Departing from the main street, Damrak, beware ticket prices!!! They vary from booth to booth. The tour will explain all the major attractions along the route in Dutch, German, French and English. The tour lengths vary, some last just 1 hour others include a romantic dinner, ideal for early evening.

Some more interesting facts about Amsterdam:

100 kilometers of canals
1000 bridges
100 canals
The ground is so waterlogged the houses are often built on wooden 'stilts' as a foundation Central station is built on 9000 stilts!!
Schiphol Airport is 5 meters below sea level, Amsterdam is 1.5 meters below.

Did you know that Amsterdam has 165 canals, 1281 bridges, 70 canal cruise boats, 8 wooden drawbridges, 2500 houseboats and 120 water bikes? A canal cruise is a must to explore and discover Amsterdam. Float leisurely along the canals and under the bridges and admire the unique architecture and street life. Authentic Amsterdam is full of surprises!

The canals are one of the major attractions of Amsterdam, also called 'Venice of the North.’ By daytime the canals are charming, by night they become even more enchanting because many canal houses and bridges are beautifully illuminated. The four main canals in the canal belt are Prinsengracht (Princes’ Canal), Herengracht (Gentlemen’s Canal), Keizersgracht (Emperor’s Canal) and Singel. For a refreshingly different view of Amsterdam, try a canal boat tour. You'll notice numerous tour operators near Central Station and along the Damrak and Rokin downtown.

If the canal-boat cruise simply whets your appetite to ramble the canals on your own, there are sturdy pedal boats, called canal bikes. Rental outlets are located at strategic points throughout the city, including near the Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum.
Canal bikes seat two or four and come with a detailed map, route suggestions, and information about the places you'll pedal past. Cycle Amsterdam’s waterways, discover the city on your own and stay fit at the same time! Hectic street traffic will pass over your head, while you have all the time in the world to enjoy the beautiful gables, bridges and churches from the water.

SPECIAL CRUISES
Many boat companies in Amsterdam offer special cruises. For example, the Artis Express takes you from Central Station, past the VOC ship, to Artis Zoo. Or board the Museum Boat. Ever resourceful and aware of the transportation resource the canals represent, the Amsterdammers have introduced this boat to carry visitors on their pilgrimages from museum to museum. It's an easy way to travel and, for those with limited time in Amsterdam, also provides some of the advantages of a canal-boat cruise. This boat visits all the famous museums in Amsterdam, including the Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum. Have you ever seen a bus on water? The Canal Bus provides a regular service between important museums, shopping districts and other attractions. With a Day Pass, which is valid till 12.00 the next day, you can 'hop on, hop off' as often as you like. Or take a dinner cruise or candlelight cruise and enjoy Amsterdam by night.

Where can be boarded?
Most of the canal cruise companies can be found near central station and Damrak as well on the Rokin near Muntsquare. The hotel concierges of the hotels are able to book cruises for you, but I recommend just to check rates at the boats as rates may vary.

Hotels with private landing stages
Okura hotel Amsterdam
The Grand Hotel Amsterdam