Juul

We stayed here for 2 nights before heading to Amsterdam and had a wonderful experience. The listing is accurate. We watched the sunset on the boat deck while drinking Dutch beer, we road bikes provided by our hosts and went to the cute museums and windmills. We had a lovely relaxing stay and our hosts were welcoming and helpful. We also enjoyed visiting the Brouwerij Hoop during our visit. Definitely would recommend and stay again.

The four of us stayed on the houseboat for a weekend. We were offered breakfast. Friendly welcome, and we could use bicycles.

The apartment is gorgeous - very spacious, furnished with top-quality pieces, and all kitchen and other utensils are provided. The location is peaceful and serene. It is a bit of a hike from the train station (2.2 km) on foot, but bikes are available for rent. The host, Josie, couldn't do enough for us. I had a serious injury during my stay (not at all related to the rental), and she kept coming with things to help, including nutritional bouillon, crutches, fruit, etc. I highly recommend this rental.

Stayed here for 3 nights on an interrail trip with our teenage son, and we all loved it. The boat’s a 20-25 minute walk from the station, but mostly through a gorgeous historic windmill beauty spot along the river bank. This area’s quite touristy, but the boat’s tucked away and feels really secluded and quiet while in easy reach of interesting sights and nice cafes. The accommodation is clean, light, spacious, and comfortable, though quite quirky and a little dated. We loved relaxing on the deck watching the boats go by and had a great time borrowing bikes from our lovely hosts, who live in the house by the boatyard. We didn’t swim from the boat due to algae, but there’s a swimming spot on the opposite river bank (a bit of a cycle ride). This was our son’s favourite stop of the whole holiday – thanks very much, Jose and Peter!

In April 2025, we had the pleasure of staying on the barge “Juul,” nestled in the picturesque Zaanse Schans area of Amsterdam, widely known as the iconic Windmill district. The barge itself is spacious, roughly the size of a large two-bedroom apartment, and offers a comfortable cozy retreat. Equipped with cooking amenities, it’s perfect for preparing meals if you prefer a home-cooked touch. Location-wise, “Juul” is a gem, just 500 meters from the windmills and only a 15-minute cycle from the train station and nearby shops, making it easy to stock up on provisions or explore Amsterdam and beyond. For those with time to spare, Belgium is also within reach. One of the standout features of our stay was the peaceful atmosphere. While a few passing ships and boats dot the river throughout the day, the gentle lapping of water quickly becomes a soothing backdrop. A delightful surprise was witnessing a rowing race, fun to watch and exchange waves with the locals getting their exercise. Adding to the experience, our host brought us a beautiful breakfast basket on both the first and last day, filled with local breads, eggs, and cheese, a truly Dutch welcome. If I return to Amsterdam, “Juul” will undoubtedly be my choice again. A hidden gem worth discovering!