, fruits cheese and more. He even purchased a birthday cake for one of the riders, now that's personal! I definitely recommend booking Pure Boats and will plan another canal tour on my next trip back to the city! read more

What a great experience! The boat was amazing and the food and drinks perfect! Jasper was a great captain. We learned a lot about the area read more

Absolutely wonderful. Martin was very knowledgeable and helpful, the boat was clean and very comfortable. There was plenty to eat and drink. Totally 10/10 would do this again in a heartbeat. read more

The boat was very cozy and comfortable , we had a great time ! Our guide James was also one of the owners and he knew so much about the history of the city, it was amazing ! He was able to answer every question we had about any obscure subject about the city, highly recommended over one of the big boat companies ! Thanks for an experience we will never forget ! read more

My husband and I can't stop talking about the incredible time we had on our private canal tour. Klaas was so informed and thoughtful, and he showed us parts of Amsterdam we never would have been able to see otherwise. We'll remember this experience for the rest of our lives. read more

Best way to see Amsterdam. Period. I was in Amsterdam for a conference and on the last afternoon got recommended by a colleague to use Pure Boats for a canal tour of the city. Best 2 hours of my life. Got a flavor of the city in the most unique way, with an amazing boat drive, great company and of course wine and snacks :). Highly recommend to anyone visiting Amsterdam. read more

Our evening canal cruise with James was everything we had hoped for and more. A canal cruise was a 'must-do' on our visit to Amsterdam and I had read that it's fairly easy to book a commercial canal cruise once we got to the city. A few days prior to our trip, as I was checking on our Airbnb place, I had stumbled on this Airbnb experience and I'm so grateful I did! The price itself is comparable to the commercial canal cruises I researched but what sets this apart is the sincerity and hospitality of the host(thanks James & Geertje!!). James was our captain and he's truly proud of his city he's adopted and it shows through his description of the city. This isn't an average cookie-cutter tour with a pre-set script. He even told us he changes up the tour route. He answered questions, pointed out interesting buildings, shared fun tid-bits and recommended places to go! The boat is fairly small and seats 9 comfortably. My favorite part of the cruise--the people we met! Conversation flowed freely and it was nice to chat with fellow Amsterdam visitors to compare notes on what to check out. We met a couple who gave us some helpful tips for our next city-London and we would've never known some stuff from a local had we not been cruising with them for 2 hours. The cruise was thoughtfully planned out from start to finish. There were blankets folded for us to use (we had superb weather so we didn't need it) drinks, and dutch snacks to enjoy as we chatted and soaked up the city from the canals. It was a great way to see the city and I've already recommended it to others visiting! James & Geertje--Thank you for sharing your boat and city with us! We hope to be back . read more

A unique experience, which would have been enhanced with the removal of the canvas top from the boat for better scenic viewing. Snack and beverages were very appreciated... IMO, There was too much chatting and personal sharing by the driver/host. Quiet floating would have been appreciated from time to time; instead there was non-stop personal commentary. The information about local and national history was interesting. / Value for dollar: Medium. read more

My only regret from my tour with Pure Boats was that I didn't do it earlier on my three-day visit to Amsterdam so that I could spend more time with my new friends! The atmosphere was relaxing, a welcome break from the constant crowds in the rest of the town. At no point during the tour did I feel that I would be run down by a bicycle or get knocked into a canal by a stoner. I got to sit in the back with no canopy, enjoying a beautiful fall afternoon. Pure Boats provided terrific snacks and a solid selection of beverages including several types of wine and an assortment of craft beers. It was a perfect amount of food for our two hour cruise. The top aspect of the tour for me was the community we built in just a few short hours. Our captain was friendly and knowledgeable, even waving to his wife when we passed their home and answering every question we put to him. The rest of the guests were great too! A family from the USA and a group from New Zealand. We all grabbed drinks together after rushing down the street to find a toilette as soon as we got off the boat. Although more expensive than the huge budget cruise options, Pure Boats was worth every penny. A terrific value. read more

Such a relaxing environment and intimate boat ride. Much better than the commercialized canal boat rides. We got to know our driver and his partner, and the other passengers. Very good drinks and snacks, and a view of all the historical sights in Amsterdam. I learned a lot! Definitely book here. read more

