Cruising Amsterdam by boatMy blog is strictly a hobby. Nothing commercial on it as I haven’t got the time nor need to deal with advertisements or sponsors. With this post I am going to make one exception. For my husband Ron, the man who takes the best pictures of me for this blog and finds the best backgrounds. That is fair, don’t you think? A little barter deal? Holiday pictures next week.

Ron has a small business in the summer, cruising Amsterdam by boat with paying clients. He also teaches them how to manoevre the motor boat and let his clients steer. Of course only if they want to. Children are always eager to steer the boat, but he has had some keen and even quite good adult co-captains as well. You can read all the information, prices and way to reserve a tour on his website: www.amsterdamboatcompany.com

You are about to see many photos of a boat tour we went on last weekend. This time not with paying guests but with friends. It will give you an idea.

Usually Ron picks his guests up from a jetty in the centre of Amsterdam. There are several jetties he can use. Our friends came to the marina as that was on their way from home.

Below: the whole family came aboard.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

First I will introduce you to the family, the star players in this story.

Below: Lisette…

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: Lisette made a head-to-toe photo of me next to the boat. The idea behind the hat was to be cooler (hot weather that day). That doesn’t work for me. It was hotter with than without the hat.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: Lisette’s husband Erik

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: and their two sons.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: over to captain Ron who is preparing our departure from the marina.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Another reason to pick up clients from a jetty in the city (apart from convenience) is the trip from the marina to the centre of town. That takes quite a while and isn’t that interesting.

Below: the wide, boring canal we go through from the marina to town. I am still wearing the hat.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: what you do get just outside Amsterdam, is modern architecture. Like this bridge.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: we headed towards a billabong (funny word) with houses which were custom-made. Unusual for a city in The Netherlands. Most of the houses here have a pontoon, a raft, serving as a terrace and a jetty.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: like this one.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

We left at noon, so soon it was time to lunch. I had been clever and had asked our friends to bring their own food. I know… very tight and very Dutch. Nevertheless, I was redeemed from thinking what to get, shopping, etc. I don’t only hate cooking (did you know that about me?), I also hate anything to do with catering and events.

Below: our friends brought loads of nice stuff with them. We could also have opted to moor and have lunch ashore of course, but our time and theirs was limited.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: thank you Lisette. Good shot.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: first we passed the zoo. Being on the water, outside the zoo, means you don’t get to see much, but it is free haha. Giraffes.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: and zebras. The boys were excited.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: in town but on the outskirts.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: we passed the warehouses, now converted into houses. Where I saw this man taking off his shirt as we passed. Men with naked upper bodies seem to be a theme these days haha. (For those who don’t understand this: see my post of last week).

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

My impulses got the better of me… I started cheering (very loud) and shouting: “Go on!! More, more!! Strip some more! I am taking pictures!!”

Below: Daddy didn’t mind. Daddy was actually quite amused.

Cruising by boat through Amsterdam

Below: Het Scheepvaartmuseum (the National Maritime Museum). If you want to read and see more about it, I wrote a blogpost on that museum here.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: behind the museum, the Dutch East Indiaman Amsterdam. You can see the inside of the ship in my blogpost see here.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: across the water, opposite the East Indiaman Amsterdam, is science museum Nemo , built like a ship. A terrific museum. For kids but also for grown-ups. With many experiments to perform yourself.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: we were “Love Boat” for a moment (for those who remember the seventies).

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: some of the crockery is specially made for the boat. With its name: ‘t Meindert (Meindert was the name of my father; he christened the ship).

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

We remained in quite open water as the boys had some wishes, like seeing a real (very old and battered) submarine. This is another side of Amsterdam, you don’t see often. If you want to see more of the canals in the centre, you have to either scroll down a bit or go to my blogpost about a boat trip with Kirk and Anne last year.

Below: this big building is the Amsterdam Toren (Amsterdam Tower). It hosts a.o. a hotel, a spectacular observation post over Amsterdam, and several cool bars and restaurants. Open 24/7. One restaurant is revolving.

They also have a breathtaking surprise… see those red stripes right at the top???

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: those “stripes”are swings and they go OVER THE EDGE. Frightening!

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: we were back in the IJ (the port of Amsterdam). And saw this huge cruise ship.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: the boyes wanted a photo with the cruise ship in the background.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: and so did mum.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: we arrived at the submarine. One which will never dive again. Totally corroded. The boys didn’t even recognise it as a submarine.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: a “botel”. There are even rooms in the letters. With a view of the old submarine.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: the boat has a wheel down below and one on deck. Look at his proud face.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: don’t think that there is any danger… Captain Ron is in control with the on-deck wheel.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: of course both boys got their chance to steer the ship.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: in the meantime we were at Prinseneiland (Isle of the princes), a secluded and very lovely part of Amsterdam. Especially nice to view from the water.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: I was wondering whether this gentleman would dive into the water. And if so, how would he get back? (I know… another half naked man. Karma!)

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: bridges, lovely houses, boats… the works.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: on our way to the canals in the centre of the city, we passed this modern building. See how clever the architect was? When you close the shutters, they form a solid wall.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: bridge and canal in the centre.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: it was a very sunny Sunday and it had been beautiful weather for weeks. Which means it is crowded on the main canals. No problem for Ron as he is very experienced (and has all the diplomas). He can handle the boat as if it was a car and believe me, it is NOT, far from it.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: Amsterdam offers a lot of things like great scenery, entertainment, beautiful houses, bicyles (everywhere) and… terraces (also everywhere).

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: typically Amsterdam roofs/facades.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Below: the famous Westertoren. The crown on top of the church tower is the imperial crown of Austria, donated by emporer Maximilian II to the town of Amsterdam. If you want to read more: here is a link.

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

If you want to see more lovely pictures of the canals in the centre of town, have a look at this post of last year. Or this post from 2015.

Below: just in case you cannot be bothered to click the links, here are three sample photos….

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Cruising Amsterdam by boat

Greetje

No Fear of Fashion

 

 

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