The early morning canal 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 time of day: Cruising in the early morning, it is magical and difficult to explain, join us and feel the magic!
We cruise in the former Dutch 1928 government boat used by Presidents, Mayors, and the Dutch Royal family.
The boat is 100% electric, comfortable with 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.
See you on board!
Cheers Captain Dave
comfortable
Saloon
outer deck
toilet on board
Personable
your captain
your guide
your host
All-inclusive
boat tour
drinks
snacks
priceless
90 minutes
non scripted
small group
—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
—Extra blankets
—90 minutes boat trip
—Tour in easy-to-follow English
—Captain, host, and guide (no script) in one
—Coffee, tea, and fresh juice
—A delicious Dutch specialty
—Taxes
Bring a smile and a camera. We take care of everything else!
Departure point
We are waiting for you on the boat «Jonckvrouw» at Prinsengracht 397 Amsterdam Center
Departure time
08:00 am
Arrival point
Returns to the original departure point.
—Adult (11+): 37 EUR
—Child (3-10): 29 EUR
—Baby (0-2): free
—Private boat trip: from 185 EUR per hour
If you have symptoms, stay home. We will try to reschedule or offer a full refund.
—We offer both private and small group tours
—We don’t shake hands
—We regularly disinfect the boat
—We have hand sanitizer available
Dave was incredibly entertaining and knowledgeable. The boat was very comfortable even in the cold... read moreDave was incredibly entertaining and knowledgeable. The boat was very comfortable even in the cold weather, and the size of the group (10 people on the boat) made for a wonderful experience. Highly recommend taking this tour early in the morning due to no canal traffic. read less
Great experience. Dave is very knowledgeable and friendly. Day was perfect and it was truly... read moreGreat experience. Dave is very knowledgeable and friendly. Day was perfect and it was truly a wonderful morning cruising on the canal! read less
Captain Dave was a great guide & passionate person. You can see that he is... read moreCaptain Dave was a great guide & passionate person. You can see that he is doing what he loves and his energy makes everybody happy. I went on the trip with my family and little newphews and all of us loved his tour and his story telling. He knows a lot about many little things about Amsterdam, from the house architecture to the design, the meaning of sumbol on the houses. Also, really enjoy that we have the tour early in the morning so we can get to contemplate the canal in the best way. Would recommend this tour to everybody, espeically if it will be your first time visiting Amsterdam read less
So happy we booked the morning canal cruise instead of the evening cruise; the canals... read moreSo happy we booked the morning canal cruise instead of the evening cruise; the canals are so quiet at 8 am and the water was still. This allowed Captain Dave the luxury of relaxing a bit (since no other boats to maneuver around) and also the photos with the bridges, boats, and buildings reflecting perfectly in the still water were amazing! The cruise was cozy and the historical boat was comfortable. Captain Dave served croissants, chocolates, juice, and Nespresso. Also, the information about the development of the city throughout time and the history of the royals was really interesting. After leaving the cruise we stopped at the Museum Van Loon as suggested by Captain Dave. read less
The Morning Cruise with Captain Cruise was absolutely spectacular! We had an early flight from... read moreThe Morning Cruise with Captain Cruise was absolutely spectacular! We had an early flight from NYC to Amsterdam on a Sunday morning and were trying to kill time before we checked into our Airbnb and were happy to have found this experience. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! Captain Dave was knowledgeable, personable, warm and funny! Being on the canals that early in the morning is a truly remarkable experience. The silence is beautiful. This was a truly memorable experience and something you should not miss! It was a delightful start to our vacation. read less
Captain Dave is great. If you want a personalized tour where you feel like you... read moreCaptain Dave is great. If you want a personalized tour where you feel like you are the only one on board, this is the boat for you. His boat fits 12 but definitely more space than needed. Our kids had a great time and everyone on board was lovely to interact with. The canals felt virtually empty in the morning and it was the perfect time. read less
We had an amazing tour of the canals with Captain Dave on his early morning... read moreWe had an amazing tour of the canals with Captain Dave on his early morning tour. To be on the canals in such a beautiful city in the peaceful quiet of the morning was just indescribably perfect. Skip the big boat operators and take a tour with Captain Dave! read less
This early morning boat ride is really worth getting out of bed for. Captain... read moreThis early morning boat ride is really worth getting out of bed for. Captain Dave has a wonderful sense of humor and it was great to experience his enthusiasm for the area as well as the beauty and peacefulness of the canals in the morning before the noise and hustle of the day begins. read less