We rented the Lucy for a 2 hour tour. Jasper was our tour guide and driver. We had an absolutely wonderful time. The pickup location was very easy to find, right in the heart of the old town. The Pure Boats office is right next to the pickup point. The staff was extremely friendly and went out of their way to make sure all my questions were answered. They were also very responsive via email ahead of our booking date. Our boat (Lucy) boat arrived right on time and boarding was extremely easy. What a beautiful boat! Cozy but plenty of room and very clean. No obstructed views and the boat was well appointed with everything we needed; having the WC aboard was great! Jasper took us just about everywhere we wanted to go. Since we had been on canal tours before I asked if he could take us to some different places, maybe a little off the beaten path...he did not disappoint. Jasper was really knowledgeable about the city and it's history, we felt like we were so lucky to have him aboard. We would book this company, boat, and guide again in a heartbeat! read more

We had an overnight layover in Amsterdam on our way back to the States. Having traveled to the beautiful city on multiple occasions I knew a canal cruise was the only way to show some of my friends traveling with how amazing Amsterdam is on such a tight schedule (arriving at 8 p.m. and departing at 9 a.m.) Geertjie and James were PERFECT! The boat, the hospitality, the information about Amsterdam on the boat, the responsive service, the food, the drinks- everything about our late night cruise was memorable. We did a private boat in Mykonos and a private catamaran in Santorini for a sunset cruise, and while both were amazing- the canal tour with James was by far EVERYONE'S Favorite BOAT TRIP (and for half the costs in both instances, lol) THANK YOU! I can't wait to return and use Pure Boats again when more of their fleet is ready!! read more

for my partners birthday we wanted an no stress event so we booked a 3 hour all-inclusive tour and we couldn't have had a better time. Booking was incredible easy and the team from pure boats were super quick to reply and answer all of our questions. Due to Covid we were restricted to how many we could bring, but that was communicated early and we understood. We traveled on the pure spirit which is an absolutely gorgeous boat and very comfortable. We made sure to book the open bar package and were pleasantly surprise with and excellent beer and wine selection that we took full advantage of. For food, we used the suggested caterer and had the Mediterranean buffet which was delicious and plenty of food for our group. The tour took us on a great trip throughout the Amsterdam canals and a little down the Amstel. Finally, the Captain was very knowledgeable and accommodating, We will probably make this an annual event, we couldn't have dreamed for a better time. read more

Going out on the canals with James and Geertje was more like catching up for drinks and nibbles with friends, rather than going on another "touristy" tour - that's what made it so good! If you want a relaxing couple of hours with a few laughs and stories from fellow travelers, then you need to book your spot pronto. The two hours went far too quickly and I will have fond memories for a long time. Next time I am in Amsterdam, I hope to catch up with my new friends again. read more

Great canal cruise to see Amsterdam. The boat is big enough to fill comfortable but not like the huge ships which couldn't go to some of the areas we were able to take the boat. Great snacks and beverages to enjoy as the captain explained the different areas of Amsterdam. Would absolutely recommend and do this one again. read more

This was an absolutely wonderful experience!! Such a scenic way to see the city, learn about the history, and meet great people! The boat was beautiful, comfortable and well stocked for our cruise. Compared to other boats on the water, this one is pure luxury. Skipper Sky was a great captain! He had a wealth of knowledge about the history and culture of the city. He was a fantastic host! I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for something unique and fun to do in Amsterdam. read more

I just went to Amsterdam with my boyfriend and a couple of friends and we decided to book a private, 3-hour tour of the canals with Pure Boats. I highly recommend it -- it was one of the highlights of our trip! Geertje was my contact for all online coordination and she was very helpful with my last-minute tour request, including arranging for beverages and a delicious lunch aboard the boat (totally worth it, by the way -- we received several tasty sandwich options, Caesar salad, potato salad, desserts, and a great selection of beers, mimosas, etc). She was quick to reply via email and made the planning very easy. James was our awesome captain of the Schollevaar (an amazingly restored and comfortable 1912 cruiser -- and electric, meaning super quiet, which made the ride really peaceful and we could hear each other talk). He was the nicest guy and took us around all the different neighborhoods of Amsterdam. Around every turn, he had interesting and historic info about the region, the architecture, the houseboats, etc. He answered all of our questions but he also just let us enjoy the peaceful ride and wasn't overly chatty like a lot of basic tours. It was very customized to what we were interested in and didn't feel like a cookie cutter tour. James also had some great suggestions of local places to eat, get drinks, etc. I'd HIGHLY recommend Pure Boats to any friends headed to Amsterdam! It's a great, unique way to see the city, they're a smaller company so you get a personalized experience, and the owners are awesome. read more

The absolute best canal experience in Amsterdam and the highlight on any trip to the city. More like a boat ride through Amsterdam with a great friend with a really beautiful boat! read more

