captain dave amsterdam tours

• +31 20 320 20 40
• [email protected]
• Prinsengracht 397, Amsterdam

—Explore the Canals—

Join Our Cruise Like a Local Amsterdam

—The original—

Captain Dave offers the most interactive boat cruise you can experience in Amsterdam. Enjoy an all-inclusive afternoon/ evening tour and cruise like a real local!

get a first-class treatment

CRUISE LIKE A LOCAL Amsterdam

The original.

Finding the right boat tour makes a difference. Cruise like a local is a personable, informative, and fun experience —with food, drinks & good company! 

See the city like a local

Meet new people

cruise in style

The Chilly morning

Feel the magic!

90-minute afternoon/ evening canal cruise with beer, wine, soda, and snacks. A fun way to get to know the city.  Adult €37 (child €29). Small group boat tour, up to 12 guests. Random from 2 till 10 PM.

Plan your trip

Small group up t0 12, —real-time availability.

What people say

Personalized captain.

Amsterdam Cruise Like a Local by Captain Dave

meeting point

Amsterdam center, —prinsengracht 397, amsterdam center.

Copyright 2023: Amsterdam Cruise Like a Local by Captain Dave Amsterdam

Canal cruises amsterdam

Early Morning Canal Cruise Amsterdam

—canals to ourselves, early morning cruise, —canals all to ourselves.

Quick details

• Small group, up to 12 guests
• Prinsengracht 397 —Boat Jonckvrouw
• Daily at 8:00 am
• Easy spoken English
• Coffee/ tea, juice & a Dutch specialty
• Adult €39, child (3-10) €29

—memories of a lifetime

The early morning cruise is an exclusive cruise with quiet canals and magnificent views .

The reflection of the houses creates a dreamlike, reversed image of reality —like a natural mirror in the canal water.

My favorite time of day is cruising in the early morning. It’s magical and difficult to explain. Join us and feel the magic!

We cruise in a former Dutch 1928 government boat that was used by presidents, mayors, and the Dutch royal family.

The boat is 100% electric, comfortable, and has a toilet on board. When the weather is nice, we open the roof and windows . When it rains, we stay dry. If it’s chilly, we have heating and extra blankets to keep you warm.

We welcome you on board and provide a unique experience that will leave you feeling amazed. Get ready to create memories of a lifetime!

Cheers, Captain Dave

—the beauty of the early morning

—the early morning

Why travelers choose this tour

Why travelers choose the Early Morning cruise? Worth getting up for the 8 am trip! Empty canals! Great photo opportunities!

About the boat

—Most famous boat in Amsterdam —100% electric, no engine noise —12 seats —Toilet on board —Covered lounge —Sliding windows —Sliding roof —Outer deck —Heating System —Bluetooth music system —Extra blankets

What's included

—90 minutes boat trip —Tour in easy-to-follow English —Captain, host, and guide (no script) in one —Coffee, tea, fresh orange juice and smoothie —A delicious Dutch specialty —All Taxes

Bring a smile and a camera. We take care of everything else!

Departure & Return

Departure Point: Have you booked the Early Morning cruise? We are waiting for you on the boat “Jonckvrouw” at Prinsengracht 397, Amsterdam Center.

We are 5 minutes before the estimated start time at the location. Please note: our boat is located on the odd side of the canal. Kindly avoid ringing the doorbell of canal houses.

Departure Time: 08:00 AM

Arrival Point: The cruise will return to the original departure point.

—Adult (11+): 39 EUR —Child (3-10): 29 EUR —Private boat trip: 215 EUR per hour (excluding drinks and snacks and Toerist Tax 2,50 pp.)

Plan your trip

—real-time availability.

MEETING POINT EARLY MORNING CRUISE

—prinsengracht 397, amsterdam-center, what our guests say, —about the early morning cruise.

All reviews >>

• 2024 CAPTAIN DAVE AMSTERDAM

Captain Dave Amsterdam

• See all photos

Amsterdam Small-Group Cruise on Royal Dutch Vessel 1928

Amsterdam Morning Canal Cruise with Coffee and Tea

Amsterdam Festival of Lights Cruise by Captain Dave

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Captain Dave Amsterdam - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

—Light Festival Amsterdam 2023/24—

Join Our Light Festival Amsterdam Canal Cruise

From November 30. 2023 to January 21, 2024 international artists light up the city and present their works on the canals of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

get a first-class view

our canal cruise

Looking for the best views of the outdoor light art exhibition, go with Captain Dave

celebrate light

From today on you can get your Amsterdam Light Festival Tickets. We offer both Private and ticketed tours.

