Bikes & Boats
Boat rental in Amsterdam
Be your own captain on the canals — no licence, no guide, just you, a silent electric sloep and four centuries of merchant houses sliding by. Bring wine, choose your own route, and let the city turn around you.
Browse boatsTake the wheel
Boat rental in Amsterdam: drive your own electric sloep
Amsterdam's canals are public water — and with a small electric sloep, you're on them in ten minutes. No licence, no roaring engine, just you, a few friends and the slow drift that shows the city at its loveliest.
Where to rent a boat — and what it costs
Most rentals are around the Westergas, Houthavens or Oosterpark and walk you through the boat before you leave. A sloep for 6–8 people runs roughly €120–180 for two hours; bigger boats and skippered options are bookable for groups from 10 up.
Canal rules and when to book ahead
Bring your own food and drinks (almost all rentals allow it), keep right, give way to commercial tour boats, and mind the bridge heights if you head out to the IJ. Summer and King's Day sell out fast — book days ahead.
Boat types
Which boat?
Almost everything is electric and quiet — pick what fits your group.
- 01
Self-drive sloep
Small electric sloep, up to ~8 people. No licence required, short safety briefing.
- 02
With a skipper
Someone else steers — ideal if your whole group wants to relax with drinks.
- 03
Group boats
Bigger boats for 10+ guests, often with skipper. Book well ahead.
- 04
Picnic on board
Bring your own food and drinks — most self-drive rentals allow it.
Operators
Boat rental in Amsterdam
Self-drive sloeps for small and bigger groups — almost all electric and quiet. Compare capacity, location and price.
5 results
- Per hour
Boaty
Boaty — Self-drive Sloep
- Self-drive
Popular self-drive electric sloep rental departing from south of the centre — easy step-on, no licence needed for the small boats.
- Per hour
Canal Motorboats
Canal Motorboats — Self-drive Electric Boats
- Self-drive
Family business since 1996 renting small self-drive electric boats; no licence needed for the smallest models.
- Per hour
GoBoat
GoBoat — Self-drive Picnic Boats
- Self-drive · picnic
Self-drive electric picnic boats for up to 7 — bring food and drinks; departures near the eastern harbour.
- Per hour
Mokumboot
Mokumboot — Self-drive Electric Sloep
- Self-drive · with skipper
Large electric fleet, self-drive or with skipper (up to 8 or larger groups). Themed cruises (pancake, pizza, cheese fondue) — bring your own picnic.
- Per hour
Sloepdelen
Sloepdelen — Shared Self-drive Sloep
- Self-drive · membership
Self-drive electric sloep network with multiple pick-up points across Amsterdam — pay per hour, app-based unlocking.
Prices are indicative — confirm with the provider before booking.
FAQ
Frequently asked
Practical tips
- In summer and on King's Day boats sell out fast — book days ahead.
- Send your group a pin — some piers are tucked away.
- Mind bridge heights when crossing from canal to IJ.
- Cruise calmly, keep right, and give way to commercial tour boats.