We feel privileged having our houseboat mored on a cute lake, surrounded by nature, yet with the city of Amsterdam at only 10 train minutes distance. We built our own dream boat, offering two floors with over 200 sqm living space, and during our holiday we like to share it with families and couples traveling together. Relax in your secluded garden, go swimming in the lake and enjoy the typical Dutch landscape that starts as soon as you leave the gate.
We think our floating home is especially suitable for families with up to three kids (we have three daughters ourselves). Not only because of the kids friendly layout and the fact that we have enough toys to keep them happy for a loooong time, but also because of the vast amount of space both inside and outside the houseboat.
Garden on the land side
When arriving from the train station 'Halfweg-Zwanenburg' (10 min by train from Amsterdam Central Station) it is a 9 minute walk (850 m) to our houseboat. You will see that there is lots of nature in our neighborhood and you'll get in the holiday mood right away. From the dyke that keeps our backlands dry you enter our garden, dotted with lots of plants and trees and with lots of space to sit both in the sun and shade. We love our garden (400 sqm+) especially during the summer months when the outdoor life is good. On the other side of the dyke you will see the wide open fields, ditches and canals that attract a wide variety of birds.
The upper floor: large living room with open kitchen
Our houseboat is docked along the shore, offering lots of privacy. It has two floors, lots of glass to let in as much as natural light as possible and a playful shape. When entering the front door you get up the wide stairs that lead to the hallway, with a separate toilet in your right hand side, as well as a storage room with washing- and drying machine for your convenience (with this much outdoor space around you, your kids may get dirty once in a while).
Upstairs you enter the large living room with open kitchen (9x6,5 meter!), fully equipped to prepare any meal you may have in mind. In the living room there is a large dining table and chill out area with a couch and comfortable armchairs. We have chosen to only use high-end materials that last, and hope hope you like the result. The waterside windows give great view over the water. Technically you could jump right into the water but given the depth of less than 4 feet and the risk of small children falling in, we have decided to keep these windows shut. There are lots of other windows and doors that can be opened safely to let in lots of fresh air however. So a pleasant inside atmosphere is guaranteed.
The lower floor: bedrooms and bathroom
Descend to the lower floor via another wide stairway and you enter the part where you will be sleeping and enjoy our large bathroom. At the far end of the isle you find the master bedroom with a large and super comfortable double bed. From the windows you overloop the water and might see an early waterbird swimming by in the morning mist to welcome you to a brand new day.
In total we have three bedrooms for the kids, but during our holiday we use one bedroom to store our personal belongings. The good thing is that the largest kids bedroom has a cool bunkbed, and the other bedroom has a single bed that can be turned into a comfortable double bed. So there will always be a layout that suits your needs for sure.
Now the bathroom, our favorite place in our house. It is half submerged, just like the bedrooms, and offers a nice view over the garden. Here you can enjoy the large bathtub and a shower. The water is heated by gas, so you have easily access to hot water - a plus if you are on holiday with a larger family.
All lights in the isle, bathroom and master bedoom are dimmable to create the perfect atmosphere for any moment of the day.
The waterside of the houseboat
You reach the front of the houseboat via the boardwalk on the side of the houseboat. Take a plunge in the water and you will understand why we love this place so much!
Things to do nearby
The main attraction nearby is of course the city of Amsterdam, and we're sure that you know the highlights but did you know that there are lots of other things to do? Let us some cool things to see and do:
* Go walking, fishing, horseback riding, swimming, or playing golf in recreational area Spaarnwoude Houtrak, right in front of the houseboat
* Go to the beach in the charming coastal village Zandvoort or Bloemendaal aan Zee (only 20 min by train and 300 mtr walk to the beach)
* Visit the wonderful city of Haarlem (only 10 min by train)
* Visit Zaandam and the world famous windmills of the Zaanse Schans (24 min by car, or 50 min by bike and public transport)
A family houseboat, not a party boat
As our floating home is docked in a secluded lake with other people, we want to emphasize that we live in a family friendly neighborhood. That means that we are friendly to our neighbors and respect their night's rest as much as they respect ours. So please note that our houseboat is absolutely not suited for people who want to party. If we notice that you do, you will be asked to leave immediately - we're sure you understand. Only this way we can maintain a good and pleasant relationship with our neighbors.
Let us know if you have any questions!
We hope to have given the best possible impression of our houseboat, but don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. And don't hesitate to tell us something about yourself and the purpose of your stay - it is always nice to know who will be staying in our house. We look forward to hear from you!
Note: check-in / check-out times can always be discussed, do not hesitate to share your wishes.
Another note: the cleaning price of 125 euro is included in the total price, so no extra costs whatsoever.
Reach Amsterdam in just 20 min by public transport