My friend and I had a really great time on our early morning canal tour.... read moreMy friend and I had a really great time on our early morning canal tour. We really were the only boat out on the water, and it was nice to see the quiet side of Amsterdam. Captain Dave was full of information and plenty of humor - we appreciated his energy. The snacks and coffee were much appreciated, and he was kind enough to make sure my friend who is celiac also had a snack she could eat. Thank you! read less
Captain Dave's experience is something you have to do. Dont fall for the tourist trap... read moreCaptain Dave's experience is something you have to do. Dont fall for the tourist trap of the giant tour boats, book Captain Dave. He makes the tour memorable both with stories, but also engages with your group on a personal level. You get to enjoy a more intimate setting with 8-12 people at most. We enjoyed the snacks, croissants and sugar bread along with a coffee. We highly recommend the morning tour. The canals are so quiet, you feel like you're the only people on the water. Don't hesitate, just go with Captain Dave. read less
Book it! We had a great morning on the canals with Dave. Perfect balance of... read moreBook it! We had a great morning on the canals with Dave. Perfect balance of sharing information while still letting us enjoy the ride. Dave had croissants and chocolate and orange juice. It was just lovely. read less
Wonderful ride with Captain Dave! The best way to start a morning and the best... read moreWonderful ride with Captain Dave! The best way to start a morning and the best way to see Amsterdam! read less
Very fun time, high ranking on my list of Amsterdam highlights. Dave is a great... read moreVery fun time, high ranking on my list of Amsterdam highlights. Dave is a great guy who is sure to get some laughs out of you and keep you entertained. His personality is a lot of fun and keeps you awake during this early morning excursion. If you are looking for a unique canal experience in Amsterdam, don’t think twice. He also offers great suggestions on places to visit afterwards. read less
This was a wonderful and magical way to start the morning in Amsterdam! We had... read moreThis was a wonderful and magical way to start the morning in Amsterdam! We had great weather and saw the beautiful sunrise shining through Amsterdam from the canals. You can feel so at peace with this early morning tour! There were no other boats besides Captain Dave’s 🙂 read less
Captain Dave was an absolute pleasure to spend our time with. Hilarious, thoughtful, and knowledgeable... read moreCaptain Dave was an absolute pleasure to spend our time with. Hilarious, thoughtful, and knowledgeable about the canals and the city. My wife and I felt like family with Dave right away. The coffee and food was delicious and his boat is beautiful and classic. We loved this tour! Cannot recommend it enough! We will do this again on our next trip. read less
We can great fun on our morning cruise around Amsterdam with Captain Dave.Captain Dave was... read moreWe can great fun on our morning cruise around Amsterdam with Captain Dave.Captain Dave was very informative about Amsterdam, he has grown up in the area and lived most his life in and around Amsterdam so had some great stories about his own life and those of his family.The boat itself is an old royal canal used by the Dutch Royal Family along with various guests over the years - again Dave was very informative about all of this.The ride was comfortable, warm with food and drinks available, we had fresh croissants.Overall a great experience and much better to see the canals with a local guide than on a budget cruise with a recorded tour.110% would go again! read less
Beautiful boat and wonderful early morning canal ride
This was a fantastic trip! The royal history of the boat, Dave's local knowledge, the... read moreThis was a fantastic trip! The royal history of the boat, Dave's local knowledge, the beautiful sights, all ideal. I highly recommend this whether you are on a solo trip or traveling with someone. The canals in the morning are absolutely beautiful, and it was a great opportunity to meet new friends and have a unique and tailored experience. This was worlds better than any commercial boat tour, plus the coffee and croissants were wonderful. We got a local perspective and saw so much, and Captain Dave actually extended the tour so we got bonus time on the water! read less
Learned a lot about the history of canals. It was also nice he provided yummy... read moreLearned a lot about the history of canals. It was also nice he provided yummy croissants and coffee/tea/juice for breakfast! read less
Highly recommended canal tour by a local in Amsterdam! Captain Dave was fantastic and my husband and I enjoyed the canal ride very much.... read moreCaptain Dave was fantastic and my husband and I enjoyed the canal ride very much. Captain Dave’s boat was fantastic and he supplied coffee, tea and juice along with croissants and warm blankets if needed when weather i read less
We loved our canal tour experience with Captain Dave. The boat was beautiful and felt... read moreWe loved our canal tour experience with Captain Dave. The boat was beautiful and felt more private than most tour boats. He served us coffee, fresh orange juice, water, and croissants. Would also highly recommend taking the early morning time slot! read less
Great experience with Captain Dave!! Really amazing to see the canals in the morning. Thank you!