Reflect on 11 yrs of light art

We celebrate the light, the power of imagination, with 20 inspiring works of art in and along the canals of Amsterdam

Top 10 best festivals Europe

The Festival of Lights is one of the ten best winter festivals in Europe. —The Guardian

Opening hours festival

The light artworks are on every day from 5:00 pm until 11:00 pm, on New Year's Eve the until 8:00 pm.

Get a first-class view

We follow a special route to see the best of the light artworks along the route. Your captain will be guide & host in-one

cruise in style

1928 comfortable, electric boat with heated salon, sliding windows, sliding sunroof, outer deck, and toilet on board.

90-minute evening boat tour with first-class view on the art works, mulled wine, and hot chocolate for only 37 EUR (child 29 EUR). Small group or private boat tour, up to 12 guests. During the festival daily from 4:30pm till 10:00pm.

What people say

Contact & meet us

+31 20 320 20 40

Captain Dave Amsterdam, boat name Jonckvrouw  Dock Herengracht 386, 1016 CJ Amsterdam

Copyright 2023: Captain Dave Amsterdam

Captain Dave Amsterdam

• See all photos

Amsterdam Small-Group Cruise on Royal Dutch Vessel 1928

Amsterdam Morning Canal Cruise with Coffee and Tea

Amsterdam Festival of Lights Cruise by Captain Dave

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Captain Dave Amsterdam - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Captain Dave Amsterdam

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

Herengracht 605

1017 CE Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Amenities and More

Recommended reviews.

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

This is our second Canal Cruise in Amsterdam and compared to the first this was stellar. We didn't have Captain Dave we had Jan. He was absolutely fabulous. He knew more about Amsterdam than most locals. A true gem. It was intimate and despite having hail and rain was warm and, inviting. This was a top 10 for sure!

Captain Dave's canal cruise is a nice way to start the day! I took the earliest reservation, which is at 8am, and waited at the meetup spot half an hour early. I'm a real early bird, especially during vacation so I don't miss out on anything, but I would advise you not to worry if you think you'll be cutting it close. The boat didn't arrive until five minutes to the scheduled time, which also is good to note that you shouldn't expect the boat to be sitting there before 8am. I spent most of my free time searching for it, when I could've stayed at the empty part of the canal and waited patiently. So, if you consider taking this tour, remember that you will NOT see the boat early before your start time. Upon arrival, we were invited in by the actual Captain Dave! There are several hosts within the tour, and I was lucky enough to meet the founder. He introduced himself to us, and gave us a chance to introduce ourselves too. This could be a problem to guests who'd rather sit quietly and enjoy the view because throughout their over an hour journey, you will be talking with other passengers. If not, it's likely the Captain will check in with you to make sure you're having a good time. I did speak with people, but I was the only attendee from my reservation, which is probably why the Captain gave me a little more attention at certain points. While it wasn't necessary, as I'm comfortable sitting in silence, I did appreciate his efforts to keep me entertained. I took this cruise on my 1st full day in Amsterdam. I believe it provides a great overview of what the city has to offer on land & sea. I chose the earliest time too because less boats are in motion; so if you're looking for a peaceful, intimate setting to observe the area, then this is your best option. There is sweet bread offered, along with coffee, tea & orange juice. Not exactly filling for breakfast, but enough to keep your stomach from rumbling. It did taste good, and I caught myself refilling my glass with juice and my plate with bread & butter. Captain Dave had a vast amount of knowledge about the area, with things I would've never known about if I hadn't taken his tour. Without spoiling, some information ranged from where you could spot Old versus New Amsterdam, the history behind the buildings, and even how the boat is connected to royalty! The tour did last longer than anticipated, and we were done by around 9:30am, which was warned beforehand, but be wary in case you plan for any other events so they don't clash with the time. Ultimately, I found this to be a worthwhile experience and I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Amsterdam for the first time. Before you head into the most popularized parts of the city (AKA Red Light District) take a step back, relax, and appreciate the history that has been built around you.

Light breakfast on boat. Bread with butter & orange juice with pulp.

Captain Dave's Boat arriving at meetup point.

Cute blond captain was entertaining and knowledgeable. Started and ended on time. Beautiful day.

