Amsterdam Canal Cruise Departure from Anne Frank House
4.4 / 5 · 805 traveler reviews
Travelers choose this 1 hour electric canal cruise for its quiet ride, open views, and the stories shared by a local skipper who grew up in Amsterdam. The cruise departs in front of the Anne Frank House and starts in a relaxed setting where guests can enjoy a drink or snack at Cafe Dialoog before boarding. Once on the water, the boat glides smoothly past the Nine Streets, the Herengracht, the Skinny Bridge, the Maritime Museum, the Jordaan district, Central Station, and the IJ River. The panorama glass rooftop opens with sunshine and closes when rain appears, and heating makes colder days comfortable. The open rear deck is one of the most appreciated features of the experience, offering clear views and excellent photo opportunities. With a toilet on board, coloring pages for children, the experience suits families, couples, and solo travelers. Note Dutch and English commentary are standard, other languages to be heard on your own phone
Your experience
Stop 1
Adventure into Amsterdam’s past and present, through exploring the history of the city’s canals. Start your journey of discovery as you travel back 400 years at the Museum of the Canals.
Stop 2
The Anne Frank House (Dutch: Anne Frank Huis) is a writer's house and biographical museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. The building is located on a canal called the Prinsengracht, close to the Westerkerk, in central Amsterdam in the Netherlands. During World War II, Anne Frank hid from Nazi persecution with her family and four other people in hidden rooms at the rear of the 17th-century canal house, known as the Secret Annex (Dutch: Achterhuis). She did not survive the war but her wartime diary was published in 1947. Ten years later the Anne Frank Foundation was established to protect the property from developers who wanted to demolish the block
Stop 3
The Westerkerk is a Reformed church within Dutch Protestant Calvinism in central Amsterdam, Netherlands. It lies in the most western part of the Grachtengordel neighborhood, next to the Jordaan, between the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht.
Stop 4
At the Houseboat Museum, you get the chance to experience first-hand what it’s like to live in a houseboat on an Amsterdam canal. The museum is located in the “Hendrika Maria”, a former cargo ship built in 1914. The cargo hold is now a cosy living space featuring all the conveniences and a surprising amount of space and comfort.
Stop 5
Leidsegracht is a canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is a cross-canal in Amsterdam-Center that connects Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht and Lijnbaansgracht and flows into the Singelgracht at Marnixstraat.
Stop 6
De Beulingsloot is one of the oldest and shortest canals in the center of Amsterdam. It is located within the Grachtengordel.
Stop 7
The Bartolotti House is a canal house at Herengracht 170-172 in Amsterdam. It was built around 1617 for Willem van den Heuvel tot Beichlingen, one of the richest Amsterdammers at the time, who had inherited a lot of money from a childless uncle by marriage, Giovanni Battista Bartolotti, a merchant from Bologna.
Stop 8
The Melkmeisjesbrug is a fixed bridge in Amsterdam-Center. There has been a bridge here for centuries. Balthasar Florisz. van Berckenrode (1625), Joan Blaeu (1649) and Daniël Stalpaert (1662) signed her on their maps. The modern history of the bridge starts in 1883. A pedestrian drawbridge was then replaced by a permanent bridge. This was possible because shipping here had largely ended. Nevertheless, the passage turned out to be too narrow. The abutments and bridge were renewed in 1903 by the construction of a so-called paraboolligger bridge with iron sickle girders. The bridge looked slender and fit in well with the street scene. The new version of the bridge, this time made of steel, from 1966 also shows these properties. The bridge is named after the milk market that was once held here. Later a catering establishment was built here, which had an image of a milkmaid as a sign. The bridge is probably the place where the first (type) Amsterdammertje was placed.
Stop 9
The Brouwersgracht is a canal in Amsterdam that connects the Singel with the Singelgracht. The canal marks the northwestern border of the Grachtengordel (canal belt). Between the Prinsengracht and the Singelgracht the Brouwersgracht forms the northern border of the Jordaan neighborhood. The house numbers of the Lijnbaansgracht, the Prinsengracht, the Keizersgracht, the Herengracht and the Singel start to count from the Brouwersgracht. The Herenmarkt is located between Brouwersgracht no. 62 and no. 68, near the West-Indisch Huis (West Indies House). In 2007 Brouwersgracht was voted the most beautiful street in Amsterdam by readers of Het Parool out of 150 nominations.
Stop 10
The church was designed by Adriaan Dortsman (ca. 1636-1682) and was opened in 1671. In 1822 the church was nearly destroyed and was rebuilt in 1826. The organ was built by J Batz in 1830 and it was restored in 1983 by Flentrop Orgelbouw. In 1935 the Lutherans left the building and it became a concert hall. In 1975 a tunnel was built by the neighboring Sonesta Hotel, today called the Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel, for its own access.The hotel rents the church from the Lutheran church which is still the owner today. In 1983 the church was closed for restoration, but in 1993 the dome caught fire; the church was again restored.
Stop 11
Amsterdam Centraal was designed by Pierre Cuypers, who is also known for his design of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. While Cuypers was the principal architect, it is believed that he focused mostly on the decoration of the station building and left the structural design to railway engineers.
Stop 12
The IJ is a body of water, formerly a bay, in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is known for being Amsterdam's waterfront.
What’s included
- 60 minute canal cruise through the historic centre
- Electric boat with a panorama glass rooftop
- Coloring page with pencils for children
- Open rear deck for clear photos
- On-board restrooms
- Dutch and English commentary are standard, other languages to be heard on your own phone
Meeting and pickup
As soon as you arrive at the Central Station (from the main entrance), walk straight ahead whilst passing the bridge. On your left handside, the friendly captains will be awaiting you.
Located just in front of the Anne Frank House you will find our friendly and help steward, ready to assist you.
Before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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