Totally worth the early morning
I spontaneously booked this tour the morning of and it was the best decision I... read moreI spontaneously booked this tour the morning of and it was the best decision I made! Dave is so so wonderful and knowledgeable. He makes the experience fun, relaxing, and memorable. Also, a morning tour (where you truly have the canals to yourself) is worth all you pay! Thank you for a great experience 🙂 read less
Host was really nice and his boat is very special and beautiful. He had coffee... read moreHost was really nice and his boat is very special and beautiful. He had coffee and croissants ready for us and was extremely friendly. I liked how his tour was random facts but I think he could include more historical facts and stories too. read less
To have Captain Dave as our host was just perfect. We booked quite spontaneously and... read moreTo have Captain Dave as our host was just perfect. We booked quite spontaneously and in the end it was a rainy day. Even though my daughter and me we were the only ones that day on the boat he made it possible and we had a very personal, informative and fun trip. The boat is just beautiful, comfortable and feels quite royal to ride. Dave provided us not only with drinks and coffee, but just made us feel very comfortable from the first moment. Giving us a personalized tour with interesting insights about the history of Amsterdam and the people living there. It felt like going on a tour with a friend. Even my teenage girl enjoyed the trip very much. Dave didn’t watch the time, just wanted us to get the best out of the tour and in the end dropped us off close to the Van Gogh Museum where we had our next stop. For a very special, fun, informative and personal look at that beautiful city we can recommend Dave highly. We sure will be back. read less
Our experience with Captain Dave exceeded our expectations. His newly acquired historical wooden boat is... read moreOur experience with Captain Dave exceeded our expectations. His newly acquired historical wooden boat is really special and he thoughtfully had coffee, orange juice and the most delicious croissants on our arrival. His enthusiasm and love of his job made the entire experience very enjoyable and he had lots of interesting tidbits of information you wouldn’t get on your average canal tour. A really cool guy with an exceptional boat. Highly recommend! read less
Beautiful canal cruise Fun, informative time. Capt Dave was very personable. The peace and tranquility... read moreFun, informative time. Capt Dave was very personable. The peace and tranquility of having the canals to yourself is worth the early mornin read less
Second time I attend this tour with friends and family and it’s so amazing. It’s... read moreSecond time I attend this tour with friends and family and it’s so amazing. It’s really worth waking up a little early and be able to witness Amsterdam so quiet like you would never see it in a normal canal tour on peak hours where the city and the canal get so busy.Captain Dave is also very lovely and the history pieces of the tour are very informative (even for a Dutch person). read less
Quite boats tour in the morning - you have the canals for yourself when the city is still asleep This was one of our highlights of our trip. We had the early morning tour... read moreThis was one of our highlights of our trip. We had the early morning tour and the canals were completely empty, quite and beautiful. Dave our tour guide was one of the kindest people we know. As a local he knew every corner and had a story for everything and we learned so much about Amsterdam. The way he explained it, we will remember those facts forever. It was really fun and we joked around a lot. It felt like a super private tour because he took care of us and answered all our questions. We had super delicious coffee, orange juice and fresh warm delicious baked croissant. He also provided his personal recommendations after the trip. We would recommend this trip to any read less
What an amazing experience! Couldn’t have asked for a nicer way to spend a rainy... read moreWhat an amazing experience! Couldn’t have asked for a nicer way to spend a rainy morning in Amsterdam. Dave’s boat had all the comfort you could ever ask for. He was so knowledgeable and fun! Definitely a wonderful experience that I would recommend to anyone. read less
My captain was Hans. He was extremely friendly and personable. He had stories and... read moreMy captain was Hans. He was extremely friendly and personable. He had stories and images of events that happened in Amsterdam historically, and a deep knowledge of the city as well as facts about culture and buildings. The boat was well prepared for a cold and rainy day, with an enclosed space for passengers and even seat warmers, blankets, and coffee. I highly recommend this cozy and enriching canal tour! read less
Dave was incredibly entertaining and knowledgeable. The boat was very comfortable even in the cold... read moreDave was incredibly entertaining and knowledgeable. The boat was very comfortable even in the cold weather, and the size of the group (10 people on the boat) made for a wonderful experience. Highly recommend taking this tour early in the morning due to no canal traffic. read less