8am tour was amazing, no other boats our so was able to get amazing photos! Captain Dave was so fun and shared so much information.

Easily the most fun I've ever had on a boat. Cpt Dave took us through the canals of Amsterdam with amazing sites, views of the city that few get to experience and his knowledge was unbelievable. The boat was gorgeous, clean, and well appointed with wonderful drinks and a bathroom cleaner than at my hotel. Cpt Dave was hilarious and I wish I could have taken him home to meet my family. Of all the things we did during our trip to Amsterdam, this was the favorite of my wife, myself and our two 16yo sons. We love you Cpt Dave! Zie je weer mijn vriend.

I booked through Viator after reading and researching canal tours. This was an outstanding choice and we wholeheartedly recommend Captain Dave Amsterdam canal cruise in a lovely 1928 Saloon boat original condition but electrified including drinks of all sorts, snacks, bathroom etc. We can't say enough and you can book directly. And I'm a Travel Agent I wouldn't hesitate booking clients.

it was one of the delightful afternoons I've spent. cruising through the canals of Amsterdam with AMAZING captain Dave. all sorts of snacks an beverages. And most of all I gained so much knowledge about Amsterdam and the canals. Dave is charming and funny - the perfect host.

Fantastic intimate tour of Amsterdam by boat. The boat was amazing, so historic - and covered, which was convenient because it was raining. Our guide was a very adept captain, he steered us through very tight areas with the greatest of ease, and he was very knowledgeable & easy to listen to. Highly recommend!

My husband and I had a wonderful time in Captain Dave's royal boat as we toured the lovely Amsterdam canals! The good captain was very thoughtful and accommodating, and a great tour guide too! Highly recommend.

Exceeded our expectations! The boat was beautiful, comfortable and fully equipped with a bathroom, outdoor area and lots of snacks and drinks! Captain Dave was very funny and knowledgeable and we truly enjoyed our time with him!! Lots of laughs! Do yourself a favor and book this canal cruise while in Amsterdam!!

3 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Amsterdam Festival of Lights Cruise by Captain Dave

• Boat tour by Award Winner— Boat Tour of The Year 2019 for Amsterdam
• 90-minutes cruise with 1st class view of the open air exhibition 'Amsterdam Light Festival'
• Personable non-scripted guide, host and fully licensed captain in-one
• Included Mulled Wine and Hot Chocolate
• Heated boat and warm blankets
• We cruise in a saloon boat with sliding windows, a sunroof and open aft deck
• Toilet on board (No. 1 yes, No. 2 no)
• Herengracht 386, 1016 CJ Amsterdam, Netherlands I am waiting for you on the boat 'Jonckvrouw' in front of Herengracht 386.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• Not recommened for travelers with acute intestinal problems
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Herengracht 386 Herengracht 386, 1016 CJ Amsterdam, Netherlands I am waiting for you on the boat 'Jonckvrouw' in front of Herengracht 386. See address & details
• Pass by Herengracht
• You'll return to the starting point

