Open boat vs covered canal tours Amsterdam: which should you choose?

The fundamental difference

The question of open boat versus covered boat on Amsterdam’s canals comes down to one underlying trade-off: exposure versus comfort. Open boats put you in direct contact with the canal environment — the smell of the water, the breeze, the sound of other boats passing, and completely unobstructed sightlines. Covered glass-top boats insulate you from all of that in exchange for climate control, reliable weather protection, and the ability to eat and drink comfortably.

Neither is objectively better. The right choice depends on when you are visiting, what the weather is doing, how you prioritise photography, and what kind of traveller you are. This guide gives you the information to make that decision clearly.

Covered glass-top boats: the mainstream choice

The standard covered canal tour uses a glass-top saloon boat — a flat-bottomed vessel with floor-to-ceiling glazed sides and a clear polycarbonate roof. Most of the major operators run these: Blue Boat Company, Stromma (formerly Lovers), Amsterdam Canal Cruises, and several others.

What they do well:

The glass-top boat is genuinely comfortable. You sit at table level or on bench seats, the windows are large enough that even midship passengers have good views, and the climate control means you arrive at your destination the same temperature you left at. Rain makes zero difference to the experience. On a wet Tuesday in April, a glass-top boat is comfortable; an open boat is miserable.

These boats also carry the audio commentary equipment well — the sealed interior allows better sound quality, and most operators have added app-based commentary that syncs with your position via GPS, so you hear the right information at the right landmark without needing staff to manage it.

Capacity ranges from 40 to 100+ passengers on the largest glass-top boats. The big boats in the Centraal Station canal tour quay can feel like floating buses at peak hours — technically functional but lacking character.

What they do less well:

Photography through glass is always a compromise. Even high-quality windows create some reflections, colour shift, and reduced sharpness compared to shooting in open air. In direct sunlight the internal reflections can make photography frustrating. Pressing your lens against the glass helps, but you are limited to windows with a direct sightline to the subject.

The enclosed environment also removes you from the sensory experience of the canal itself. For some people this does not matter; for others the sealed, climate-controlled experience feels disconnected from the city.

Open-boat canal tours: the photographer’s and warm-weather choice

Open boats range from traditional wooden canal boats (sloepen) to modern open vessels with bench seating and no roof. The defining characteristic is no overhead cover — you are fully exposed to sky, light, wind, and rain.

Canal cruise in open boat with drinks option

What they do well:

Photography is the clearest advantage. Without glass between your camera and the subject, you get sharp, colour-accurate images with no reflections. The lower freeboard of most open boats (you sit closer to water level than on a high-sided glass-top vessel) also gives a more dramatic angle on the canal houses — bridges appear more imposing, facades more vertical.

The sensory experience is also fundamentally different. You smell the canal water (which has a particular distinctive scent of algae and brackish tidal water). You hear the bow wave and the sound of the city above you on the quays. You feel the wind from the bridges as you pass under them. For many visitors this is the more memorable experience.

Open boats also tend to be smaller — 10 to 30 passengers — which means better sightlines from every seat, less crowd noise, and a more intimate atmosphere.

Guided city highlights open-boat canal cruise

What they do less well:

Weather is the obvious limitation. Amsterdam receives rain in every month of the year, and the Atlantic climate means changeable conditions can arrive quickly. An open boat in a rain shower is not pleasant — you will get wet. Most open-boat operators will reschedule or cancel in heavy rain, but light drizzle (common in spring and autumn) is typically not enough to cancel.

Cold is also a factor. Even in July and August, the canal breeze on a moving open boat makes temperatures feel 4–6°C lower than ambient. From October through April, open boats require proper outdoor clothing and most operators provide blankets. Some open boats have small overhead canvas canopies for partial protection, but these are not equivalent to full-glass coverage.

Seasonal recommendation

June to August: Genuinely a toss-up. On a warm clear day (22°C+), an open boat is a delight. On a cool overcast day (which happens frequently in summer), covered is more comfortable. Check the day’s forecast: if it is warm and sunny, go open; if there is any chance of rain, go covered.

April to May: Spring weather is unpredictable. A covered boat is the safer default. If you have a warm, clear day, an open boat is beautiful — the canals in tulip season with open skies are extraordinary.

September to October: September can be excellent for open boats (warm evenings, golden autumn light). By October the weather turns and covered boats are preferable.

November to March: Covered boats only, unless you are specifically looking for a cold-weather open experience with good clothing. The Light Festival cruises in December and January use heated enclosed boats specifically.

Photography-specific guidance

If photography is a priority, the choice is almost always open boat for daytime shooting. Specific tips:

• Book an open boat with seats toward the bow (front) — you get forward-facing shots of canal houses and approaching bridges before the boat reaches them.
• On covered boats, the rear of the vessel often has an open section or at least an openable window. Check with the operator before booking.
• Golden-hour photography (60–90 minutes before sunset) on an open boat in summer produces the best canal photographs you will take in Amsterdam.
• Morning light (8:00–10:00) on the canals is exceptional and almost all tour boats are nearly empty at that time. If photography is a serious priority, consider a private morning charter rather than a commercial tour.

Semi-open boats: a middle option

Some operators use semi-open or partially-covered boats — convertible vessels that can have the roof panels removed in good weather and replaced in rain. These are marketed in various ways (“hybrid cruise,” “convertible boat,” “panoramic boat”) and provide genuine flexibility if the weather is uncertain.

