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The houseboat at start of Spring with the tulips on the green roof.
The romantic and hidden waterway with the Spring light.
Animal life in aquatic environment with swans...
The houseboat in Spring.
A part of living room with its Godin's Belle Epoque stove.
Livingroom with its two Louis XVI mirrors.
View from the kitchen on the living room.
Living room.
View from the bedroom on the living room.
A part of the kitchen with the coffee and tea corner.
The kitchen with the two electric heaters and sink.
View in the kitchen then the entrance and the living room.
The bedroom with its view on the water way and its large Dutch painting of Haarlemerpoort in Amsterdam during the Spanish occupation.
Bathroom with its walk-in shower.
Entrance with its flowerbed.
The bedroom with the King size bed, its paintings, and Louis XV mirror.
The flowerbed at the entrance.
Lunch and dinner space outside with one garden table and two chairs.
Photos
Back the Netherlands, North Holland, Amsterdam

Houseboat in Old Center

Your best location in the Historic Center

Excellent! 4.8/5 (50 reviews)

BOOKA CARE

  • Your money is safe, we pay your host 2 days after check-in.
  • 100% refund in the unlikely event the host cancels.
  • Changing booking details is always free.
  • Access to urgent phone line during your booking.
  • Book Co2 positive, we compensate 3 times more than we emit.
Read more...

Houseboat highlights

  1. Host fully available and friendly
  2. Historical Center
  3. Ideal for loving couples
  4. Safe and peaceful neighborhood
  5. Old and vintage style

From our guests

  1. Central location on quiet canal, near main sights
  2. Cozy bohemian decor; unique, authentic houseboat experience
  3. Comfortable large bed; many mention excellent sleep
  4. Well-equipped kitchen, wifi, stereo; feels like home
  5. Access involves steps; may be hard for mobility
  6. Many light switches; pay attention

Welcome to your stay

Your barge is moored with its southern view on one of the most romantic and peaceful canals, surrounded by 17th century architecture and the Zuiderkerk Carillon painted by Claude Monet.

You will enjoy being located in the historic Nieuwmarkt district, 5 minutes walk from the central station or 50 meters from the 'Nieuwmarkt'metro station, 1 minute walk from 12 restaurants, 5 supermarkets (7/7 - 8 to 2 a.m.), the flea market, most museums and major tourist sites.

Bedroom

  • A bedroom with king size bed 2m/1m80, satin curtains and skylight window for looking at the stars.

Services

  • WiFi, cable internet and PC.
  • You can tap into your host's support before, during your entire stay, and afterward if you need it.

Explore your stay

The cozy “bohemian decor” and the “boudoir style” inspire your host’s spirit, love of travel and freedom.

The interior is rich with warm colors, vintage leather furniture and natural wood.

You will really enjoy staying in your houseboat in the 'Old Center' of Amsterdam but in the residential part: 'East side'.

You will really enjoy staying in your canal which was peaceful and green unlike the more touristy waterways, which are too noisy and subject to all kinds of traffic (cars, buses/boats).

This is the Raamgracht Canal: No traffic with a narrow/one-way street and canal, with lush vegetation shading all the boats.

Only traffic with animal life in an aquatic environment with swans, ducks, coots, herons, gulls and many other surprises sailing around your barge!

The hull (Praam type) and the boat were built during the Belle Epoque in 1898, making it one of the oldest boats in Amsterdam. The last complete renovation took place in 2019 to the highest standards but respecting its historic charm.

The Praam

A praam is a type of shallow-draft, flat-bottomed vessel, particularly developed in the Netherlands in the 17th century, reaching around 20 m in length.

These large prams could be operated by oar but also by sail, with a pair of side fins.

Their shallow draft (no more than two feet) allowed them to move goods (not shipped from port) through all of Amsterdam's canals.

Why live in a houseboat?

I understood that an apartment is too noisy, because the walls are too thin with buildings on stilts in Amsterdam.

A barge is too steep.

