Sure most Amsterdam canal tours are quite touristy, but these boat tours are really a delightful way to see Holland’s most beautiful city. Several companies depart from at Amsterdam’s Central Station, Damrak, Rokin, at the Heineken Experience and in opposite of the famous Rijksmuseum.

Costs are overall pretty similar (about 16 euro per adult). To avoid the steamed-up glass-window effect, look for a canal boat with an opening seating area. During Amsterdam canal tours at night, there’s the bonus of seeing the beautiful bridges lit up (however these canal tours usually cost a bit more).

1 | Blue Boat Company Amsterdam

The canal tours of Blue Boat Company have a duration of 75-minutes and glides by the top sights in Amsterdam. 90-minute evening canal tours are provided at 8, 9 and 10 pm from March to October and at 8 pm from November to February. Other canal tours are a children’s pirate-themed cruise, a dinner cruise and a tour in a tinier, open-top canal boat. The dock is near the Max Euweplein, just in front of the Heineken Experience and Club BonTon – which offers Amsterdam Brothel Tours too.

Blue Boat Company Prices & Departures

Price: 75-minute canal tour 16 euro for adults and 8.50 euro for children.
Departure: Stadhouderskade 30.
To get there: Take tram 1, 2, 5, 7 or 10 towards Leidseplein.

2 | Those Dam Boat Guys

This is one of the least-touristy canal-tours options. This company offer cozy and personal canal tours (no more than 11 persons) on electric boats. Feel free to bring beers, wine, food and whatever else you want during this 90-minute canal tour. Those Dam Boat Guys have typical Amsterdam boats (see above) that can go underneath every bridge. For rainy days, their boats offer a strong & protective tarpaulin.

Those Dam Boat Guys Price & Meeting Point

Price: 20 euro per person.
Departure: Cafe Wester at Nieuwe Leliestraat 2.
Departure times: 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm.
To get there: Take tram 13, 14 or 17 towards Westermarkt.

3 | Boaty Amsterdam

Want to explore Amsterdam’s waterways while being the captain of your own canal cruise? The way locals do it. Boaty Amsterdam offers electric, environment-friendly boats that you can rent with a maximum of six persons. Boaty’s location on the peaceful Amstelkanaal in the south of Amsterdam makes it an ideal launching pad for exploring the waterways before going to the more busy city-centre canals. Rental includes a detailed map of Amsterdam outlining suggested routes; you don’t need a boat license or prior experience for these smaller boats in Amsterdam. It’s recommended to book in advanced online.

Boat rental at Boaty Amsterdam

Price: per 3 hours from 79 euro.
Location: Jozef Israelskade, in front of Amsterdam’s Okura Hotel.

4 | Lovers Canal Cruises NL

Lovers has been offering canal cruises since 1950. They have a wide range of cruises; regular canal cruises, dinner cruises, candlelight cruises, evening cruises and also pizza & burger cruises. A few of their boats are fully powered by solar energy. All of Lover’s boats offer audio guides in 19 different languages. You can’t miss their orange boats which are located in front of Central Station. Lovers is open 365 days a year and their boats depart several times per hour.

Lovers Canal Cruises Price & Meeting Point

Price: 16 euro per person.
Departure: Amsterdam Central Station, right side.
Departure times: every 15 minutes from 9:00 am to 21:30 pm.
To get there: public transport or taxi to Amsterdam Central Station.

5 | Rederij Plas

This canal cruise company is one of the oldest in Amsterdam. It exist 90 years and is located near Central Station, on the Damrak street.

Rederij Plas Cruises Price & Meeting Point

Price: 12 euro per person.
Departure: Across from Amsterdam Central Station, at the Damrak.
Departure times: every 20 minutes from 10:00 am to 21:00 pm.
To get there: public transport or taxi to Amsterdam Central Station, walk 2 minutes to Damrak 28.

6 | Stromma Canal Tours

Stromma Cruises Price & Meeting Point

Price: 11,50 euro per person.
Departure: Amsterdam Central Station, left side.
Departure times: from 9:00 am to 22:00 pm.
To get there: public transport or taxi to Amsterdam Central Station, walk 2 minutes to Damrak 28.

ALSO READ:

5 Most Beautiful Canals In Amsterdam

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10 Amsterdam City Tours

The post 6x Best Amsterdam Canal Tours Near Central Station in 2026 appeared first on Tours in Amsterdam.

We’ve developed a unique Amsterdam Audio Tour app specifically for Amsterdam Red Light District. In it, 22 local an international experts will tell you all about one of Holland’s most unique areas.

Amsterdam Audio Tour With Virtual Guide & GPS

During the tour your virtual guide Sophie will talk and walk you through Amsterdam Red Light District, also known as “De Wallen”. She will tell you all about the wheelings and dealings that happen in the area and she’ll introduce you to 22 experts in their fields along the way. These experts share their knowledge and unique perspectives with you so you’ll really get to know De Wallen; its history and its current iteration.

Get to know what’s it like to be sex worker in Amsterdam, learn what area used to be like, hear real stories from real locals and learn everything about the Dutch culture, tolerance, drug policy, Dutch food, sex education in Holland and much more.

