—Canals all to ourselves—

Join Our
AMSTERDAM
Early Morning
Canal Cruise

—The official—

Captain Dave offers the most interactive canal cruise you can experience in Amsterdam. Enjoy your morning coffee and watch the city come alive.

get a first-class view

Amsterdam Early Morning canal cruise

The official

Finding the right boat tour makes a difference. The early morning canal cruise is a personable and unique experience —worth getting up early for!

City coming alive

Morning on the canals is beyond special and is our favorite time to cruise. You see the city come alive.

Stunning views

An exclusive cruise with stunning views.
The lack of movement in the water creates beautiful reflections.

cruise in style

1928 comfortable, electric boat with sliding glass windows, sliding roof, open aft deck, heating, and toilet on board (a luxury!)

The Chilly morning

If the weather permits, we open the windows and roof. Just as fun as an open sloop, but with the comfort of a saloon boat.

Feel the magic!

My time of day: early morning cruises, why this is so magical is hard to explain, come with us and feel the magic!

Why choose

Why do travelers choose this tour?
It’s worth getting up for the 8am ride! Empty canals! Great photo opportunities!

90-minute early morning canal cruise with coffee/tea, orange juice and Frisian sugar bread (a Dutch specialty). A unique experience with stunning photo opportunities. 39 EUR (child 31 EUR). Private boat rental from €322.50. Boat tour for small groups, up to 12 people. Daily at 8 am.
For those who cannot join the early morning canal tour, we offer a morning canal tour at 10 am.

Plan your trip

Small group up t0 12

—Real-time availability

Most guests don’t immediately think about waking up in the morning to board a canal cruise, which makes the experience even more exclusive!

Join Captain Dave for an Early Morning Cruise

Start your day with a peaceful cruise through the beautiful Amsterdam canals. Step aboard our comfortable 1928 saloon boat, Jonckvrouw (Royal Lady), and meet Captain Dave and his team—your friendly captain, host, and guide all in one.

As we set off, you’ll enjoy the calm morning atmosphere. The sun rises around 8:00 AM, casting a warm light over the city. Captain Dave or one of his captains will share interesting stories about Amsterdam’s history and landmarks as we glide through the canals.

During the cruise, you can relax with a cup of coffee or tea, fresh juice, and a slice of delicious Frisian sugar bread. It’s the perfect way to start your day.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing escape or a fun adventure, this cruise has something for everyone. By the time we return to the dock, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to explore more of Amsterdam.

Book your cruise today and make unforgettable memories with Captain Dave!

What people say

Personalized Captain

Loved experiencing this aspect of Amsterdam before the rest of the city woke up. Jan was an engaging host and shared lots of fun facts as we cruised. Thanks Dave for sharing your lovely boat with visitors!
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Makayla
2025-03-23

Our second time on this boat tour. We had Hasan and he did a great job on a chilly but beautiful morning. I preferred the morning to the evening slightly... a bit quieter. Both are wonderful though and highly recommend taking this small boat vs the larger tourist vessels.
read moreread less

Elizabeth
2025-03-15

This was a fun and interesting way to learn about Amsterdam! Very comfortable indoor and outdoor possibility. Our skipper Hassan was very engaging and friendly.
read moreread less

Elizabeth
2025-03-15
What a great experience! Got a little bit of history in which helped explain some of the questions you had before you got on the tour. Highly recommend. Feels personal and private.
read moreread less

Cheyenne
2025-03-07

Wir sind am Morgen durch die verschiedenen Grachten gefahren. Draußen war es kalt, aber das Boot war gut geheizt. Tony wusste zahlreiche Geschichten zu den Gebäuden und Hausbooten zu erzählen, die wir unterwegs gesehen haben. Es gab frischen, heißen Kaffee und sehr leckeres Brot mit Zimt.
read moreread less

Claudia
2025-03-03

We had a great time cruising through the canals with Captain Dave! The boat is beautiful and provides a unique way to see the city. One of our favorite things from our trip to Amsterdam!
read moreread less