Living on a boat has a price, that of permanent maintenance, including painting, wood treatment and corrosion, punctuated by regular visits and mooring of the boat at the shipyard without forgetting specific taxes.

Book now

Houseboat details

Registration number

0363 2FB5 9D2A 4C52 A81D

Property type

Moored houseboat

Payment policy

25-75% or 50-50% or 100% (read more)

Cancellation policy

Strict

Security deposit

Not required

Check in/out time

Check in between 15:00 and 00:00.

Check out before 11:00.

Bedrooms

1 Bedroom, 2 Sleeps

King size beds: 1

You will really enjoy sleeping in your room with your 2m/1m80 king size bed, satin curtains and skylight window to watch the stars.

You will be delighted to take your hot and comfortable shower with your "Italian shower" with a heated tiled floor and an electric radiator with everything you need: soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, creams body, cotton swabs, hairdryer, towels, etc.

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Bathrooms

Number of bathrooms: 1
Number of en-suite bathrooms: 1
 Number of toilets: 1

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General information

Paid parking Pets allowed Smoking not allowed Child friendly

Indoor facilities

Shower

Small garden at the dock and entrance.

Outdoor facilities

Garden

Small Pets Allowed : ask to your host before booking.

Parkings close by the boat with Q-Park Centraal Station 800 m or Q-Park Waterlooplein at 200 m.

Child friendly only for one child and ask to your host before booking.

Amenities

Fully equipped kitchen Microwave / oven Toaster Linen provided Towels provided Iron Hair dryer Dining table & chairs

Activities nearby

Swimminig / watersports Walking / hiking Horse riding Golf Fishing Tennis Amusement park / water park

Entertainment

Internet access WiFi / internet Computer Music system

Location

City views Close to the shops Close to the ariport

Electric radiators

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Holiday type

Nightlife Historic / sightseeing Town / city Lake / riverside Romantic Sporting activities

Location

Distances

Airport

9 km

Bar

0.1 km

Beach

15 km

Golf course

4 km

Highway

2 km

Night club

0.3 km

Restaurant

0.1 km

Super market

0.2 km

Train station

0.8 km

How to get there

From Train Station
Only 50 meters from the subway station "Nieuwmarkt" EXIT "Nieuwe Hoogstraat" (the first stop after the Central Station: all lines: 51, 54, and 53). You can take the lead car and you're near the exit "Nieuwe Hoogstraat." Taking the escalator or the elevator, arrived on the surface, you go in the opposite direction and cross Zuiderkerkhof, which is the churchyard. After passing the church Zuiderkerk 30 meters and crossing the courtyard, you go straight, taking the Moddermolenstraat 20 meters, and will see your Raamgracht waterway. Your houseboat is moored on the corner at your right, the most ornate with its two flowerbeds or gardens.

Or five minutes walking distance or 800 meters from the Central Station. Follow straight along the 3 canals "Geldersekade," passing through the Medieval gate Nieuwmarkt at 400 meters from the Central Station, then "Kloveniersburgwal" to "Raamgracht," then go to the fourth boat in front of the number 35 building), the most ornate with its two flowerbeds or gardens. There are only 5 boats at Raamgracht and on the same side.

Direct Rail Link connects Schiphol International Airport to Central Station and is the fastest and most convenient way to get to your houseboat.

Taxi 
If you take a taxi, you can write your address on paper (You will get the exact address after payment. The houseboat in front of building number 35) and give it to the taxi driver. It will be easier.

About the area

You will appreciate being located in the historical area of Nieuwmarkt, at 1 minute walking distance from 12 restaurants, 5 supermarkets (7/7 - 8 to 2am), the Flea Market, most museums, and great sightseeing spots.

In your houseboat at your arrival, your host will give you all information about your stay and the neighborhood, with supermarkets, restaurants, museums, etc., everything you need to know with a guests' guide.

Do not hesitate to request more information if you need about your arrival and your stay.