22 Experts As Amsterdam Tour Guide:

These 22 experts are part of this Amsterdam Audio Tour:

• Patrick – The Red Light District police officer.
• Jerzy Gawronski – Amsterdam’s archaeologist & professor of maritime at the University of Amsterdam.
• Veronique Verschueren – “smart shop” owner.
• August de Loor – Amsterdam’s drug consultant.
• Walther Schoonenberg – Amsterdam’s best architectural historian.
• Russell Shorto – Journalist, Author & historian who has written one of the best books on Amsterdam’s history.
• Birgit Buchner – Director at a hidden Catholic church museum.
• Dennis de Borst – CEO of the the famous Dutch FEBO snackbar chain.
• Martine & Louise Fokkens – Twin sisters as prostitutes for 50 years.
• Kate Lister – Lecturer & researcher of the history of sexuality  & owner of the famous Twitter-account Whores of Yore.
• Herman Vuijsje – Dutch writer & sociologist.
• Mariska Majoor – Holland’s best known sex worker activist.
• Theodoor van Boven – Owner of world’s first condom shop.
• Kasia – A Romanian window sex worker.
• Diana van Laar – Owner of Amsterdam’s first gay bar.
• Jan Otten –  Owner of Casa Rosso and Amsterdam’s last peep show.
• Hugo van Heijningen – Founder of Red Light Radio (a radio station located in a former window brothel).
• Lyle Muns – Local politician & male sex worker.
• Piet Middelkoop – Retired police officer who worked in the Red Light District during rough 1980’s.
• Henny Tinga – Front woman of the Salvation Army in Amsterdam.

A Little Preview of Amsterdam Audio Tour:

American historian Russell Shorto:

“This kind of tolerance is part of the Dutch identity. It goes all the way back to the Middle Ages and the battle against water. People built up dams and dikes, creating land where there was none.”

Lyle Muns, Male Sex Worker:

“Personally, I’m an escort, so I go to my clients, rather than working in a brothel or behind a window. I do so because it gives me a lot of liberty… I don’t need to rent a room and work the whole day and I can just go to a client for an hour, come back home, and do my other stuff. This is also why I became an escort in the first place; it gives me the freedom to pursue other things as well, such as my political career. Because I’m so open about my work, it doesn’t stand in my way, although I do get a lot of questions about it. Hopefully, in the future, sex work will be viewed as a normal profession or side job.”

“Hopefully, in the future, sex work will be viewed as a normal profession or side job.”

“And whether you’re standing behind a window, or work as an escort; being a sex worker in Amsterdam is particularly enjoyable because there is a lot of support from the government… They offer health services that are freely available, such as std-checks. There are social services that help you out when you’re having emotional issues. And, most importantly: it’s legal. You won’t find any police harassment like sex workers experience in other countries. I am really grateful for that.”

Amsterdam’s City Archeologist Jerzy Gawronski:

“The word ‘Wallen’ comes from the canals that cross section the Red Light District; the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. A ‘burgwal’ means ‘defensive wall’ with a canal in front, but now the name is used for the canals itself, which were dug as a defence for the city.”

University Lecturer & Researcher Of The History Of Sexuality Kate Lister:

“Whore” originally derives from the Germanic “horon”, meaning “one that desires”. That’s also why I use the term. Not to stigmatize sex workers, but to puncture the shame inherent in that word, and as a statement that by definition, we are all historical whores. We all desire.”

Kasia, A Romanian Window Prostitute:

“You need to be at least 21, you need a place to live to have a registered address, you need a registration at the Chamber of Commerce. And if you are from outside of the EU you also need a work permit. And you need to find a brothel that wants to rent you a window.”

Pros of the Amsterdam Audio Tour

• Flexibility: You can do the audio tour at any time. You don’t need anyone else to do this tour. You can also choose to listen to the content at home as an audiobook, while seeing lots of (old) pictures!
• An unique app: This is the only audio tour in Amsterdam that includes a great variety of experts. It’s one of a kind!
• Low priced: This Amsterdam audio tour app is priced at just 4,99 euro. That’s a real bargain if you compare it to a normal walking tour.
• Informational: 22 Experts and their knowledge in the palm of your hand.
• Modern: The newest way to discover a city like Amsterdam.
• Accessible: Downloadable to all smart phones.
• Exhaustive: All subjects that are connected with the Red Light District are discussed.
• Fun: It contains good jokes too.
• Exciting: Explore Amsterdam’s most fascinating area alone, or sync up with your friends, family or co-workers.
• No waiting around: for other people, or speed it up to your liking.

Amsterdam Audio Tour Specifications

Language: English.
Duration: max. 1u 50m.
Required: Smartphone & headset.
Included: GPS-map, dozens of pictures & stories.
Stops: 32.
Not required: Internet connection during the tour.
Download file size app: 42 mb.
Price: 4,99 euro per download.

Download The Amsterdam Audio Tour

The Amsterdam Audio Tours App can be purchased either through the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for Android users. Learn about the Red Light District of Amsterdam whilst exploring the area, or just from a comfy chair in your home or hotel.

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