Great experience. Dave is very knowledgeable and friendly. Day was perfect and it was truly... read moreGreat experience. Dave is very knowledgeable and friendly. Day was perfect and it was truly a wonderful morning cruising on the canal! read less
Captain Dave was a great guide & passionate person. You can see that he is... read moreCaptain Dave was a great guide & passionate person. You can see that he is doing what he loves and his energy makes everybody happy. I went on the trip with my family and little newphews and all of us loved his tour and his story telling. He knows a lot about many little things about Amsterdam, from the house architecture to the design, the meaning of sumbol on the houses. Also, really enjoy that we have the tour early in the morning so we can get to contemplate the canal in the best way. Would recommend this tour to everybody, espeically if it will be your first time visiting Amsterdam read less
So happy we booked the morning canal cruise instead of the evening cruise; the canals... read moreSo happy we booked the morning canal cruise instead of the evening cruise; the canals are so quiet at 8 am and the water was still. This allowed Captain Dave the luxury of relaxing a bit (since no other boats to maneuver around) and also the photos with the bridges, boats, and buildings reflecting perfectly in the still water were amazing! The cruise was cozy and the historical boat was comfortable. Captain Dave served croissants, chocolates, juice, and Nespresso. Also, the information about the development of the city throughout time and the history of the royals was really interesting. After leaving the cruise we stopped at the Museum Van Loon as suggested by Captain Dave. read less
The Morning Cruise with Captain Cruise was absolutely spectacular! We had an early flight from... read moreThe Morning Cruise with Captain Cruise was absolutely spectacular! We had an early flight from NYC to Amsterdam on a Sunday morning and were trying to kill time before we checked into our Airbnb and were happy to have found this experience. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! Captain Dave was knowledgeable, personable, warm and funny! Being on the canals that early in the morning is a truly remarkable experience. The silence is beautiful. This was a truly memorable experience and something you should not miss! It was a delightful start to our vacation. read less
Captain Dave is great. If you want a personalized tour where you feel like you... read moreCaptain Dave is great. If you want a personalized tour where you feel like you are the only one on board, this is the boat for you. His boat fits 12 but definitely more space than needed. Our kids had a great time and everyone on board was lovely to interact with. The canals felt virtually empty in the morning and it was the perfect time. read less
We had an amazing tour of the canals with Captain Dave on his early morning... read moreWe had an amazing tour of the canals with Captain Dave on his early morning tour. To be on the canals in such a beautiful city in the peaceful quiet of the morning was just indescribably perfect. Skip the big boat operators and take a tour with Captain Dave! read less
This early morning boat ride is really worth getting out of bed for. Captain... read moreThis early morning boat ride is really worth getting out of bed for. Captain Dave has a wonderful sense of humor and it was great to experience his enthusiasm for the area as well as the beauty and peacefulness of the canals in the morning before the noise and hustle of the day begins. read less
My friend and I had a really great time on our early morning canal tour.... read moreMy friend and I had a really great time on our early morning canal tour. We really were the only boat out on the water, and it was nice to see the quiet side of Amsterdam. Captain Dave was full of information and plenty of humor - we appreciated his energy. The snacks and coffee were much appreciated, and he was kind enough to make sure my friend who is celiac also had a snack she could eat. Thank you! read less
Captain Dave's experience is something you have to do. Dont fall for the tourist trap... read moreCaptain Dave's experience is something you have to do. Dont fall for the tourist trap of the giant tour boats, book Captain Dave. He makes the tour memorable both with stories, but also engages with your group on a personal level. You get to enjoy a more intimate setting with 8-12 people at most. We enjoyed the snacks, croissants and sugar bread along with a coffee. We highly recommend the morning tour. The canals are so quiet, you feel like you're the only people on the water. Don't hesitate, just go with Captain Dave. read less
90 minutes
Daily at 8:00 am
90 minutes
Daily at 10:00 am
90 minutes
afternoon and evening
from 90 minutes
on availability
90 minutes
Winterfestival 2022/2023
Every day an adventure!