This is the perfect location for the houseboat to enjoy exploring Amsterdam and everything is within easy walking distance. We loved the market just across the canal, all of the lovely places to eat and the ease of the metro. I think the pictures online are old when it comes to the houseboat. All of the living area furniture is old, ripped and broken so a comfortable place to sit is difficult. Loved the small but efficient kitchen but you need to eat standing up as there is only one chair at the small table. The other 2 chairs are marked with notes saying do not sit on me. The outside of the houseboat the top garden and the small patio desperately need to be cleaned up as they could be absolutely gorgeous but now are overgrown and with broken chairs and junk thrown around. Would have liked to have a small space in the closet (full and no room to hang anything) instead of living out of the suitcases which had to be stored in the living area. King bed was huge and spacious. The host was very responsive and was always quick to answer any questions. VRBO needs a new set of pictures or the houseboat needs a spruce up. The multiple rugs were definitely a tripping hazard especially at night when the lights were on. Absolutely loved opening the windows and enjoying the cool breeze and interacting with the tour boats/locals on the canal. Amsterdam was incredibly beautiful this time of the year and the flowers were beyond beautiful on and around the canals!
What a pleasure to stay in a charming house boat on one of the quieter central canals. Eclectically furnished and comfortable it was a tranquil space to relax and watch the tour boats go by. Plenty of nice eateries and grocery stores within walking distance and easy to get to the galleries/museums on foot or by a short tram ride. The bathroom was a good size with a decent shower, the small kitchen had all of the necessary equipment to prepare food âat homeâ although we didnât cook. The bedroom was a good size with most of it being taken up by a large bed which was comfortable.
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.
The owner was extremely kind and provided great information about the surrounding area, also allowed us early entry. The location is terrific, as was the overall cost. The Houseboat, while a unique experience, was not without its problems. The existing online interior pics do not accurately reflect the current condition of the houseboat. The interior is more like a museum of the owner's artifacts and collections - everywhere, and much more clutter today than on the pics. The furniture is actually torn, tattered, or unusable. There is no place to store clothing or suitcases. The lighting, while eclectic, is inadequate. The bathroom with its slanted center floor tiles and drain could be challenging for some, and without any storage area. The positives and negatives kind of offset each other, hence the OK rating. We would look for a more upgraded houseboat if we had to do this over again.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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
My fiancee and myself really enjoyed our stay at this accommodation, having an entire houseboat to ourselves in the middle of the historical city center was a great experience. We never had to travel far to get to the main sites to see and whenever we got tired of all the hussle and bussle of this massive city we had a place entirely to ourselves to retire in for the rest of the day.
I thought the stay was very cozy and in general the houseboat was a great venue with its excentric design both in its interior and the exterior garden.
One thing however i think i should mention is that it is very clear that this is infact someones home and not exclusively used as a guest accomodation. The homeowners things, namely toiletries, kitchen supplies, books and records were still very present on the houseboat.
Although this was not an issue in any way as It did not bother us at all during our stay, it was just a funny detail i thought i should mention.
The owner and hosts are very helpful with communication both before and during the check in, everything was nicely explained and we got lovely recommendations for museums and local restaurants. We also had the opportunity to remain in contact should we need anything during our stay but luckily did not need it.
Still it was great to have such a friendly and communicative host. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our experience and would certainly come back!
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.
Everything was very crowded. It smelled old and musty. The inner cover of the bedding had stains so we took them out. The bathroom was clean. Good for an adventure vacation. It rained on Friday and if it had continued to rain we would have left. We only went to the houseboat to sleep and shower. By the way, the houseboat is for sale. We left a day early..
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.
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.