Where the concierge points people first
- Eco Boats Amsterdam Centrum — Self-drive electric boats from the center. Quiet, simple to steer and the most straightforward way for a group to take the canals on their own terms. (52.3879, 4.8902)
Barqo — A platform that rents out other people's boats. Useful for bigger or unusual boats; read the listing for who is actually skippering. (52.3739, 4.8868)
Sloepdelen B.V. — A boat-sharing scheme with members using shared sloops. Better value for someone staying months than for a weekend visitor. (52.3771, 4.8770)- Hottugamsterdam — A hot tub on a boat. Exactly as silly as it sounds, and popular with groups for that reason. (52.3791, 4.9279)
Vaarschool Amsterdam — A boating school, for anyone who wants the Dutch license for larger or faster boats, or simply lessons first. (52.3777, 4.8860)
The rest of the boat rental in Amsterdam — every one we hold
- Amsterdam Boats (52.3682, 4.9389)
- Amsterdam Boothuur (52.3669, 4.8746)
- Barqo B.V. (52.3635, 4.8919)
- Boat Amsterdam (52.3713, 4.9024)
- Boat Rental Amsterdam (52.3672, 4.8768)
- BoatNow (52.3475, 4.9109)
- BoatNow (52.3684, 4.8758)
- Boats4rent (52.3714, 4.8744)
- Booka Rentals B.V. (52.3682, 4.9060)
- De Nederlanden (52.3711, 4.8886)
- Dutch Marine Contractors (52.3946, 4.8375)
- Houseboat Trijntje (52.3621, 4.8933)
- Jachtwerf Staverno B.V. (52.3825, 4.8603)
- KINboat (52.3651, 4.8840)
- MK Centennial Maritime BV (52.3401, 4.8728)
- Naupar boothuren.amsterdam (52.3811, 4.8884)
- Rederij Aemstelland (52.3749, 4.9036)
- Rederij de Wester (52.3666, 4.8832)
- Rederij Vlaun (52.3795, 4.8879)
- Salonboot Avanti (52.3619, 4.8921)
- Starboard Boats (52.3649, 4.8983)
- Stromma Rijksmuseum - Canal Tours Amsterdam (52.3605, 4.8864)
- Voyage Amsterdam (52.3758, 4.8853)
No license for a small slow boat, but the canal rules still apply
Dutch law lets you skipper a pleasure boat without a license (vaarbewijs) if it is under 15 meters and cannot go faster than 20 km/h, which covers almost every self-drive canal boat for hire. That does not make it a free-for-all. The speed limit on the city canals is 6 km/h, you keep to the right, and the alcohol limit for the skipper is 0.5 per mille, the same as for driving; the police check. Tour boats have right of way in practice because they cannot stop. Rental runs through the year at many firms, but spring to autumn is the season.
Questions people ask
How many boat rental companies are there in Amsterdam?
Num's directory maps 28 boat rental and training businesses in Amsterdam, including self-drive rental, charters and a boating school.
Do I need a license to rent a boat in Amsterdam?
Not for boats under 15 meters that cannot exceed 20 km/h, which covers standard self-drive canal boats. Faster or larger boats need a Dutch license.
Can you drink alcohol while driving a boat in Amsterdam?
Passengers may; the skipper is held to the same 0.5 per mille limit as a car driver.
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