I had a great time on my boat ride on May 17. Geertje and James were awesome! The group on the boat was equally as great. I even went out with four other riders afterwards. The canals are beautiful, just wish it was longer than 2 hours! Tasty snacks, wine beer and champagne. Boat is clean too. They provided blankets since it was chilly. I'll be back! read more

This experience was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Amsterdam! I knew I wanted to book a canal tour for my boyfriend's birthday while we were abroad and given the promising feedback / reviews of Pure Boats, booked a two-hour private tour for the first day we arrived in the city. Geertje was extremely accommodating in helping to coordinate the logistics of the trip and truly made us feel like friends rather than merely customers. Our guide, James, was extremely knowledgeable about the city and its history and was very forthcoming with restaurant and activity recommendations and tips for the remainder of our vacation. He was personable and friendly while managing to put up with all of our questions! We really enjoyed the intimate and personal experience as compared to one of the larger, more commercial tour boats we saw on the canals (with 50+ guests and headset guides). The boat was lovely and had a great array of snacks (cheese, meat, crackers, cookies and nuts) and drinks (beer, wine, champagne). As we had booked a sunset tour, they even had thick blankets on board once it got chilly. This was truly a wonderful introduction to Amsterdam that far-and-away exceeded our expectations. Geertje and James have a clear passion for what they do and I wish them all the best with their ongoing restoration projects and future endeavors. I would highly recommend a canal tour with Pure Boats! read more

My wife and I did this cruise based on a friends recommendation and we couldn't be more happier with the experience. Even though the weather was rainy, Captain Jurjen provided us with a great experience. I strongly recomend this to anyone looking to do a canal cruise in Amsterdam. We will definitely do this again when we come back! Best, Andy read more

I had been to Amsterdam before and knew that I wanted a canal tour that was a bit more "special" for the trip that I planned with my mom. Stumbled upon Pure Boats and booked an excursion with Geertje who was extremely accommodating. We met James at the dock and took off and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The cheese platter and snacks were amazing as was the selection of beverages. James was super friendly and knowledgeable and we learned a ton about Amsterdam. Everyone on the boat was very friendly and the experience really felt like being out on a bot with friends. I highly recommend Pure Boats!! read more

Absolutely wonderful way to see Amsterdam from the canal side! I was unsure at first about an evening ride but the darkness actually made it even more special. Pure Boats is efficient in booking, very friendly to deal with both before and during the ride, and obviously eager to please with their tours. James did a wonderful job of pointing out the sights - including the 25 light sculptures that are just amazing - and giving us the history, making sure we had drinks and snacks, and keeping us warm on a chilly evening. The light sculptures would be interesting, I suppose, in the daylight, but at night they are just incredible and seeing them from the water gives a very distinctive change of perspective. We highly recommend this tour - very, very enjoyable and well organized. read more

My boyfriend and I had an absolutely wonderful time on this boat ride. It was one of the highlights of our trip. James and his wife run this business, and they are both super friendly. Delicious snacks/beer and wine were provided, and this was a gorgeous breath of fresh air compared to those tourist trap boats. If you want a fun, happy, local experience in Amsterdam, do this boat cruise! James, thank you for the wonderful afternoon! read more

My friend and I did this on our first night in Amsterdam and it definitely was a highlight of our trip! The boat is beautiful!! One of the nicest we saw along the canal. It felt really special from the moment we got on with flowers and snacks and wine waiting for us! It was the perfect size group (maybe 12-14) and we all immediately connected over how awesome this was! We ended up having a really fun time and we all continued to hang out after we got off the boat :) The captain was very attentive, personable and knew so much history about Amsterdam. Do this! read more

My husband, along with 2 of our friends, were lucky enough to catch the last day of the light festival. James and Geertje offered such a great experience that I would recommend to everyone. It felt like we were with good friends that happened to have a boat. They were very friendly and knowledgeable about Amsterdam, answering all of the questions we had. They had a great spread of snacks and plentiful drinks which was a great holdover to dinner. They were able to get dinner reservations for the other people on the boat, to places that are difficult to get into with such short notice, which was a nice "above and beyond" moment. Their boat was covered, so it was nice and warm on a cold day. We had such a blast and if we are ever back, we'd absolutely join them again. It was so much more personal than the huge, crowded canal boat tours. This experience is a definite must, for anyone looking to explore the impressive canals of Amsterdam. Thank you, James and Geertje, for an unforgettable time! read more

Great tour! Highly recommend it. Small, intimate, open boat. Great snacks, beer and wine--juices for the kids.Much better than the one-hour cruises, As you really need two hours to see more than a small section of the city. We really like the fact that it was a small start up company--the owner was our captain and he created a friendly warm environment and was full of information about the city's history and culture. Go! You won't regret it! read more