Paul
2025-02-03
Captain Dave’s tour was amazing. He was raised in Amsterdam & was able to share so much history & knowledge. Highly recommend booking this more intimate tour rather than a massive group boat. Great way to meet other people from all over the world! 10/10 experience
read moreread less

Erika
2025-02-01

This was a really informative and interesting canal cruise; our captain was so friendly and very knowledgeable.
I would definitely recommend this - very enjoyable.
read moreread less

Sarah
2025-01-29

Die Fahrt mit der Jongfrouw war einfach toll. Unkompliziert, perfekt vorbereitet, tolle Geschichten über alles, Restauranttipps, kleiner Kreis, sehr exklusiv, gemütlich, Mega sympathisch, mit Herz und Humor. Mehr muss man nicht sagen. Danke für diesen Ausflug
read moreread less

Ele
2025-01-04
Jan was an excellent tour guide and the perfect mixture of history and humor. We left with a lot of great recommendations of places to visit during our stay that we would’ve never heard of otherwise. This tour was a highlight of our trip and we would highly recommend !
read moreread less

Carolyn
2024-12-29

On a cold wet morning, cruising around the canals on Captain Dave’s beautiful boat was the perfect way to see the city whilst staying warm and dry. Well worth it.
read moreread less

David
2024-12-08

Such a cosy and beautiful boat. Really glad we chose to do this instead of a going on a larger more commercial canal tour. Great host too. Highly recommend
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Laree
2024-12-04
I would highly recommend this experience to any of my friends visiting Amsterdam. We did not have Captain Dave and instead were hosted by Captain Jan. He is meant for this job with a perfect balance of knowledge, charisma, and humor! The boat itself feels cozy and seats about 12 people, which made it much more personable as compared to some of the larger tour boats we passed on the waters. I learned a lot about the history of Amsterdam on this tour and was also able to ask a few questions in the moment. Captain Dave's contribution of sugar bread from a city 1.5 hours away was a nice added touch!
read moreread less

Manjot
2024-11-30

This was my second time cruising with captain Dave. I went in 2018 with friends and it was the highlight of our trip. Our 2024 cruise was absolutely magical. The views that you get from the boat are stunning and unlike any other. Don't fall for the big boat tours that are an hour. Captain Dave provides a much more personalized experience and can navigate the smaller canals in his boat. I highly recommend this experience if there is space.
read moreread less

Melanie
2024-11-29

Dave is an excellent host! His boat is very comfortable. The tour is the perfect length. A morning tour is especially nice because the canals are less crowded.
read moreread less

Anna
2024-11-29
What a unique, local-feeling, and perfect morning cruise! Our guide wad extremely personable and friendly. Seeing the canals as the sun rises is a special sight!
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Natalie
2024-11-20

Hopped on the early morning cruise and wow…what a great way to see the sights! The coffee, juices, tea and sugar bread were a special touch! Thanks again!
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Emily
2024-11-16

Outstanding experience. My wife persuaded me to book the Captain Dave boat tour in Amsterdam, which was slightly more expensive than other providers. It was absolutely worth it. Captain Jan was a very attentive and knowledgeable guide. Highly recommended!!!
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Oliver
2024-11-10
We had a wonderful early morning boat tour with Captain Jan. He had a lot of insider knowledge about the history of Amsterdam and was very engaging. The canals are so magical, quiet and peaceful in the early morning!! We 100% recommend doing this early small tour over the big ones with dozens of people that we saw later in the day. It was definitely our favorite experience during our short Amsterdam trip. Don’t hesitate, just book this!
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Sara
2024-11-10

This is a must-do experience for all first time visitors to Amsterdam! Even though it was cloudy during my trip, the sights from the canal were still magnificent, and the storytelling was top notch. We appreciated all the drinks and snacks provided to us as well. Next time I visit, I’m definitely doing this again!
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Amanda
2024-11-07