• Venture08757290637 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great early morning tour! We did the 8:00 cruise and it was such a treat! No other boats are on the water at that time which creates great photo opportunities. Captain Dave grew up in Amsterdam so he entertained us with many historical facts and points of interest. I highly recommend the early morning tour! Read more Written 28 April 2024
• T2269FBjenniferm 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Terrific canal tour Fantastic!. The boat was so cozy & comfortable with warm blankets waiting for us . It’s was cold and rainy out . But on board this beautiful restored vessel we were warm watch & listening to the tour . Our captain was Romen . He was terrific with his commentary and excellent maneuvering skills on the smaller canals . The big giant tour boats went by us . The people packed in like sardines did not have smiles on theirs faces . I believe this boat only took 12 passengers on the trip . I would highly recommend!.😃 Read more Written 28 April 2024
• ek00men 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles great trip Dave is a great captain that knows how to make his trips a pleasure for anyone on board, whether you are a first time visitor or have been living in Amsterdam most of your life. Thanks for a great time and showing the lovely Prinseneiland area. Read more Written 18 April 2024
• jenniferhS8758AQ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Book this canal cruise. This was so much fun. I knew I didn’t want to be on a canal cruise with a ton of people so I picked this one based on the old boat. I had no idea the amount of history behind it which made the journey extra special. Jan was an amazing captain. He was very educational and pointed out some great sights. Highly recommend this canal cruise. Read more Written 18 April 2024
• dalcoss 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Cruise with the King!! Capt Dave is the best!! He curated an experience our family will never forget. His knowledge of Amsterdam and great sense of humor kept the entire family engaged throughout our wonderful cruise. The boat is clean, comfortable and quite beautiful, not to mention loaded with plenty of drinks and snacks. My family is still talking about how great it was and we highly recommend taking a canal cruise with Capt Dave!! Read more Written 17 April 2024
• greganddebbier 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful cruise with Dave We did the mid morning cruise on a Sunday. It was great! Dave is a native of Amsterdam and is informative and funny. We were 10 people in total and it was not crowded. The area where we met the boat was quieter than the Central area of Amsterdam. Lots of refreshments available (coffee, tea, wine etc.) and the sweet bread was very tasty. Would highly recommend Dave. Read more Written 16 April 2024
• brianvU2486VF 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing tour Top 10 of all time excursions. Jan was a gem. The amount of knowledge and intimacy of this left the other Canal cruise that we took in the dust Read more Written 15 April 2024
• Amy V 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best Canal Tour🚤 I’ve been on a canal boat tour before while in Amsterdam but, I had family members that had never been to Amsterdam with me and chose this boat tour(Captain Dave) This was the best experience ever. My family members are still talking about the great time we all had. It’s an old historic boat and the captain has a book about its history for everyone to see and you can purchase it if you’d like to. There’s snacks and drinks for free on board and blankets if it’s cold. The roof is closed if it’s cold and raining but if it’s sunny and warm the roof will be open. My family sat on the outside in the back of the boat and my teenage granddaughter and I sat inside. We were all happy. Do yourselves a favor and book this canal boat tour with Captain Dave. You won’t be disappointed 😊 Read more Written 14 April 2024
• Traveler326249 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Beautiful morning on the canals Mornings cruising the canals truly are peaceful and I highly recommend waking up for it. Jan was the perfect host with interesting commentary that didn't overshadow the beautiful city. There were many interesting stories both about the city (John Adams!) and the people Jan knows who live there that added a lot of texture, local flavor and humor to the experience. Speaking of flavor, I'm craving dutch sugar bread again - what a nice treat while cruising. I would give six stars if I could because the tour was great but I feel like I need to add an extra star after Jan ran down the street to hand me my jacket that I had left behind. It's extremely clear that Captain Dave's tours are aiming for an delivering a top notch experience. Read more Written 8 April 2024
• TwotimesTravel_20 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful early morning canal cruise We went on the morning canal cruise leaving at 8 am. What a perfect way to see Amsterdam while the canals are quiet and before other boats are on the water. We had Captain Tony, who was amazing: courteous and full of fascinating stories and knowledge about Amsterdam. The boat is beautiful - a historic small vessel that is so much more charming than the large tourist boats you see everywhere. Read more Written 7 April 2024
• AsiaBusinessTraveler 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Tour! Great experience! Jan gave our tour, and he was incredibly knowledgeable and funny! We went on this tour (90 minute) after being persuaded by our hotel concierge, and were glad we did. Read more Written 4 April 2024
• glennaburch 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly recommend Very comfortable boat, great educational experience with Captain Jan and his knowledge of history, architecture, engineering. Read more Written 3 April 2024
• kmsericson 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amsterdam Birthday Captain Dave was blast! Great sense of humor and knowledge of the city. Very hospitable! Even played special music requests! Thanks, Captain Dave for a special day! Read more Written 31 March 2024
• B4112KMcourtneyc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles My boys aren't into tours and said they had a great time. Dave was "cool" & informative in an accessible way. FUNFUNFUN My teenaged boys & I went on a tour with Captain Dave & had THE BEST time. He made our day - funny, engaging, jovial! MUST DO! Read more Written 29 March 2024
• lisamW7648UZ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Captain Dave Amsterdam tour Captain Dave was excellent tour guide, very personable and knowledgeable. The boat tour was a lot of fun. Highly recommend it! Read more Written 29 March 2024

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Buy it with

Amsterdam Festival of Lights Cruise by Captain Dave provided by Captain Dave Amsterdam

Captain Dave Amsterdam

• See all photos

Amsterdam Small-Group Cruise on Royal Dutch Vessel 1928

Amsterdam Morning Canal Cruise with Coffee and Tea

Amsterdam Festival of Lights Cruise by Captain Dave

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Captain Dave Amsterdam - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)