Always looking for More Amsterdam Experiences.
I have yet to met someone who does not love Amsterdam. Have you ? I don’t mean someone with the occasional gripe, I mean a person that categorically says that they cannot stand Amsterdam. For me, it seems an impossibility. People love the this city, its canals, the chilled atmosphere, the 9 streets, the great museums, the biking culture, etc. If you ask a ‘average tourist’ under 25 years old they might say they like the coffee shops and the red light district. Older tourists will have a different view I think. More and more people want to come to visit this city. Like many non Dutch people living in Amsterdam, we have visitors all year long. You too ?
In larger cities like London and Paris there is a huge range of things to do so visiting guests would rarely do the same thing twice. In Amsterdam, it can sometimes be difficult to find new things to do with returning guests. We are constantly on the look out for new and interesting things to do with our guests. For example, have you ever been to the Bols Experience on Museumplein ? It’s fantastic, but not many people are going there. Or This Is Holland in Noord just next to the Eye Film Museum. Both of those are a lot of fun.
Memorable things to do with regular guests.
I discovered a cool thing to do with our repeat visitors. I was recently walking along the canals one evening and I saw a beautiful boat and inside there was a small number of people have dinner. I noted the name and made a booking as I had a guest coming for the third time this year. So I booked a table for two people and we turned up on the corner Singel and Radhuisstraat on a Friday evening. We were excited as we did not really know what to expect.
The boat
The boat is beautiful. Built in Germany in the early 1900’s, it cruised the Rhine for years. In 2000, it was fully restored for use in Amsterdam. It has wonderful teak and mahogany interiors and a copper bar area. In the summer the windows can all be removed as the temperature rises. In the winter, the boat has a full heating system to keep diners warm.
The captain welcomes everyone on the boat and gives some background about the trip. Then the other staff member, who is more front of house helps you to choose your table. The boat is just gorgeous, so even before the tour starts it is exciting to be in a small group of people and a welcome glass of Prosecco to set the scene. Then, right on time, we pulled away.
The tour
I have lost count of the number of canal tours I have done. I love being out on the water. Time indeed flies when you are having fun. The tour lasts just under 3 hours. However, it passes so fast because you are enjoying it and it feels special and the food is so good. More on the food below. Being out on the water in Amsterdam always feels good. It is without a doubt, the best way to see the city. The canalside buildings look beautiful in the evening light as you set off. We then gently glided all around the canals and the views were just stunning. You really get the feeling that you are on the most beautiful boat on the water. It is a very romantic experience for couples and many of the table were couples, clearly making magic memories.
The food
Soon after setting off and while you are enjoying the nice glass of Prosecco, the waiter brings a delicious appetiser. This sets the bar in terms of food. The quality is fantastic and well presented. Then I realised we had sailed around in a circle and we were back on the Prinsengracht. We were doing another pick up.
The boat has no kitchen. What happens is that all the dinner boats go to a professional caterer that prepares the dishes for the dinner boats that are out on the canals. I asked if I could go to see that part and the staff took me over. It was fascinating to see how it all works to a very strict timeline. This is to allow the dinner plates to be brought onto the boats and still be hot as if they were cooked on board.
Next a very beautiful and delicious starter was served. Food is included in the price, but if you want wine and beer with you meal you will pay for that. The prices are reasonable though and a good bottle of wine was around 28 Euros. My guest was Italian and according to her, the wine we took is considered a very good one. Soon after the main dishes arrived.
We had a beautiful fillet of fish and a perfectly cooked steak which we shared and enjoyed with the wine. After the fine main dishes you can choose a desert or a cheese selection. The food and drink service then ends with coffee, if you have room. We were both very impressed with the quality of the food and the friendliness of the service.
Conclusion
I really give this trip a 10 out of 10 experience. The boat is beautiful. The food is delicious. The staff are very friendly and kind. Any time spent out on the water is time well spent, but this combination of the above elements, make for an unforgettable experience.
Details : Amsterdam Jewel Cruises
Website see here.
Contact number: 020 422 13 85 (Mon-Sat 10am-5pm CET)
