Early morning cruise
—canals all to ourselves

Quick details
- Small group, up to 12 guests
- Prinsengracht 397 —Boat Jonckvrouw
- Daily at 8:00 am
- 90 minutes
- Easy spoken English
- Coffee/ tea, juice & a Dutch specialty
- Adult €37, child (3-10) €29
Early morning cruise
—memories of a lifetime
The early morning cruise is an exclusive cruise with quiet canals and magnificent views.
The reflection of the houses creates a dreamlike, reversed image of reality—like a natural mirror in the canal water.
My favorite time of day is cruising in the early morning. It’s magical and difficult to explain. Join us and feel the magic!
We cruise in a former Dutch 1928 government boat that was used by presidents, mayors, and the Dutch royal family.
The boat is 100% electric, comfortable, and has a toilet on board. When the weather is nice, we open the roof and windows. When it rains, we stay dry. If it’s chilly, we have heating and extra blankets to keep you warm.
We welcome you on board and provide a unique experience that will leave you feeling amazed. Get ready to create memories of a lifetime!
Cheers,
Captain Dave
GALLERY
—the beauty of the early morning





WHY CHOOSE
—the early morning

Why travelers choose this tour
Why travelers choose the Early Morning cruise? Worth getting up for the 8 am trip! Empty canals! Great photo opportunities!
About the boat
—Most famous boat in Amsterdam
—100% electric, no engine noise
—12 seats
—Toilet on board
—Covered lounge
—Sliding windows
—Sliding roof
—Outer deck
—Heating System
—Bluetooth music system
—Extra blankets
What's included
—90 minutes boat trip
—Tour in easy-to-follow English
—Captain, host, and guide (no script) in one
—Coffee, tea, fresh orange juice and smoothie
—A delicious Dutch specialty
—All Taxes
Bring a smile and a camera. We take care of everything else!
Departure & Return
Departure Point:
Have you booked the Early Morning cruise? We are waiting for you on the boat “Jonckvrouw” at Prinsengracht 397, Amsterdam Center.
We are 5 minutes before the estimated start time at the location. Please note: our boat is located on the odd side of the canal. Kindly avoid ringing the doorbell of canal houses.
Departure Time:
08:00 AM
Arrival Point:
The cruise will return to the original departure point.
Rates
—Adult (11+): 37 EUR
—Child (3-10): 29 EUR
—Private boat trip: from 195 EUR per hour
Plan your trip
—real-time availability

