A Dreamy and Down-to-Earth Slice of Amsterdam Life
Staying on this houseboat in the heart of Amsterdam was nothing short of magicalâand wonderfully real. Every morning, we woke to the soft ripple of canal water, the sound of street cleaners doing their rounds, and the occasional curious coot peeking in. At night, the romance of the city came alive through our windows, with golden reflections dancing across the water and canal cruises gliding by like living postcards.This is true Amsterdam livingâhistorically rooted and vividly alive. The boat itself is an eclectic, cozy tiny home with all the essentials for a comfortable stay. Itâs modest but thoughtfully equipped, with quirky charm and a sense of creative soul. The location couldnât be more centralâyouâre tucked right into the rhythm of the city, yet still feel like youâre in your own floating haven. If youâre looking for an experience thatâs both romantic and refreshingly real, this houseboat is it.
I enjoyed my stay here but this venue is not for everyone. The listing shows photos that do not represent the conditions accurately. They show the interior of the houseboat to be much lighter and brighter than actual conditions. Some of the photos are either very old or show a different houseboat. The interior furnishings are very kitchy. Also, the exterior of the boat is in poor physical condition: There is damaged siding and a broken window on the port side and the boat lists noticeably to starboard and towards the bow making navigation inside somewhat difficult, especially when making nighttime treks from bedroom to bathroom.
The houseboat was right in the middle of central so you could basically walk to every spot. Itâs also in a nice quiet area. Sometimes tour boats go by the window which was a bit odd but other than that amazing place.
Les points faibles : Communication et exactitude de lâannonce
Unacceptable Accommodation: Houseboat Not Suitable for Guests
Our recent houseboat stay was profoundly disappointing, falling far short of basic expectations. We anticipated a cool experience, not a luxury resort, but found the property in disrepair, making it both unsuitable and unsafe, and entirely unprepared for guests.Key issues: broken furniture (e.g., shoelace-repaired chair, torn upholstery), hazardous lighting (extension cords, poor switches), and a kitchen filled with old food items. Opened liquor bottles and a bin 2/3 filled with empty bottles.There was no space for our things; it was cluttered with the owner's items. The outdoor area was overgrown and unusable. This clearly felt like someone's hastily vacated primary residence, not a guest-ready rental.We immediately left due to these unacceptable conditions. The host, Lionel, refused a refund despite VRBO's support, intervention and our photos. VRBO could only refund their fee.WarningsDuring early messages, Lionel tried to bypass VRBO fees by instructing us to book future stays directly with him. He provided his private email to do so. We strongly advise against this as it offers no refund recourse if you find similar conditions. Also - Be warned the VRBO photos do not accurately reflect the current, poor conditions (see photos - I could only post 8)RecommendationThoroughly review VRBO's "Book With Confidence" guarantee, follow all stipulated steps BEFORE vacating, regardless of its condition. This will maximize VRBOs ability for a direct refund if needed.
We loved our time on the houseboat, a great location and super comfy bed. It had everything we needed and the host was very accommodating with check in and check out times.
I was really excited to see what it would be like on a canal boat. One of the first things that happened was a pair of swans floated by. Pretty cool. The location of the boat was in the middle of everything. A great jumping off point to tour the center of Amsterdam. I enjoyed my accommodation and exploring the city.
We loved our stay on this houseboat! The host made the check in process easy and helped us figure out transportation there. We have never seen a place like this before. There is such unique decor inside, we were discovering new fun decorations after four days of staying there! The location was also great, we able to walk to most of the places we wanted to go to. Itâs about five minutes from the Red Light District and there are a lot of great shops and restaurants nearby. This was one of our favorite accommodations weâve ever stayed in because of its uniqueness!
This houseboat is the ideal place to stay in Amsterdam. Itâs fun, funky, and very comfortable. Centrally located, itâs easy to walk to all the sites and museums we wanted to see. Itâs also right by a subway stop for going further. At night, open the widows and let the breezes and soft sounds of the canal waft over you
Don't expect hotel amenities, but it was a fun adventure and we enjoyed our stay.Great location, close to many sites. Good restaurants within walking distance. Managers very helpful.
My partner and I spent a week in Amsterdam and wanted a central location in a more unique accommodation than a hotel. This houseboat was perfect! The canal itâs located on is a quieter street compared to the nearby bustling shops and restaurants. We were within close biking or walking distance to everything we wanted to explore. The houseboat exterior is picturesque in the canal and charming. The interior is a collection of different antiques, trinkets, fabrics, and decor. Some may find it a bit dated but we appreciated the history, bohemian feel, and coziness. We adored waking up to the skylight above our bed and seeing ducks swim across the canal outside our window. Bathroom and kitchen amenities were satisfactory throughout our stay. We definitely would recommend the experience of staying in this amazing houseboat!
Overall great location and price. My husband suffers from allergies and it wasn't transparent there was a cat that lives there when guests aren't there. Also would have appreciated more flexibility and conciseness of the check-in process since we were internationally traveling there from the states and unable to check-in earlier upon a red-eye early morning arrival then we had to meet in person which was very long and interactive.
Great location and we really enjoyed our stay. Quiet neighborhood but close to many bars and restaurants. We hit a local grocery close by as well. Sadly Rembrandt House was closed, because itâs very nearby.
The location for walking was great. Each day 7 swans swam by plus ducks. Few boat tours cruised by and itâs fun to wave at them or raise a glass of wine to toast them. Fun times. Very comfortable bed too. Thanks for a very pleasant stay.
To live in a houseboat in the 'Old Center' of Amsterdam but in the residential part : 'East side'.
Why Live In A houseboat ? : I understood that a flat is too noisy, as the walls are too thin with buildings on pilotis in Amsterdam. A barge is too steep-sided.
Houseboat is an unique experience and one of Amsterdam symbols, with its 2500 units spread over 165 canals, being the subject of an UNESCO World Heritage nomination.
Living on a boat has a price, that of permanent maintenance, including painting, wood treatment and corrosion, punctuated by regular visits and docking the boat at the shipyard without forgetting the specific taxes.
You are tucked away on your own island in the middle of town.
Your houseboat is not merely an impersonal and soulless rental property, as I prefer to welcome my friends and guests in a friendly spirit rather than dealing with business customers.