A romantic Amsterdam canal dinner cruise for two
A date on the canals can be quiet and polished, entirely private, or cheerful and affordable. The three cruises below suit couples in different ways, and each has a drawback. Pick by budget first, then by how much company you want.
Three ways to dine as a couple
Couples on the Amsterdam canals usually trade privacy against price. No single cruise wins on both, so this guide sets out what each option gives a pair and where it falls short.
| Option | What you get as a pair | The drawback | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rederij Aemstelland | Your own window table, Prosecco, three courses | Wine and other drinks cost extra | ~$134 per person |
| Boat Boys | The whole boat, with smaller boats for two | The price is for the boat | ~$432 per boat |
| LOVERS | Four courses with beer and wine included | Big shared boat, no window guarantee | ~$99 per person |
Aemstelland, the small saloon boat
Rederij Aemstelland runs a classic saloon boat with wood paneling and white tablecloths, and every table sits at a window. Each party gets its own table, so the two of you face the water rather than strangers.
The boat takes at most 20 guests, and one reviewer counted 9 on their evening. Viator calls the setting elegant and ideal for celebrations, which fits an anniversary or a birthday better than a big glass boat does.
The evening opens with a glass of Prosecco (an alcohol-free version is available) and small bites. Three courses follow, collected warm at brief stops at the partner restaurant Le Hollandais, on a route along the Amstel and past Magere Brug (the Skinny Bridge).
The weak spot is the bill. At ~$134 each it is the priciest shared cruise, and drinks after the Prosecco are bought on board, so wine for two adds to it. Our drinks guide covers what is poured free and what is not.
A window table for the two of you
Aemstelland seats each party at its own window, with Prosecco and three courses over 2 hours 15 minutes. It holds 4.7 from 300+ reviews on GetYourGuide, and the two sites can differ on price for the same date.
Boat Boys, a boat of your own
For full privacy, Boat Boys hires out the whole boat with a captain who also acts as your guide. GetYourGuide mentions smaller boats for two and dimmed lighting, which is about as close to a candle-lit room as a canal gets.
Dinner comes from a restaurant you choose before the cruise, and each of you orders two courses à la carte on board. The route passes the Anne Frank House and Magere Brug, along Prinsengracht and Herengracht.
The ~$432 price is for the boat, not for each guest, so for two people it costs far more per head than any shared cruise. Viator rates it 5.0 from 73 reviews, and our private boat guide shows when the sums add up.
The two listings also describe drinks differently. Viator includes wine and beer, while GetYourGuide lists a welcome drink plus a paid minibar, so read the one you book.
LOVERS, the affordable date
At ~$99 each with beer and wine poured through dinner, LOVERS gives a couple four courses and two hours on the water for well under the Aemstelland price. One menu applies per booking, so for different mains make two bookings under the same name and you still sit together.
The downside is company. It is a big glass-roofed boat with rows of tables, and the listing does not guarantee a window seat. One reviewer found loud tables drowned out the captain, which does not help a quiet conversation.
Some reviewers also found dishes lukewarm. For a relaxed, chatty night out it suits a couple well, while for a proposal the smaller boats above give you more control. Our menu guide lists every course.
A lighter option, the pizza boat
Stromma's pizza cruise is not built as a date, but one reviewer described candle-lit tables on the evening sailing. At ~$39 with drinks poured, the pizza cruise can make a casual first night out before a bigger dinner later in the trip.
Each booking gets its own table on a seating plan set before departure, so a couple sits as a pair. The sailing is short at 1.5 hours, and the commentary is thin by reviewers' accounts, which leaves more room for talk.
Matching the cruise to the occasion
- For an anniversary or a birthday with a quiet window table, Aemstelland from ~$134 each
- For a proposal, or a night with nobody else on board, Boat Boys, ~$432 for the boat
- For a relaxed date with dinner and drinks in one price, LOVERS from ~$99 each
- For a cheerful hour and a half before a late drink in town, the pizza cruise from ~$39
Whichever you choose, compare the price on both partner sites for your date, since the same cruise can cost a different amount on each. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before applies on the listings we read.
Proposals and anniversaries
Planning to propose or mark an anniversary? Message the operator after booking and ask what they can arrange, since none of the listings promises extras such as a cake or flowers.
Timing changes the mood as much as the boat does. In the darker months an evening cruise sails past lit bridges, while in midsummer you dine in daylight. Our guide to timing weighs both.
Dress for the quay as well as the table, since the walk to the dock can be cold and windy. Our notes on what to wear cover shoes and layers, and the boarding guide shows where each boat leaves from.