Houseboat news around the world
Into the deep with an Amsterdam submarine
The ultimate bucket list thing-to-do for houseboat fans Here is a bucket-list-thing you did not even know it existed: make a dive with a real submarine into the deep just 20 minutes away from Amsterdam city centre. A truly unforgettable experience in the crystal clear waters of the 'Vinkeveense Plassen', world famous lakes just around the corner of Amsterdam. Get on board with captain Emile van Essen and you will know what it is like to be a fish, floating free and see something new every minute that you slide through this amazing underwater world. Front view of the NordicSub submarine in Vinkeveen near Amsterdam. (photo: Sander van de Heijden) Juul Steyn, co-founder of Bookahouseboat, was surprised by his fiancee who gave him a 1,5 hour trip as a present for his 40th birthday. It turned out to be the best present he had in years. "I just could not believe that I was actually going under water, until the hatch was closed and the air tanks were emptied. Within a few seconds we were
Freightship transformed into floating castle
And the winner is... Houseboat Robbedoes The prestigious title Houseboat of the Year, awarded by the Dutch VLOT Magazine, has been won by this amazing floating Villa: Houseboat Robbedoes. Did we say floating? We actually meant 'driving', because this beauty is fully equipped and registred as a ship. So the owners can take her anywhere they want, and cross Europe with their own home! Click here for the Dutch article about the Houseboat of the Year The annual competition is organised by the Dutch magazine VLOT, a unique and free high-end magazine sent to (almost) all 13.000 houseboat owners in The Netherlands. The competition this year was fierce and broad. This may not be a true surprise, since The Netherlands are famous for the many thousands of houseboats that are dotted all over the country. From moored to driving houseboats, and from concrete barges to driving steel freightships and even new built non-driving ships - a new thing in the world of houseboats - battled
How is it to live on a houseboat?
What is living on the water like? Everyone who is used to 'terra firma' under their feet sometimes wonders what it is like to live on a houseboat. Is there enough space? Do you get seasick? What's it like in winter? What kind of boats can you live on? How do you get your mail? This houseboat exhibition in Rotterdam lets you see what living on the water in the Netherlands is typically like. Using models of various houseboats and waterborne accommodations (a pontoon houseboat, a boat conversion and a water villa) Have a look at these lovely exhibits with their detailed interiors, four of which were made specially for 'Living on the Water'. Listen to the interviews with houseboat residents who will tell you everything about their very different reasons - and the love they have in common - for living on the water. I'd also recommend you to give the tiny deck-house a visit and see how to arrange things in a houseboat so that it will not float at a skew angle. Next you can have a nice st
Recommended day trips from Amsterdam
Did you know that we offer great day trips from Amsterdam? We offer a wide variety of tours both close to Amsterdam - such as Volendam - and to other great places such as Rotterdam and the famous Kinderdijk windmills. Inside tip: Buy the Amsterdam City Pass. The pass includes everything you want to do in the city: Skip the line tickets for the Van Gogh Museum/Rijksmuseum, Canal Cruise, Airport Transfer by Train (2-way) and 20% discount on everything you want to do more. Click here for more information! Get on your bike with Holland-Cycling! There's no better way to explore The Netherlands than by bike. And we got a great place to start when you want to plan your next houseboat holdiay combined with a fair bit of cycling. Holland-Cycling was launched by Hilary and Steven who wanted to share their passion for cycling with a broader audience. They hope to inspire and give the best information possible. The reason they started this platform was the lack of well documented English writte
Amsterdam's fishing guides, tackle shops and licenses
Fishing guides and tackle shops in Amsterdam Amsterdam offers first class fishing, actually it's safe to say that Amsterdam is the 'Zander' capital of the world. You can fish from the shore - street fishing is incredibly popular here - but hiring a fishing guide increases your chances significantly. Here's an overview of the finest fishing guides - all certified by the Amsterdam Fishing Association. They will take you fishing and help you catch the fish of a lifetime! By chartering a licensed guide, you're sure to go out fishing with a professional and reliable person. Below you'll find more information on tackle shops and where to buy your fishing license. Juul Steyn - Full time fishing guide in Amsterdam Going out fishing with Juul Steyn is not only great fun, but also educative and exciting. You will be targeting zander and perch, but on request you can also go fishing for pike in Amsterdam. As a member of UFX - a cooperation if professional fishing guides - he promises to gi
How can I rent my houseboat?