Dave was nice and very funny, very real, the tour was very informative, the food was good 🙂 everything went smoothly and the whole experience of cruising Amsterdam canals in the early morning is precious. Recommended.
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Annachiara
2024-11-03
Hassan gave the most amazing tour! Very knowledgeable on Dutch history and European history in general. Additionally, he is a great storyteller with a good sense of humor. I would recommend this tour for anyone wanting to do a canal tour. Had an absolute blast and would do it again on my next visit! 10/10
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Jacob
2024-10-31

Had such a wonderful morning boat ride with Hassan. Top bloke, super charming, friendly, knowledgeable, resourceful and very good with remembering names. We were only 5 so it was such a personalized tour. Would do it again and again.
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Samuel
2024-10-24

This was a magical experience! My mom and I joined Captain Hassan and a small group for a beautiful morning cruise. We traveled in October, so it was still dark when we arrived at the boat, but the sun quickly rose, making for gorgeous photos on the canal.
Captain Hassan was a great host! He shared many stories about the history of the boat, the city and even shared dining recommendations for the rest of our trip. The sugar bread and coffee on board was delicious! This was a great way to see the city and I highly recommend it to anyone traveling to Amsterdam soon!
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Nicole
2024-10-24
Varm velkomst og sådan en fin og intim båd. Super god og vidende kaptajn og han var meget imødekommende overfor spørgsmål. Kan kun varmt anbefale denne tur🤩
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Gitte
2024-10-16

Highly recommend! Boat was stunning and the tour was fun but informative and didn’t take itself too seriously. Sugar bread was a highlight!
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Sophia
2024-10-05

Unser Kapitän Hassan hat die Rundfahrt unvergesslich gemacht. Mit kompetenten Wissen und viel Humor sowie leckeren Drinks und Snacks hat er die Tour zu einem Highlight unseres Aufenthalts gemacht! Seine Tipps für Museen, Bistros und Bars haben wir gleich umgesetzt und waren begeistert! Danke, Hassan!!
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Verena
2024-10-04
Second time on this beautiful boat and fabulous canal cruise. First time we had Captain Dave. This time we had Jan. Both times we loved the history and stories. Both different and both wonderful. And the special bread was delicious 🙂
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Sandi & Jim
2024-10-01

We loved this experience! Captain Dave is a wonderful guide, and a true local. Beautiful historic boat. So glad we did this and got to see Amsterdam from the canals. What a magical city.
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Christina
2024-09-20

We enjoyed doing this tour our first morning in Amsterdam! It made our whole trip that much better after this wonderful tour. We felt more connected to the city and loved knowing the history as we later walked the streets. It was a fantastic way to start our trip!
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Sara
2024-09-14
This was so fun and interesting! Captain Dave was super friendly and knowledgeable. Learned so much about the history of the city and the canals in particular of course. This was one of my favorite experiences in my trip to Amsterdam!
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Zak
2024-09-12

Captain Dave's tour was fantastic! We enjoyed the information he shared about what we were passing. We loved that the tour was a small group of people. The boat was very nice! Comfy seats, covered if it rained, and had plenty of areas for great photos!
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Veronica
2024-09-11

I thought it would give me my bearings… just confused me more. Oh well… that is Amsterdam. Great ride around the canals in any case.
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Kristine
2024-09-10
Captain Dave has put together a fantastic experience for anyone wanting a canal tour that is unique and comfortable. So nice to be able to have some beverages and sugar bread on the boat while we learn about the history of the city. This is the canal tour to go on in Amsterdam!
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Alex
2024-09-10

This is a brilliant trip which I would recommend to anyone who wants to get a flavour of the life on the Amsterdam canals. Dave is an excellent captain and host who is clearly passionate about his job and enjoys sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with everyone on board. He has a great sense of humour and makes everyone feel at ease. The fact that it is a small, beautiful boat means that the experience is more personalised. I have learnt so much about the canals and housing along them, and will look at the buildings differently from now on. Thank you Dave!
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Victoria
2024-09-07

