Eco Boats 1-hour open boat cruise review

From the moment you arrive at the Eco Boats canal cruise departure point by Central Station, you’re met with friendly smiles and a warm welcome, and the tone is immediately set for a laidback, fun and enjoyable experience on the Amsterdam canals. You also won’t be thirsty, as a complimentary drink of choice is included in the price of this cruise.

As you’d expect from the name, the Eco Boats Amsterdam canal cruise is a sustainable and eco-friendly way to explore the picturesque canals and historical landmarks of Amsterdam. The boats are powered by electricity, making them emission-free and quiet.

Eco Boats are smaller than the typically larger canal cruises in Amsterdam, and are ideal if you’re looking for a more personalised and intimate experience. The boats feature an open seating arrangement, with cushioned benches that run along the whole boat. The setup is cosy yet super comfortable, and you get incredible views wherever you’re seated.

The one-hour boat cruise starts opposite Central Station.

The departure point in front of the iconic Central Station.

The guides really make the boat rides special – they’re full of great stories, facts and humour.

What to expect

The boat rides leave from across Amsterdam Central Station at Stationplein 18, and depending on the day and season, leave around every half hour to an hour. Eco Boats is open every day, all-year round, from 10:00 to 22:00. Check the Eco Boats website or social channels for special Eco Boats excursions on celebration days such as King’s Day and Gay Pride.

The boats, newly built at the time of writing, accommodate 30 people, and there’s a skipper who is engaging and really knowledgable about the city. The setup is small enough that you can ask the skipper questions, and the vibe is relaxed and fun. While the captain points out a lot of sights and shares interesting facts about the city, you can also use their guide (available in multiple languages), which has extra information.

Children between the ages of three and 13 get a reduced ticket price, and there’s also a great family special for two adults and two children under 14. Onboard, you get a free drink – choose between soda, beer or wine. It’s advisable to book your cruise or rental in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons, to ensure availability and preferred time slots.

It’s good to know, that Eco Boats has a rating of five (the maximum) on Tripadvisor, and is recommended by 99% of travellers.

The skipper will determine the route on the day, depending on traffic and other factors.

Each Eco Boat is open, can seat 30 people and goes past Amsterdam’s most famous spots.

While the captain points out a lot of sights, you can also use their guide (available in multiple languages) with extra information about the highlights.

The route and places of interest

There is no set Eco Boats route – the skipper determines the route on the day, which makes this the kind of cruise you can do again and again, seeing and learning new things. Though there is no set itinerary, rest assured you will see a lot of the city’s highlights and likely some lesser-known places of interest. The cruises typically pass through Amsterdam’s most famous canals such as the Prinsengracht and the Keizersgracht.

Other hotspots on the cruise might include:

• The Red Light District (De Wallen)
• The Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug)
• The Dancing Houses (De Dansende Huisjes)
• 9 Streets/9 Straatjes
• National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum)
• NEMO Science Museum
• National Opera & Ballet
• Blue Bridge (Blauwbrug)
• Grimburgwal

This map is indicative, certain circumstances may require Eco Boats to sail an alternative route

On a summer’s day, there are fewer better places to be than on an open boat, relaxing and taking in all the sights.

The striking NEMO Science Museum building.

A digital booklet in your own language!

Although the Eco Boats crew is knowledgeable about Amsterdam and the skipper will tell you as much as possible about the city, usually they only speak Dutch and English. For those, who are not fluent in either of these languages, Eco Boats has put together a digital booklet in 7 different languages; Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

In this booklet, passengers can find information about many sights, neighbourhoods, and buildings they sail by during the cruise. This booklet you can download as a PDF file to your smartphone by scanning a QR code in the boat, so make sure to bring your phone!

Eco Boats offers a digital booklet with the route and information on highlights in 7 different languages!

Towards the end of the cruise, we went through the Red Light District and Dam Square areas.

The well-known Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug).

Our experience

Going on this boat ride was like being among “friends” – we felt welcomed, the vibe was relaxed, and it was easy to kick off our proverbial shoes, and watch Amsterdam’s sights with a drink in hand.

A smaller crowd means you’re able to engage with the captain and ask any questions, so the cruise feels personal. While the seating is informal and you don’t get the intimacy of sitting with your loved one or friends at a table, this setup is social and cosy (but not too cosy for comfort).

At every turn, there was something pretty to see or an interesting Amsterdam fact from the captain, and when the cruise had finished, we felt like we could have stayed for longer – that’s how enjoyable it was. The onboard drinks were a great extra, but it would have been nice to have the option to buy more, especially on a hot summer’s day.

There’s also a feel-good factor because when you choose Eco Boats, you’re also supporting sustainable tourism, which helps to minimise environmental impact.

If you prefer more informal and chatty canal cruises, then this is a stellar option for you.

The boat ride offers you beautiful Amsterdam views.