Book now

Houseboat owner

Lionel

After a life of being a historian, your host decided to live 2 dreams. The 1st was to be in the "Old Center" of Amsterdam ( but in the residential part : East side). The 2nd was to live in a canal but very peaceful and green, unlike the major 'very touristy' waterways (being too noisy with cars and tourists' buses/boats traffic).

It is the 'Raamgracht' canal : No traffic with narrow/oneway street and canal, a beautiful tree-lined canal with lush greenery shading over all the boats.

A flat ? too noisy (As walls are too thin), a barge ? too steep-sided. Your host loves and enjoys the "houseboat". Only renting it when your host is in countryside, a "polder", very closeby.

Therefore, it is not a merely an impersonal and soulless rental property. Your host prefers to welcome friends and guests in a friendly spirit rather than dealing with business customers.

Response time
Normally within 10-20h
Language spoken
English, French

50 Reviews - Houseboat in Old Center

Excellent! 4.8/5

  1. Benjamin D - Germany

    24 Jun

    Great!

    We had four wonderful days and nights in the beautiful city of Amsterdam!

    Our houseboat was in an absolutely quiet place, in the Raamgracht. Only few steps from the old city away, but totally quiet and green! Every morning there were ducks and geese to say hello  :-)

    The houseboat is not the newest, but that does't matter! It has everything you need and we slept very good and long in the big and cosy bed! There is a window over the bed, where you can see the tree above you! That is so awsome!

    Thanks to the owner, who waited for us and told us everything we had to know.

    We had four great days in Amsterdam! 

  2. Anders K - Germany

    06 Nov

    Sounds awkward, but it's very nice!

    We have spend 4 nights in this peculiar and amazing houseboat. The interior is strange with its butterfly theme, its golden ceiling and its carpented walls and the large amount of mirrors. It sounds awkward but is actually very nice - you absolutely feel at home even if it's not your style. We enjoyed every minute of our stay in the boat and preferred to dine at the boat two evenings. The boat is located in a great canal, close to the Waterloo square and the river Amstel. You will find nice restaurants, beautiful lunch places and lovely shops. The boat is very recommendable for 2 persons. Lionel is a very attentive host who takes good care of his guests. Do book this boat - you won't regret it. Thanks Lionel for a nice stay! Anders

  3. Andrea S - Switzerland

    06 Aug

    Great time

    We had a great time on the boat. it is located absolutely central and it is a cosy place to be. we felt very comfortable.

  4. Alex M - the United States

    12 Nov

    Excellent Amsterdam Experience

    We loved staying in Lionel's houseboat and felt that it provided a unique and authentic Amsterdam experience! Everything was cozy and kitsch and perfect for what we were looking for. We rented bikes a 5 min walk from the boat (note that the Mac Bikes in the area has relocated a few blocks from it's original locale!) and took the metro at the station 3 min from the boat to take in an Ajax FC game. As noted in the listing, the boat is on a quieter canal, but very close to all of the action. We were greeted by church bells and swan visitors in the morning--a lovely way to wake up!

  5. Melissa S - the United States

    01 Sep

    Amazing!!

    We absolutely loved our three nights on Lionel's houseboat. Our stay there was definitely the best part of our European vacation, and we truly hated to leave. The houseboat is on a beautiful canal in a peaceful neighborhood, yet it's just a very short walk to museums, shops, open air market, and restaurants. We went on one of those guided canal tours, and our captain highlighted this canal as "one of the most beautiful in all of Amsterdam". We pointed out the houseboat and told him we were staying there, and the captain said, "You are very lucky to be staying on this canal!". Lionel was the perfect host. He welcomed us warmly, even though we were late. He told us everything we needed to know about the boat and the neighborhood. I accidentally left something behind when we left, and Lionel was so gracious about sending it to me, even though I know it meant a lot of extra work on his part. He is a wonderful host -- a true gentleman. We hope to visit Amsterdam again in a year or two, and we will definitely stay on Lionel's houseboat again. It made our entire stay in Amsterdam very special.

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