This tour was incredible- Dave made sure all the guests felt welcome with his interesting and funny stories, complimentary drinks and Dutch cake. We are so glad we booked with Dave, couldn’t recommend more.
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Anna
2024-09-05
My husband and I had a great time on this boat tour! We did the really informational ones in the past and enjoyed it but much preferred this early morning cruise. It felt more like being in a friends living room (on the water) with gorgeous views, great sugar bread, and nice company. I would highly recommend this boat tour!
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Andrea
2024-09-04

We really enjoyed this morning tour on this beautiful small boat with a great history. Information provided was insightful and interesting featuring many valuable insights in everyday dutch life as well as a good glimpse of Amsterdam history. Big thanks to Jan!
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Pia
2024-08-24

Absolutely worth it! We did it our first morning and it was an awesome way to get the lay of the land & recommendations from the Captain
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Genevieve
2024-08-21
Capt Dave is great! The tour was a great value as you get to see Amsterdam from a different perspective. There are many tour boats on the canals but this one is more personal and intimate. We brought our kids (9&12) on the tour and Dave allowed them to drive the boat while he told stories. Snacks and drinks are also provided which was a huge plus. Thank you for a great experience.
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Chris
2024-08-02

Eine interessante Tour mit einem sehr gut informierten und Kapitän, sehr humorvoll und mit vielen Details auch für Menschen, die Amsterdam nicht zum ersten Mal besuchen. Vielen Dank für einen kurzweiligen Vormittag!
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Andreas
2024-08-01

Seeing the city from the water is magical. I took the morning cruise and the city was just starting to move. Captain was fun and lively.
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Ashley
2024-07-29
Tony was an amazing captain, he was so knowledgeable about the history of Amsterdam! Didn’t expect to learn as much as I did. Would highly recommend!
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Jade
2024-07-29

The highlight of our week in Amsterdam! I would highly recommend starting out your trip with this tour. Its a great way to learn some history of the city. Captain Dave is a knowledgeable storyteller and kept the group engaged. There is also something really magical about floating through the city early in the morning.
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Michelle
2024-07-28

Exceeded all my expectations. The city is quiet and peaceful in the morning and this tour is a great way to start the day. I’m happy we chose to do a smaller boat tour rather than a large boat; it was much more personal, wonderful food and drink, and we had a great time with Captain Dave and the other guests. We only had a short time in Amsterdam and this was definitely the highlight.
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Megan
2024-07-27
Our captain Tony was fantastic — connected personally with each of us, easy to listen to, told interesting stories, made the whole experience welcoming and enjoyable — the early start time was so unique, quiet and peaceful, the city just waking up — highly recommended.
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Mike
2024-07-24

What a wonderful way to get to know the story of Amsterdam! Tony was an expert guide, really bringing the history of this fascinating city to life. A must-do on any visit to Amsterdam.
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Claire
2024-07-15

What a great way to start the day in Amsterdam! The waterways were super calm and Captain Dave was an excellent guide keeping us entertained the whole 90 minutes. He kept the whole group engaged, including my 6 and 8 year old. I would definitely recommend this experience
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Kim
2024-07-12
We had a wonderful morning on the canal cruise with Captain Dave and the other guests on the boat! A little history lesson, a lot of humor and warmth, delightful provisions, exceptional boat with a storied past, a lot of local pro-tips from Dave, and though the children on the boat were not with us, it was fun to see him interact and involve them in the ride. Can't recommend this experience enough!
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Susan
2024-07-11

Captain Dave was friendly and funny. The small boat was a much better option than the large cruises we saw. None of those people looked happy, while we were all laughing.
The sugar bread and drinks were a great addition.
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Melissa
2024-07-09

Great option for a canal tour. Comfortable boat with just a small group was a great way to see and learn modern about the city.
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Kaley
2024-07-05
We had a different pilot than captain dave. Unfortunately I cannot remember his name. But the tour was great, coffee and bathroom were nice additions.
Great storytelling and a good way to get an introduction to the city.
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Greg
2024-06-30

