Amsterdam Open Boat Canal Cruise: Review & Tickets
An Amsterdam open boat canal cruise is a canal cruise on a vessel without a roof — passengers are fully exposed to the open air throughout the cruise. Open boat cruises are the best format for photography and for experiencing the canal ring in good weather, giving unobstructed views of the canal house facades, bridges, and sky. The two main open boat canal cruise options in Amsterdam are the Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Free Drink and the Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks option (which also has an open boat format available).
On a standard Amsterdam canal cruise, you see the canal ring through glass windows — which is excellent, but still mediated. On an open boat canal cruise, there is nothing between you and the canal ring: the facades, the bridges, the sky, and the water are all fully present, unframed, and immediate. This is a fundamentally different sensory experience from a covered cruise — and in good weather, it is one of the best ways to experience Amsterdam’s canals.
This guide covers both Amsterdam open boat canal cruise options, what each includes, when the open boat format is and is not appropriate, and how to book.
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The Two Amsterdam Open Boat Canal Cruise Options
1. Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Free Drink
A covered sightseeing canal cruise — wait, not quite. This is a purpose-built open boat: no roof, seats arranged to face the canal ring rather than a boat interior, and one free drink (beer, wine, or soft drink) included in the ticket price. The route covers Amsterdam’s main canal ring with audio guide commentary. The open format gives unobstructed views of the canal houses and bridges and the full sky above the canal ring.
What the free drink includes: One beer, wine, or soft drink per person, included in the ticket price. Additional drinks are available for purchase on board.
Best for: Sunny day visitors who want the most unobstructed, open-air canal ring experience. Photographers. Anyone who finds covered cruise boats claustrophobic or limiting for views.
Duration: 60–75 minutes | Drinks: 1 free drink | Boat: Fully open
Buy This Ticket2. Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks Option
Amsterdam’s most social open-air canal cruise — a semi-open or open boat with unlimited drinks throughout. The “booze cruise” format is explicitly oriented toward the social drinking experience, with the canal ring as the backdrop. The private hire option is available for groups who want the entire boat. The unlimited drinks format runs for the full cruise duration.
What unlimited drinks includes: Beer, wine, and soft drinks from the on-board bar, unlimited for the full cruise duration.
Best for: Social groups, parties, and visitors for whom the open-air social drinks experience is the primary purpose of the cruise. Also available as a private hire for groups.
Duration: 90 minutes | Drinks: Unlimited | Boat: Open / semi-open | Private option: Available
Buy This TicketWhat an Open Boat Adds Over a Covered Cruise
An open boat canal cruise gives three things that a covered cruise cannot: unobstructed upward views of the canal house gables and bridge arches as you pass under them; fresh air and the sensory experience of being physically present on Amsterdam’s canals rather than observing them through glass; and full sky visibility, which is particularly valuable for photography. The trade-off is weather dependency — an open boat is excellent in sunshine and uncomfortable in rain or cold.
Unobstructed upward views. On a covered canal cruise, the roof of the boat limits your upward field of vision — you can see the canal houses at water level and the bridges at midheight, but the gable tops and the sky above the canal ring are cut off by the roof structure. On an open boat, you see the full height of every canal house from gable to water’s edge, and the bridges arch completely overhead as you pass underneath them.
The bridge experience. Passing under Amsterdam’s bridges on an open boat is one of the canal ring’s most specific sensory pleasures — the bridge arch rises overhead, the water surface narrows between the hull and the stone or brick walls on both sides, and for a brief moment the city is overhead rather than beside you. On a covered boat, this moment is experienced through the roof windows at a mediated distance. On an open boat, it is fully immediate.
Photography. For anyone who wants to photograph Amsterdam’s canal ring from the water, an open boat is the optimal format. No glass to shoot through, no glare, no reflections from the interior — just the canal house facades, the bridges, and the sky, fully accessible from every angle.
The weather trade-off. All of the above applies only in dry, preferably sunny weather. In rain, an open boat is miserable. In cold weather — below approximately 15°C — an open boat requires appropriate clothing and is less comfortable than a heated covered vessel. Check the forecast before booking an open boat cruise and cancel if rain is expected (most operators offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure).
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When to Book an Open Boat Cruise
Book for: Sunny days in spring and summer, specifically when the forecast shows clear skies and temperatures above 18°C. April through September in Amsterdam can produce excellent open boat days — blue skies, warm sunshine on the canal houses, and the full open-air canal ring experience.
Avoid: Any day with rain forecast, cold or windy conditions, or overcast grey weather where the visual quality of the canal ring is reduced. On such days, the covered sightseeing cruise with audio guide is the better choice.
The flexibility approach: Book the open boat cruise with free cancellation, and keep a covered cruise as a backup for the same day if the weather is poor. Cancel the open boat cruise up to 24 hours before departure if the forecast has deteriorated, and take the covered cruise instead.
Open Boat vs Covered Cruise: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Open Boat | Covered Cruise |
|---|---|---|
| Views | Unobstructed — full height, full sky | Through glass windows |
| Weather | Sunshine only | All weather |
| Photography | Best format for canal photography | Limited by glass/reflections |
| Audio guide | Typically included | Included |
| Bridge experience | Fully immersive | Seen through roof windows |
| Comfort in heat | Excellent | Can be warm in midsummer |
| Comfort in cold / rain | Poor | Excellent |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the open boat canal cruise available year-round?
Open boat cruises are available year-round but are only genuinely enjoyable in warm, dry weather — roughly April through September, and specifically on sunny days. In autumn and winter, the covered heated cruise is a far more comfortable alternative.
What should I wear on an open boat canal cruise?
Dress for the air temperature plus sunscreen if it is sunny. The canal ring provides some shelter from wind between the canal house rows, but open sections — particularly on the Amstel River — can be breezy. A light layer is useful even on warm days.
Can I photograph the canal ring from the open boat?
Yes — the open boat is the best canal cruise format for photography. The absence of glass means no glare, no reflections, and no cropping of the upward field of view. Bring a fully charged phone or camera.
Does the open boat have an audio guide?
The Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Free Drink typically includes an audio guide covering the canal ring landmarks. Check the specific product listing for the audio guide language options.
Is the Canal Booze Cruise available as a private hire for a group?
Yes — the Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks has a private hire option for groups who want the full boat exclusively. Contact the operator or check the listing for group private hire pricing.
