My Favorite Company for a Boat Rental in Amsterdam

Since moving to Amsterdam, I’ve rented a boat from three companies and have been on two canal cruises. I quickly learned the hard way that canal cruises are tourist traps and that renting your own boat is the way to go. But getting from the right company is important for a boat rental in Amsterdam.

Why Get an Amsterdam Canal Boat Rental vs. Go on a Cruise

There are a handful of reasons why renting your own boat is more fun than going on a cruise. Here are a few:

• It’s much more fun to be on a personal boat with a group of your friends than a bunch of strangers.
• It’s easy to drive and explore any part of the canals that you want.
• You can bring your own food and drinks onto the boat.
• Renting a boat can be just as cheap as going on a canal cruise.

Which Company is the Best for a Boat Rental in Amsterdam

Among the three boat companies I’ve rented from, I enjoyed Mokumboot’s boat the best because of comfort, ease, price, and convenience. Because of this, I’ve partnered up with them (after paying for my own rental the first time) to show you what cruising around the canals of Amsterdam on your own is like.

Here are some photos of us cruising on the canals by the Artis Zoo, picnicking on the boat, and just enjoying the Amsterdam sites!

Cruising by the Artis Zoo

Going by the Artis Zoo is one of my favorite routes to take when getting an Amsterdam canal boat rental. You get to see a different side of it and even get to see some animals like giraffes or goats!

This is definitely a treat to see this area because canal cruises don’t come here as well as most boaters. The only way to get this view is to rent your own boat.

Picnicking on the Boat

For me, an Amsterdam canal boat rental ride isn’t complete without a picnic full of all things good like charcuterie, hummus, and bread from the Ten Kate Market. #nomnomnom

Since I hadn’t officially celebrated my one year of blogging, I also brought a bottle of wine* to toast to the blog and enjoy on this very fun and relaxing ladies only excursion.

*As a note, drinking is allowed on the boat unless you’re the captain! Gotta stay sharp!

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Enjoying the 17th Century Canal Rings

Of course, there’s no way to miss the 17th century canal rings of Amsterdam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while boating!

We cruised around these canals on our private boat hire for about an hour or so basking in the sunlight and enjoying the last few days of summer weather while falling in love again with the quintessential Amsterdam scene– homes lining the canals and bridges all around.

Sailing on the Amstel

After all the food was done, we started heading back to Mokumboot on the Amstel River to return the boat. We passed by the Amstel Hotel, which Tiffany said reminds her of the movie, the Grand Budapest Hotel.

Isn’t it so cute and grand at the same time? This is definitely an angle you only get to see if you rent a boat in Amsterdam.

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Helpful Information

All in all, I had yet another enjoyable experience with Mokumboot and hope you do too! Here’s some information that’ll help you sail away on the Amsterdam canals.

How do I book a boat?

Renting a boat with Mokumboot is really easy. If you’re booking day of, call +31 20 2105700. Otherwise you can book a boat online! 

How much does it cost?

The rates vary by location, but if you’re picking it up in center like I did, it costs:

• €90 for 2 hours
• €110 for 3 hours
• €140 for 4 hours
• €165 for 5 hours

To see how much the other locations cost, click here.

Where does the boat leave from?

The center location leaves from Nassaukade 351, 1053 LZ Amsterdam. Check out the map below.

There are also two other locations on the Amsterdam and in the East. See the details here.

Any other questions or comments?

Feel free to leave any questions or comments on the post below, or check out Mokumboot’s FAQ page.

Thanks for stopping by! xo.

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Come say hi to me on Instagram!

I’d love to know if you made it this far down into the post. It’d actually make me quite happy if you reached out on Instagram and said hello!

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