Semi-open boats typically carry 20–40 passengers and cost €5–8 more than fully covered boats. If you are visiting in May, June or September — when good weather is probable but not certain — these are worth considering.

Size: small-group boats versus large commercial boats

The covered/open distinction often correlates with boat size. The large commercial operators (Stromma, Blue Boat) run high-capacity glass-top boats; smaller independent operators more commonly run open or semi-open vessels.

Small-group boats — whether open or covered — have real advantages beyond the roof question: better service, more interesting routes (through the Jordaan secondary canals rather than just the main three), and a quality of attention that is impossible on a 100-person boat. If you are choosing between a large covered boat and a small open boat with a live guide, the small-boat experience is almost always better, all else being equal.

For group sizes of 6–20, a private open or covered boat is an option worth pricing against the per-person cost of commercial tours. Our private boat rental Amsterdam guide covers the costs in detail.

Price comparison

Type	Typical price (2026)	Capacity	Weather dependency
Large covered boat (audio)	€19–24 per person	40–100	Very low
Small-group covered cruise	€30–45 per person	10–25	Very low
Open boat, commercial tour	€18–28 per person	10–30	Medium–high
Semi-open convertible	€24–32 per person	20–40	Low–medium
Private open/covered boat	€80–140 per hour	4–12	Varies

What the boat feels like: a sensory comparison

Understanding the difference in physical experience helps make the open/covered choice before you are standing at the dock.

On a covered glass-top boat: You board via a gangway into a climate-controlled interior. The seating is at table level (facing the water) or on bench seats along the sides. The windows are floor-to-ceiling, slightly tinted to reduce glare. There is a gentle ambient hum from the electric motor and the ventilation system. As the boat moves through the canal ring, the sound of the canal and the city is muffled — you hear the audio commentary and the conversation of other passengers. When the boat passes under a low bridge, the guide typically points it out but there is no physical sensation — you are inside and insulated.

On an open boat: You board by stepping down (often 40–60 cm below street level) onto a flat-bottomed vessel. The seating is often cushioned benches without individual tables. As the boat moves, you feel the air movement — cooler than you expect, even in summer. Under bridges, you reflexively duck even though there is usually clearance. The sound is the canal: water against the hull, ducks disturbed by the bow wave, the distant sound of trams and cyclists above you on the quays. When it rains, you feel it.

Neither experience is superior in absolute terms. The covered boat is more controlled and comfortable. The open boat is more alive.

Noise levels and conversations

An underappreciated difference between open and covered boats is the noise environment and its effect on social interaction. On a covered boat carrying 50–80 passengers, the ambient noise level of that many people in an enclosed space creates a moderate background hum that makes conversations with people more than a metre away difficult without raising your voice. The audio commentary plays at a volume set for the whole boat, which is fine for solo listeners but disrupts private conversation.

On an open boat with 10–20 passengers, conversation is easier — the open space dissipates sound, and the smaller group size means you are not shouting over a crowd. The trade-off is the engine noise and wind noise at speed, which can also complicate conversation in strong headwinds.

For couples who want to talk while cruising, a smaller open or semi-open boat is usually the better conversation environment. For solo travellers who want the audio commentary experience without social obligation, the large covered boat with the audio guide app is easier.

Combining with other canal experiences

Whichever format you choose for a main canal cruise, the Amsterdam canal ring repays multiple visits from the water. Many visitors combine a daytime covered cruise on their first day with an open-boat evening tour later in the trip — the different light and different physical experience make it a genuinely fresh activity the second time.

For the complete overview of what is available on Amsterdam’s canals, see our best canal cruises Amsterdam guide. For evening-specific options, the evening guide covers the open-boat versus covered question specifically in the context of after-dark and golden-hour cruising.

Internal canal ring context: the canal ring and Grachtengordel guide covers the waterway network on foot, which pairs well with a canal cruise for a complete understanding of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Frequently asked questions about open vs covered canal tours

Can I take an open-boat tour if I have mobility limitations?

It depends on the specific boat. Some open boats require stepping down from street level to the boat — a step of 40–60 cm that is manageable for most people but difficult with limited mobility. Covered glass-top boats typically have better boarding infrastructure with railings and level platforms. Contact the operator in advance to ask about accessibility.

Are children safer on covered or open boats?

Covered boats are generally safer for young children — enclosed sides, no open railings at water height. Open boats typically have low freeboard and require children to be seated and supervised at all times. Most open-boat operators require children under 5 to be seated on an adult’s lap. Check the operator’s child policy.

Do covered boats have opening windows or sections?

Many covered glass-top boats have openable windows or a partially open rear deck. This gives you the option of some fresh-air photography without committing to a fully open boat. Ask the operator when booking — it is a useful detail that is often not mentioned in the marketing materials.

What is a “historic boat tour”?

Some operators run tours on genuinely historic vessels — wooden Amsterdam canal barges (tjalken) from the 19th or early 20th century. These are partially open, slower-moving, and provide a more atmospheric experience than modern tour boats. They typically carry 10–25 passengers and cost €30–50 per person. Worth doing if you are interested in Amsterdam’s maritime heritage.

Is there a significant price difference between open and covered tours?

No significant price difference. Open boats cost roughly the same as covered boats for similar tour lengths — the choice is experience-based, not budget-based. Small-group open boats tend to cost slightly more than large-capacity covered boats, but that reflects group size and guide quality rather than the open/covered distinction itself.