The best group activities on the water in Amsterdam combine team building with the unique atmosphere of the canals. Canal cruises with culinary arrangements are the most popular for corporate outings, followed by private salon boats with full service. Team building activities on the water, themed events and extended routes to special destinations complete the top 5. These water activities offer groups of 10 to 175 people a relaxed setting where natural interaction occurs.
Canal cruise with culinary arrangement
A canal cruise with culinary arrangement combines the best of both worlds: Amsterdam’s beautiful canals and delicious food and drinks. You cruise peacefully through the historic city center while enjoying drinks, high tea or an elaborate dinner. This type of group activity works perfectly because everyone sits relaxed on board and naturally starts conversations with each other.
The possibilities are enormously varied. For an informal corporate drinks reception you choose a drinks cruise of one and a half to two hours with snacks and beverages. Want something special? Then a high tea cruise is ideal, where you enjoy scones, sandwiches and sweets while Amsterdam glides by. For important business occasions you can choose a walking dinner or three-course dinner on board.
These arrangements are suitable for groups of 12 to 60 people per boat on the canals. Do you have a larger group? Then there are various boats available that together can carry up to 175 people. The beautiful thing is that thanks to the quiet electric motor you can optimally enjoy conversations and the surroundings.
Private salon boat with skipper and hostess
Hiring a private salon boat with skipper and hostess offers your group complete privacy and personal service during your cruise. You get a fully catered experience where everything is arranged down to the smallest detail. The skipper ensures a safe and informative cruise, while the hostess serves the guests and creates a pleasant atmosphere.
With a private salon boat, literally everything is included: the crew, service, often also snacks and drinks, and of course the boat itself. You don’t have to worry about anything and can focus completely on your guests or colleagues. The hostess ensures that glasses remain filled, snacks are served and everyone feels welcome on board.
This type of arrangement is perfect for groups who want complete privacy during important business meetings, exclusive client events or special occasions such as anniversaries. Also for companies who want to receive their relations in a relaxed setting, a private salon boat is ideal. You can have the cruise completely customized to your wishes, from route to catering.
Team building activities on the water
Team building on the water works differently than in a regular meeting room. The water automatically creates a relaxed atmosphere where people are more open and make contact more easily. On a boat you are literally tied together, which creates natural conversations and allows colleagues to get to know each other in a different way.
There are various team building opportunities during a boat trip. Think of interactive games that make use of the Amsterdam environment, such as a canal quiz or assignments where teams have to collect information about the passing monuments. Workshops on the water are also possible, where the unique setting ensures more involvement and creativity.
Networking activities work excellently on a boat because people feel freer than in formal settings. The sound of the water and the movement of the boat provide a natural background that stimulates conversations. For group activities on the water in Amsterdam, the water also offers a neutral environment where hierarchical relationships are less noticeable.
Themed cruises and events
Themed cruises take an ordinary boat trip to a higher level by focusing on a specific theme or season. The Amsterdam Light Festival in winter is perfect for atmospheric Christmas cruises where you admire the illuminated artworks from the water. This period runs from December through January and offers a magical setting for corporate events.
Seasonal events make optimal use of what Amsterdam has to offer. In spring the blooming trees along the canals are beautiful, while summer invites longer cruises with barbecues on board. Music boats with live entertainment or DJs create a festive atmosphere during corporate parties or anniversaries.
For specific corporate events you can have themes match your organization. Think of a historical cruise for a traditional company, or a modern tech-boat for innovative organizations. Anniversaries and other milestones also lend themselves excellently to customized arrangements where the theme perfectly matches the occasion you are celebrating.
Extended routes to special destinations
Longer cruises to destinations outside the Amsterdam canals offer groups the chance to discover more of the Dutch waters. Routes to the Zaanse Schans combine culture with nature, while cruises over the IJsselmeer or along the Amstel offer a completely different experience than the classic canal cruise.
These extended routes are special because they offer more time and space for team building and networking. A cruise to Volendam or Muiden takes half a day, for example, which provides ample opportunity for extensive lunches, workshops or presentations on board. The variation in landscape keeps attention and provides conversation topics.
For different group sizes there are suitable boats available. Smaller groups of 20 to 40 people can enjoy more intimate vessels, while larger corporate outings of up to 150 people find space on the larger boats. The duration varies from three hours for nearby destinations to day arrangements for more distant locations such as the IJsselmeer.
How Rederij de Nederlanden helps with group activities on the water
We help groups organize water activities through our years of experience and complete service. With our fleet of different boat types we can serve groups from 10 to as many as 1000 people, always composing the perfect combination of boats for your specific wishes.
Our services include:
- Complete arrangements including skipper, hostess and catering
- Custom routes through Amsterdam and surroundings
- Flexible durations from 1.5 hours to full days
- All-inclusive packages where everything is arranged
- Personal advice about the best options for your group
- Experience with corporate outings, team building and business events
With more than ten years of experience in group activities on the water, we understand exactly what works for different types of groups. From intimate boardroom meetings to large corporate parties: we ensure that everything runs smoothly. Our experienced team is ready to advise you about the best options for your specific wishes and budget.
Ready to make your next group activity unforgettable? Contact us for a no-obligation consultation about the possibilities for your group on the water in Amsterdam.