Renting a boat in Amsterdam: what to know first
A self-drive boat gives you the canals at your own pace. It also makes you responsible for the boat, the other traffic and the rules of a busy city centre. Before you hire a boat, check four points: the licence, the speed limit, the group size and the zone in which you may sail. The sections below take them in turn.
The rates below are for one electric boat in 2026. Prices for other boats will differ, and your final price can change with the date.
Our picks: tours along the canals
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken day trip
- Clog-making demonstration
- Cheese making and tasting
- Boat ride to Marken
A live guide in English and Spanish rides with you on an air-conditioned coach. Going inside a working windmill is only part of the all-inclusive option.
Check availability →
Canal cruise with skipper and host
- Live commentary
- Local skipper and host
A canal cruise with live commentary. Unlimited drinks and small snacks belong only to the option that includes them, so pick that option when you book.
Check availability →Amsterdam boat rental
Self-drive boats and rental trips on the canals, with live prices and availability.
Amsterdam boat rental prices
Rates for an electric boat in 2026.
The example is an electric boat for up to 6 people. The price is per boat and not per person. It includes VAT, a briefing, a map, life jackets and electricity. The city levy of €2.70 per person is added on top. Check whether the price you see already contains the levy.
| Rental time | Morning rate | Standard rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | €69 | €79 |
| 3 hours | €89 | €99 |
The rates cover one electric boat for up to 6 people, plus €2.70 per person. For most small groups, the 2-hour morning rate at €69 is the cheapest of these examples, and a third hour costs €20 more at either rate.
Do you need a boating licence?
The small boating licence, called Klein Vaarbewijs, applies to recreational boats of 15 to 25 m and to fast motorboats under 20 m that can exceed 20 km/h. What counts is the speed a boat can reach, not the speed you actually sail. For small, slow leisure boats the rule only makes sense with both limits together: under 15 m and no faster than 20 km/h.
Boats up to 15 m are not licence-free in every case. Ask the rental company which licence rule applies to the boat you want, and ask about any minimum age or deposit, since these differ by company.
Rules on the water
Speed, priority, mooring, noise and alcohol.
Speed and priority
The regular limit is 6 km/h. Keep to the right. Boats under 20 m give way to longer vessels. On a few stretches, such as the Kostverlorenvaart and the Amstel towards Ouderkerk, a higher limit of 7.5 km/h applies. Follow the signs on the water.
Group size
A leisure boat may carry at most 12 people plus 1 skipper. Larger groups need a licensed boat. If your group is exactly 12 or close to it, check with the rental company before you book.
Mooring
A vignette is required to moor. Do not tie up to trees or bridge railings, and keep passages and rescue access clear.
Noise
No music and no disturbing noise. The canals are also a living space for the people beside them.
Alcohol
As skipper, do not drink alcohol. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille, but the city's instruction is clear. Treat the limit as the edge of the law and not as permission.
Swimming
Swimming is not allowed in the fairway or near bridges, locks and waiting places. Boat traffic and underwater obstacles are the main dangers, so use official swimming spots.
The emission-free zone
The central zone, including the Singelgracht, has rules on engines. Petrol and diesel boats with a permit bought before 1 November 2025 may have transition rights. The BHG permit runs until 1 January 2030, a transit permit from 2024 until 1 January 2027 and one from 2025 until 1 January 2028.
Muscle power and hydrogen are also allowed, as are hybrids that sail emission-free within the zone. Emission-free is therefore not the same as electric in every case. If you rent a boat, ask what type of boat you get.
Pedal boats and other human-powered craft
The levy differs when you propel the boat yourself.
Amsterdam pedal boat
For pedal boats, canoes and other non-motorised vehicles, the city levy is €0.80 per person, not €2.70. Look at the price information to see whether it is included. For other canal options, see canal cruises, or read about Giethoorn, which has its own boating rules. Amsterdam rules do not carry over to Giethoorn.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the boat fits.
Boat rental in Amsterdam: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a boat in Amsterdam?
In 2026, an electric boat for up to 6 people costs from €69 to €99 per boat, depending on the time and the rate, plus €2.70 per person. Other boats will differ.
Do I need a licence to rent a boat?
The small boating licence applies to recreational boats of 15 to 25 m and to fast motorboats under 20 m that can exceed 20 km/h. Small boats under 15 m and no faster than 20 km/h are the case where the rule can differ. Ask the rental company about your boat.
How fast may I go on the canals?
The regular limit is 6 km/h. On some stretches, a higher limit of 7.5 km/h applies, and signs on the water decide.
How many people can be on a rental boat?
A leisure boat may carry up to 12 people plus 1 skipper. Larger groups need a licensed boat.
May the skipper drink alcohol?
No. The city asks the skipper to drink no alcohol, and the legal limit is 0.5 per mille. Treat the limit as the edge of the law and not as permission.
Does the emission-free zone mean I need an electric boat?
Not in every case. Muscle power, hydrogen and some hybrids are also allowed, and transition permits exist for older petrol and diesel boats.