Boat hire in Amsterdam by group size
How many guests will you be taking out on the water? That’s the first question to ask when hiring a boat in Amsterdam, as the size of your group determines which vessel is suitable and how much you’ll pay per hour. Our fleet can accommodate groups of 2 to 90 people, and with the IJ boats, even up to 500. Every boat is crewed by a professional skipper and crew, so all you need to do is count your guests. Select the page below that matches your group size.
How to choose based on group size
Two factors determine your choice: the number of guests and the activities on board. The number of guests determines the minimum size of the vessel; if you’re travelling with more than 12 people, Amsterdam also requires a certified passenger vessel with a professional skipper. Our boats of that size and above meet this requirement as standard. If your number falls between two page sizes, choose the size above: a boat with a bit of space is more comfortable than one that’s packed.
Capacity varies depending on the configuration
A boat’s maximum capacity applies to a sightseeing cruise or drinks reception, where guests are a mix of standing and seated. For a buffet, the capacity is lower, and for a sit-down dinner it is lowest, as a laid table takes up space. The Dyos illustrates the difference: 40 guests for drinks or a buffet, but only 21 for a sit-down dinner. Each size page therefore details the capacity for drinks, a buffet and a sit-down dinner for each boat. If you already know the details of your event, please include them in your enquiry.
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More than 60 people?
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In that case, you’ll be sailing with us too. The Bota Fogo can carry 90 guests, the IJveer XI 120, the Wapen van Amsterdam 175 and the Prins van Oranje 500. For these groups, please see the large boats section.
Always includes the skipper and crew
Whatever the group size, the skipper is included in the hourly rate and a crew member is on board to assist with the boat’s operation. You can read about how this works in practice, from the route to any stopovers, on the page about sailing with a skipper.
Frequently asked questions
We can accommodate groups of between 2 and 90 people on a single boat; the IJ-boten can accommodate groups of up to 500 guests. For any group size in between, from 10 to 60, there is a dedicated page listing suitable boats and rates.
For groups of more than 12 guests, Amsterdam requires a certified passenger vessel with a professional skipper at the helm. Our fleet meets this requirement as standard for vessels of that size and above, and even on smaller boats, a skipper is always on board.
Because a set table takes up space that would otherwise be available for people to stand in whilst having a drink. As a result, the same boat often loses almost half its capacity as soon as everyone sits down at the table at the same time. So, when organising a dinner, check the table capacity, not the maximum capacity.
Our guests rate us 9.1 out of 3,822 reviews