The Solo Scale:
Years ago when I first went to Amsterdam, I took a canal cruise as soon as we got into the city. It was mid-afternoon, the skies were gloomy grey, and I was tired from the trip in from London. Suffice to say, it didn’t really do the canals or the city justice. I recently returned and was able to revisit the canal cruise. This time, we departed earlier in the morning and the weather couldn’t be better. It was already boding well.
When I went, it was also the day after the last night celebration of Pride. As a result, most of the city was still asleep on that lovely Sunday morning. It gave us a somewhat eerie view of empty streets and canals. Admittedly, Pride did leave quite a bit of trash floating along the canals, but it was in the midst of being cleaned up as we began our journey.
TRIP TIP: Depending on the type of boat you get, the back may be your best bet. With glass windows on your side and behind you, you can get views that no other seat in the boat can with unencumbered views of the canals behind the boat.
These boats depart near the train station. It’s also where you’ll see the massive cruise ships that are in port. In very little time at all within your cruise, you’ll arrive into the smaller canals of the city.
The cruise is just over an hour and gives an overarching view of the city, its history, and the architecture of the narrow houses. The guide will make sure to point out the notable sights. These include the seven bridges view point where the boat lines up perfectly to allow you to see under seven bridges in a row. It also gives you a water-view of the Anne Frank House, great views of the many houseboats, and a fantastic overview of the narrow and tall buildings that define Amsterdam.
In terms of the route, all the boats follow the same one. You can take different companies with different propositions. Some are open-air with decorative flowers. Some offer snacks and drinks for your cruise. You can take specifically timed cruises, such as the sunset offering. I personally really enjoyed this morning cruise. It was clear that not many boats were out on the canals just yet. Since it was Sunday morning, it was fairly calm when it comes to pedestrians. It really led to a fantastically peaceful journey.
In a city full of canals, a cruise like this is a fantastic way to get a lay of the land. There are many to choose from, as I mentioned. I chose Rederij Kooij, which has some unique boat names and great boats on offer.
Want to head out onto the canals? Check out the options available to you and set sail!
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