Amazing experience! I would give this experience a 6 out of 5 stars if I could. It is a great way to start your trip and familiarize yourself with the city! Unfortunately I don’t know how to spell the Tour guides name, it was a nice man who works with Dave. The tour was elegant but not stiff. The music was perfect. We did a morning tour and there was only 9 people total on the boat. Great coffee and treats. The knowledge and recommendations alone are worth going on the tour. It was a beautiful experience. ( I loved the partially enclosed boat, because you can still see everything yet you stay warm in the chill morning).
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Mason
2024-06-30

The boat trip was amazing. It started right on time, and the Capitan managed the trip beautifully with amazing storytelling, jokes and insights. The calmness of the morning just added to the experience. Would recommend 10/10
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Sahal
2024-06-29
Highly recommend!! The boat tour was a lovely way to see Amsterdam from a canal perceptive with lots of unknown knowledge presented to us. The sugar bread was incredible. !!!!
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Deanna
2024-06-28

Incredible experience for our family on the boat with Captain Dave! One of a kind trip on the canals of Amsterdam on the most beautiful & historic boat! Having an early start time made for a quiet and calm ride on the canals. Dave is an exceptional story teller and makes connections with all participants! Having sweet bread and a variety of drinks made it extra special! Highly recommended!
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Sean
2024-06-20

Jan, hope I spelled it correctly, was awesome! Very entertaining while also giving us a great history of Amsterdam. Would do it all over again. Definitely recommend the early cruise as the canals were so peaceful.
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Brian
2024-06-18
Captain Dave was very friendly and gave a great tour around Amsterdam. His boat is very comfortable. The tour group was small and manageable. I would recommend this tour to everyone who visits Amsterdam 🙂
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Anand
2024-06-14

The tour was just what we needed & then some. Plenty of history, nice views from the canal, and Captain Dave was comedically more entertaining than we could have hoped for.
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Jacob
2024-06-14

I learned a lot and laughed a lot during this 90 minute canal tour. Tony was our guide and he generously shared his own personal stories and favourite places, having grown up and lived in Jordaan. He was skillful at navigating some of the smaller canals that the big boat tours could never get to, and entertaining throughout. It was the best way to start my days in Amsterdam and to combat the jet lag lethargy… I left the tour excited to check out some of Tony’s recommendations!
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Margo
2024-06-12

Loved experiencing this aspect of Amsterdam before the rest of the city woke up. Jan was an engaging host and shared lots of fun facts as we cruised. Thanks Dave for sharing your lovely boat with visitors!
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Makayla
1 week ago
Our second time on this boat tour. We had Hasan and he did a great job on a chilly but beautiful morning. I preferred the morning to the evening slightly... a bit quieter. Both are wonderful though and highly recommend taking this small boat vs the larger tourist vessels.
read moreread less

Elizabeth
2 weeks ago
This was a fun and interesting way to learn about Amsterdam! Very comfortable indoor and outdoor possibility. Our skipper Hassan was very engaging and friendly.
read moreread less

Elizabeth
2 weeks ago
What a great experience! Got a little bit of history in which helped explain some of the questions you had before you got on the tour. Highly recommend. Feels personal and private.
read moreread less

Cheyenne
3 weeks ago
Wir sind am Morgen durch die verschiedenen Grachten gefahren. Draußen war es kalt, aber das Boot war gut geheizt. Tony wusste zahlreiche Geschichten zu den Gebäuden und Hausbooten zu erzählen, die wir unterwegs gesehen haben. Es gab frischen, heißen Kaffee und sehr leckeres Brot mit Zimt.
read moreread less

Claudia
1 month ago
We had a great time cruising through the canals with Captain Dave! The boat is beautiful and provides a unique way to see the city. One of our favorite things from our trip to Amsterdam!
read moreread less

Paul
2 months ago
Captain Dave’s tour was amazing. He was raised in Amsterdam & was able to share so much history & knowledge. Highly recommend booking this more intimate tour rather than a massive group boat. Great way to meet other people from all over the world! 10/10 experience
read moreread less