MEETING POINT EARLY MORNING CRUISE
—Prinsengracht 397, Amsterdam-Center
WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY
—about the early morning cruise
- What a wonderful way to begin our first trip to Amsterdam. Full of snippets... read moreWhat a wonderful way to begin our first trip to Amsterdam. Full of snippets of the history of Amsterdam: the canals and the people. Our comfort and safety was obviously important, there were blankets if anyone felt cold, we didn’t, a history of the boat itself (fascinating) …. Plus wonderful naughty cake and coffee. Thank you so much for such a great tour.
Janet and Steve
Milton Keynes read lessJanet1 week ago - This was one of the highlights of our brief time in Amsterdam. We really enjoyed... read moreThis was one of the highlights of our brief time in Amsterdam. We really enjoyed Captain Dave's ability to weave history and humour throughout the scenic cruise while also sharing his own personal stories of his experiences as a born-and-raised local. The early morning was a lovely time to be on the water - would highly recommend! read lessAkal2 weeks ago
- Gus did a great job as a stand in! He had a great sense of... read moreGus did a great job as a stand in! He had a great sense of humour and made an effort to make us all feel comfortable (coffee, mimosas and blankets!) read lessJosh2 weeks ago
- Really beautiful boat tour at the perfect time of day! The coffee and treats and... read moreReally beautiful boat tour at the perfect time of day! The coffee and treats and small group size made this such a great experience. Highly recommend! read lessStephanie2 weeks ago
- Captain Dave’s morning cruise was outstanding. From the moment we walked on the boat,... read moreCaptain Dave’s morning cruise was outstanding. From the moment we walked on the boat, it was a relaxing experience. The boat was spacious, and we were treated to the drink of our choice. It felt informal and personal; like a friend was telling you their stories (not a script).
While Dave wasn’t our captain, we did have a chance to meet him before our cruise. He even remembered that I had mentioned we had Anne Frank tickets directly afterwards, and he said that the captain would drop us off nearby. read lessBeth4 weeks ago - This experience was wonderful. It was nice to get the history and beauty of a... read moreThis experience was wonderful. It was nice to get the history and beauty of a canal tour with a smaller group. In addition, our host treated us with refreshments and a morning snack on board. Captain Jan was fantastic! read lessMatt1 month ago
A must-do attraction to begin your adventure in Amsterdam! Captain Dave's canal cruise is a nice way to start the day!I took the earliest... read moreCaptain Dave's canal cruise is a nice way to start the day!I took the earliest reservation, which is at 8am, and waited at the meetup spot half an hour early. I'm a real early bird, especially during vacation so I don't miss out on anything, but I would advise you not to worry if you think you'll be cutting it close.The boat didn't arrive until five minutes to the scheduled time, which also is good to note that you shouldn't expect the boat to be sitting there before 8am. I spent most of my free time searching for it, when I could've stayed at the empty part of the canal and waited patiently. So, if you consider taking this tour, remember that you will NOT see the boat early before your start time.Upon arrival, we were invited in by the actual Captain Dave! There are several hosts within the tour, and I was lucky enough to meet the founder. He introduced himself to us, and gave us a chance to introduce ourselves too. This could be a problem to guests who'd rather sit quietly and enjoy the view because throughout their over an hour journey, you will be talking with other passengers. If not, it's likely the Captain will check in with you to make sure you're having a good time.I did speak with people, but I was the only attendee from my reservation, which is probably why the Captain gave me a little more attention at certain points. While it wasn't necessary, as I'm comfortable sitting in silence, I did appreciate his efforts to keep me entertained.I took this cruise on my 1st full day in Amsterdam. I believe it provides a great overview of what the city has to offer on land & sea. I chose the earliest time too because less boats are in motion; so if you're looking for a peaceful, intimate setting to observe the area, then this is your best option.There is sweet bread offered, along with coffee, tea & orange juice. Not exactly filling for breakfast, but enough to keep your stomach from rumbling. It did taste good, and I caught myself refilling my glass with juice and my plate with bread & butter.Captain Dave had a vast amount of knowledge about the area, with things I would've never known about if I hadn't taken his tour. Without spoiling, some information ranged from where you could spot Old versus New Amsterdam, the history behind the buildings, and even how the boat is connected to royalty!The tour did last longer than anticipated, and we were done by around 9:30am, which was warned beforehand, but be wary in case you plan for any other events so they don't clash with the time.Ultimately, I found this to be a worthwhile experience and I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Amsterdam for the first time. Before you head into the most popularized parts of the city (AKA Red Light District) take a step back, relax, and appreciate the history that has been built around you. read less
Jennie T1 month ago- What a pleasant morning tour! It was almost private and Dave had a... read moreWhat a pleasant morning tour! It was almost private and Dave had a delicious fresh orange juice, fresh cider and the best sugar cake waiting for us. The story of the boat itself was unique (pls check it on his bio) He made my day! read lessPatriza1 month ago
October 2023 Morning Canal Cruise with Capt Dave We took the 10am cruise with Capt Dave. He owns the boat and is Capt... read moreWe took the 10am cruise with Capt Dave. He owns the boat and is Capt Dave unlike other boats with a captain’s name. The boat is 50 years old and in great condition. It has large windows a large sun roof and a back seating area with a canvas cover. Dave provides delicious snack and unlimited sodas, coffee, beer and whiskey and has a bathroom on board. Very comfy boat. Capt Dave explains all about the area and the highlight points of interest, but he slap informs you about the history of the area and how it was developed. He s as Lao tells personal stories of himself snd his family. He is very friendly s as nd entertaining. He even let us take turns driving the boat! I highly recommend Capt Dave for your Amsterdam canal cruise! read less
donchampagne1 month agoDefinitely book this trip! The canal cruise was great! Super informative and really comfortable. I'd totally recommend it -... read moreThe canal cruise was great! Super informative and really comfortable. I'd totally recommend it - and I thought the early morning was gorgeous & less people were out. Really enjoyed it! read less
jaimiecasting1 month ago
- Beautiful adventure. Take the trip. Enjoy the time! It’s a warm and toasty little ride... read moreBeautiful adventure. Take the trip. Enjoy the time! It’s a warm and toasty little ride through the canals with a self serve bar and incredible story and information to go with the ride. It’s worth it to add to your trip. read lessDarian27/11/23Humor, history and fabulous vistas made the tour one of the most memorable events of... read moreHumor, history and fabulous vistas made the tour one of the most memorable events of our stay. I only wish we had gone on this tour when we first arrived so we could have taken advantage of all the sights and destinations shared with us! read lessApril And Jason25/11/23Took a 10AM canal cruise with Captain Jan and it was a great way to... read moreTook a 10AM canal cruise with Captain Jan and it was a great way to spend 90 minutes in Amsterdam. The experience was very informative and it was nice to connect with some other American tourists. I'd absolutely book this experience again if I'm ever back in Amsterdam with some friends. Jan & Dave - dank je wel! read lessNicholas25/11/23Great trip if you want to cruise the canal with a local! We had Jan... read moreGreat trip if you want to cruise the canal with a local! We had Jan as our captain and he told us lots of interesting information. read lessMegan25/11/23
- I think it’s unique because of the Dave’s stories, his living experience, the boat and... read moreI think it’s unique because of the Dave’s stories, his living experience, the boat and the canals(of course). Also we had a lovely group of guests from different places of the world. Just one reminder, don’t skip the butter if you are having the suger bread 🙂 read lessJacqueline24/11/23This experience was absolutely fantastic!! I can not recommend Captain Dave's boat tour enough. We... read moreThis experience was absolutely fantastic!! I can not recommend Captain Dave's boat tour enough. We went on a chilly sunset in November and were incredibly warm and comfortable. The boat was gorgeous, the captain was incredibly knowledgeable and fun, the group was small, and it made the experience very personable. read lessNikki22/11/23Highly recommend the 8am canal boat tour! Gus was so welcoming and knowledgeable we have... read moreHighly recommend the 8am canal boat tour! Gus was so welcoming and knowledgeable we have a fantastic time! Thank you so much. read lessFran Munnelly21/11/23What a wonderful way to begin our first trip to Amsterdam. Full of snippets... read moreWhat a wonderful way to begin our first trip to Amsterdam. Full of snippets of the history of Amsterdam: the canals and the people. Our comfort and safety was obviously important, there were blankets if anyone felt cold, we didn’t, a history of the boat itself (fascinating) …. Plus wonderful naughty cake and coffee. Thank you so much for such a great tour.
Janet and Steve
Milton Keynes read lessJanet21/11/23