The Canal Ring can be navigated on foot, by bike, and, of course, boat. A canal cruise is an excellent introduction to the historic area, as glass-topped boats provide the best views of the city’s main sights. Options include hop-on, hop-off boat tours and themed canal cruises that serve food and wine.
A number of cruise departure points are set along the famous canals, and tours are available in several languages.
Lined with beautiful historic buildings (“canal houses”), the Canal Ring can serve as helpful visual guidepost for getting your bearings.
The Canal Ring is home to some of Amsterdam’s most important sites, including the Anne Frank House, the Jewish Quarter, the Museum Quarter, and the Red Light District.
Barges, powerboats, Frisian skutsjes (sailboats), and rowboats ply the canals at all times of day and night.
The Canal Ring is accessible for wheelchair users, as are many of the boats that sail around it.
The Canal Ring is right in the center of Amsterdam, and is easy to reach on foot from most major destinations in the Dutch capital. While the winding, cobblestone streets might throw off your sense of direction, the canals will always help you stay oriented.
Because it’s part of the Dutch capital city’s landscape, and provides a mode of transportation and commerce, the Canal Ring is always open. The best times of year to enjoy a canal cruise are during the fine-weather summer months, and in the Christmas and New Year holiday season, when you can take an evening cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival.
Built in the 17th century, the canals of Amsterdam were developed in the pursuit of growing the city beyond its bounds. Now, they're as quintessentially Dutch as Edam and tulips, and have been UNESCO-recognized since 2010. Enjoy the canals at their festive best in the spring during the annual King's Day celebrations, when floats take to the water with performers and revelers.