Advertise your houseboat on Bookahouseboat.com. Why? Because our team is always here to help you. Bookahouseboat.com is the world's leading houseboat rental platform, reaching tens of thousands of people each month. All looking specifically for a unique experience of staying on the water. We facilitate the processes of: Great customer support (in English & Dutch) Help and advice with creating your listing Getting you more bookings Advertising your houseboat (on Google Ads, social media) High Google ranking (top page 1) Handling all financial transactions Invoicing Calendar synchronization Possible double booking alerts Add unlimited extras, like breakfast, boats or bikes And much much more..! Advertising your houseboat on our website is always free. And the best thing is: new owners don't pay any service fee during the first year! Advertise my houseboat! Sounds pretty good huh? But there are more great reasons to list your houseboat on Bookahouseboat.com. The most and the b
Our preferred bike rentals and guided tours
Amsterdam is without a doubt the Bike Capital of the World. And for a good reason: the city is very welcoming to cyclists - we even have special bike lanes through town. And did you know that you can reach every corner of this amazing city within less then an hour? Therefore we invite you to rent a bike and start your discovery of Amsterdam local style! MacBike Rentals and Guided Tours With over 30 years of experience, more than 2500 bikes in store and six rental locations in Amsterdam, MacBike is the leading bike rental company in town. Anything you need for a great city trip: sturdy bicycles, child bicycles, hybrid bicycles, tandem bicycles, electric bicycles and cargo bicycles - they have it! Apart from this great selection, there are more good reasons to choose for MacBike. They offer both short and long city tours. You get 25% discount with the I Amsterdam City Card. You never have to pay if you damage your bike. And last but not least: you get free tickets for Thurs
Amsterdam canal tours - Our preferred operators
Discovering Amsterdam's enchanting canals is an experience you simply cannot miss. Dive deep into the heart of the city with our handpicked range of canal cruises, tailored to every traveler's dream. Whether you're drawn to the grandeur of iconic canal boats, the luxury of a private cruise with a seasoned captain, or the thrill of captaining your own vessel with friends and family, we have the perfect voyage waiting just for you. Set sail and let Amsterdam's historic waterways captivate your soul! Pure Boats - Private Canal Cruise Elevate Your Amsterdam Canal ExperienceSeeking an unparalleled canal cruise in Amsterdam that stands out from the typical tourist track? Welcome aboard Pure Boats, where luxury meets authenticity. Our meticulously restored electric canal boats, designed by our in-house team of superyacht experts, promise not only an eco-friendly voyage but one that oozes elegance and exclusivity. Dive deep into Amsterdam's rich history with our passionate guides, who love t
Fishing in Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin
Catch a true river monster from a houseboat! As an angler you probably don’t like to make compromises: it’s all or nothing after all. That’s why you should definitely consider to rent a houseboat during your next holiday. You’ll be staying right on top of the fish, and still have your beloved friends and family around you while fishing for true river monsters. And believe it or not, cities such as Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin are the places to be! This 30 lb+ pike was caught just minutes away from an Amsterdam houseboat rental! (photo: BookaHouseboat.com / Juul Steyn) Houseboat rentals can be found all over the world, in lots of different shapes and sizes. Some of them moored, others can be driven around and the level of luxury varies from cosy and basic to absolutely insane. But the one thing that all these floating homes have in common is that they give direct access to lots of fishing waters, often very good fishing waters. Trolling for pike with your houseboat in Berlin It migh
2017: The Year of the Houseboat
Lunar cycle shows perfect conditons for houseboaters Quite interesting for everyone who loves the freedom of a floating home: 2017 has been appointed as The Year of the Houseboat. 'Next years’ lunar cycle shows perfect conditions for a holiday on the water' – so don’t miss out and prepare for an unforgettable stay with friends and family on one of the many great house boats around the world. Staying on the water is apparently something that is appealing to Chinese astrology. In Chinese astrology, each year is said to be related to a Chinese animal sign, housing type and one of the following elements: gold (metal), Water, Fire, or Earth. Both the sign, house type and element of your birth are said to affect your personality and destiny. Characteristics of those born in The Year of the Houseboat include being “Free and adventurous, always open for something new to discover.” The meaning of staying on the water There are many reasons to stay at a houseboat. Especially in the
Global houseboat rental site kicks of in Amsterdam
BookaHouseboat launches in A'dam - with a big bang The team of BookaHouseboat, the first world wide houseboat rental site, kicked of their marketing campaign in Amsterdam on Friday September 2nd with a thrilling launch party. After a luxury cruise on a traditional saloon boat the gathered press was invited for a genuine houseboat experience on one of the most exhilarating floating homes the city has to offer. Text: Juul Steyn Photograpy: Maarten Brante What a houseboat party it was - a great start of BookaHouseboat in Amsterdam! (Photo: Maarten Brante/Bookahouseboat.com) The official launch was done by the Dutch comedian Lebbis, a houseboat owner and writer for Vlot Magazine, the national magazine dedicated to living on the water. He was clear about all the great things of staying at a houseboat. Comedian Lebbis (left) gives a hilarious speech about why you should rent a houseboat instead of buying one. (photo: Maarten Brante/BookaHouseboat.com) “The feeli
Living on the water
Why houseboats can help saving the planet We are now confronted to several problems regarding real estate. Some cities like London are facing a housing crisis because there is not enough living space. Architects have to take sea level rise into consideration, as well as other consequences of climate change. To put it in a nutshell: we have less and less land to accommodate an ever-growing population. The solution is found in living on the water, from single houseboats to floating communities By Margaux Tailpied / BookaHouseboat Over the last few years, housing policies have quite changed. Before, when it came to water, we used to do everything to hold it out by building dams and barriers. But it is more likely that in the future, we will have to learn how to live with water. That means living ON water. After all, 70% of the surface of Earth is water-covered. Lean to live with water More importantly: the climate change will force us to live with water – whether we like it