The four most popular routes for a drinks cruise in Amsterdam are the classic canal loop, the Amstel, the IJ, and the route to the Zaanse Schans. The best route depends on your group size, the atmosphere you’re looking for, and how long you want to be on the water. Below, we cover each route so you can quickly decide which one suits your company drinks event best.
Which route offers the most beautiful canals for a drinks cruise?
The classic canal loop is the most popular route for a drinks cruise in Amsterdam. You sail along the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, and Herengracht, past historic canal houses, narrow bridges, and characterful trees. This route takes an average of one and a half to two hours, making it a perfect fit for a drinks cruise after a meeting or corporate event.
What makes this route so well suited for drinks is the intimate atmosphere on the canals. The boats move slowly, background noise is minimal thanks to electric motors, and everyone sits close together. That makes it easy to strike up conversations — which is exactly what you want at a team drinks event or networking gathering.
On the canals, boats have a maximum capacity of 60 people. Have a larger group? Simply combine multiple boats so everyone is on the water at the same time. The entire boat is always exclusively reserved for your group, so you never share the space with other guests.
What makes the Amstel a good route for a drinks cruise?
The Amstel offers more space and a slightly quieter character than the busy inner-city canals. You sail along green riverbanks, historic bridges, and typical Amsterdam brown cafés on the waterfront. This route works well as a complement to or alternative for the classic canal loop, especially for groups that want a little more breathing room.
A drinks cruise on the Amstel has a relaxed pace. You can sail from the city center up the Amstel toward Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, or head in the opposite direction toward the center. The route shows a different side of Amsterdam than the busy tourist canals, which makes for great conversation.
The Amstel is also a great choice for groups starting or ending at a waterfront venue, such as a restaurant or company premises along the river. That way, you can easily combine the cruise with a dinner or drinks on shore.
Is a route on the IJ suitable for a drinks cruise?
A route on the IJ is well suited for larger groups and offers a completely different feel from the canals. The IJ is wide and open, with spectacular views of the Amsterdam skyline, Central Station, and the modern architecture of Amsterdam-Noord. This is a route that makes an impression — especially at sunset.
Because the IJ is a busier and wider waterway, larger vessels are used here. Our larger boats can carry up to 150 people, making the IJ an ideal choice for large corporate drinks events or MICE events where you want a sizeable group on the water at the same time.
Please note: the IJ is open water and can be more exposed to wind and waves than the sheltered canals. During the summer months this is rarely an issue, but in autumn or winter it can feel cooler on deck. Boats with an enclosed interior provide the perfect solution in those conditions.
How far is it to sail to the Zaanse Schans on a drinks cruise?
A boat trip from Amsterdam to the Zaanse Schans takes an average of one and a half to two hours each way, depending on the route and the vessel. This makes it a full-day arrangement rather than a short drinks cruise. You sail via the IJ onto the North Sea Canal and then toward the Zaan, past industrial heritage and open polder landscapes.
This route is popular as a distinctive corporate outing where the journey itself is the event. Along the way, you can enjoy drinks, have dinner, or organize a walking dinner on board. Our larger vessels have an extensive sailing range and can comfortably complete this route, while most smaller Amsterdam boat operators are limited to the inner-city canals.
Want to combine the Zaanse Schans with a visit to the windmills or a guided tour? Plan the trip so you can moor at the quay for an hour or two. That requires a little more coordination, but the result is a unique full-day experience that is a far cry from a standard corporate drinks event. Also explore our other options for a private boat beyond the canals.
Which route is best suited for a large corporate drinks event?
For a large corporate drinks event, the combination of the IJ and the inner-city canals is the most complete route. You start with an impressive stretch across the open water of the IJ, then head into the canals for the atmospheric inner-city experience, combining the best of both worlds. This route takes an average of two hours and works well for a drinks cruise of one and a half to two hours.
For larger groups of more than 60 people, multiple boats are deployed to sail the route simultaneously. Each group has its own boat, its own bar, and its own crew. This gives every team its own atmosphere, while everyone experiences the same program.
A few practical considerations when choosing the route for a large corporate drinks event:
- Group size: up to 60 people fit on one boat on the canals; for larger groups, combine boats or choose a larger vessel on the IJ
- Duration: a drinks cruise typically lasts one and a half to two hours; a more extensive route with dinner requires three to four hours
- Departure location: choose a jetty that is logistically convenient for the group, for example near a meeting venue or hotel
- Season: in summer all routes are open and pleasant; in winter, opt for boats with a heated interior
For MICE groups near venues such as the RAI or the Scheepvaartmuseum, a corporate event on the water is also an excellent option as a transfer solution or floating event venue between program segments.
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps you choose the right drinks cruise route
We help you select the route that fits your group, schedule, and budget. Whether it’s a short drinks cruise on the canals or a full-day trip to the Zaanse Schans, we think along with you and take care of everything from start to finish.
- Private boats for groups of 10 to more than 400 people, never shared with other guests
- Choice of catering formats: drinks and snacks, walking dinner, buffet, or a served dinner on board
- Extensive sailing range: from the Amsterdam canals to the IJ, the Amstel, and the Zaanse Schans
- Fully taken care of: skipper, host, bar, and catering are all included
- Tailor-made arrangements for companies and MICE groups, including combinations with meetings, dinner, or transport
Want to find out which route is best for your group? Read more about who we are or request a no-obligation quote and we’ll discuss the options with you.