Erika
2 months ago
This was a really informative and interesting canal cruise; our captain was so friendly and very knowledgeable.
I would definitely recommend this - very enjoyable.
read moreread less

Sarah
2 months ago
Die Fahrt mit der Jongfrouw war einfach toll. Unkompliziert, perfekt vorbereitet, tolle Geschichten über alles, Restauranttipps, kleiner Kreis, sehr exklusiv, gemütlich, Mega sympathisch, mit Herz und Humor. Mehr muss man nicht sagen. Danke für diesen Ausflug
read moreread less

Ele
2 months ago
Jan was an excellent tour guide and the perfect mixture of history and humor. We left with a lot of great recommendations of places to visit during our stay that we would’ve never heard of otherwise. This tour was a highlight of our trip and we would highly recommend !
read moreread less

Carolyn
3 months ago
On a cold wet morning, cruising around the canals on Captain Dave’s beautiful boat was the perfect way to see the city whilst staying warm and dry. Well worth it.
read moreread less

David
3 months ago
Such a cosy and beautiful boat. Really glad we chose to do this instead of a going on a larger more commercial canal tour. Great host too. Highly recommend
read moreread less

Laree
3 months ago
I would highly recommend this experience to any of my friends visiting Amsterdam. We did not have Captain Dave and instead were hosted by Captain Jan. He is meant for this job with a perfect balance of knowledge, charisma, and humor! The boat itself feels cozy and seats about 12 people, which made it much more personable as compared to some of the larger tour boats we passed on the waters. I learned a lot about the history of Amsterdam on this tour and was also able to ask a few questions in the moment. Captain Dave's contribution of sugar bread from a city 1.5 hours away was a nice added touch!
read moreread less

Manjot
4 months ago
This was my second time cruising with captain Dave. I went in 2018 with friends and it was the highlight of our trip. Our 2024 cruise was absolutely magical. The views that you get from the boat are stunning and unlike any other. Don't fall for the big boat tours that are an hour. Captain Dave provides a much more personalized experience and can navigate the smaller canals in his boat. I highly recommend this experience if there is space.
read moreread less

Melanie
4 months ago
Dave is an excellent host! His boat is very comfortable. The tour is the perfect length. A morning tour is especially nice because the canals are less crowded.
read moreread less

Anna
4 months ago

Amsterdam Early Morning Canal Cruise
by Captain Dave

Contact & Meet us

Captain Dave Amsterdam — personalized boat tours — small group — 1928 King's boat —toilet on board — 100% electric — sliding glass windows — sunroof

WhatsApp for fast communication

Amsterdam Early Morning Canal Cruise by Captain Dave

Contact & Meet us

Captain Dave Amsterdam — personalized boat tours — small group — 1928 King's boat —toilet on board — 100% electric — sliding glass windows — sunroof

WhatsApp for fast communication

Join Our
AMSTERDAM
Early Morning
Canal Cruise

Amsterdam Early Morning canal cruise

The official

City coming alive

Stunning views

cruise in style

The Chilly morning

Feel the magic!

Why choose

Plan your trip

Small group up t0 12

—Real-time availability

What people say

Personalized Captain

Contact & Meet us

Contact & Meet us

meeting point

Amsterdam Center

—Amsterdam Early Morning Canal Cruise—

Prinsengracht 397, amsterdam center

Join Our AMSTERDAM Early Morning Canal Cruise

Amsterdam Early Morning canal cruise

The official

City coming alive

Stunning views

cruise in style

The Chilly morning

Feel the magic!

Why choose

Plan your trip

Small group up t0 12

—Real-time availability

What people say

Personalized Captain

Contact & Meet us

Contact & Meet us

meeting point

Amsterdam Center

—Amsterdam Early Morning Canal Cruise— Prinsengracht 397, amsterdam center

Join Our
AMSTERDAM
Early Morning
Canal Cruise

—Amsterdam Early Morning Canal Cruise—

Prinsengracht 397, amsterdam center