Houseboat Rental in the Netherlands
Do you like to sail in complete tranquility, while visiting new places? Have you ever thought that in addition to sailing across vast seas and lakes, you could also cruise along the more tranquil rivers? If so, houseboat hire in the Netherlands is the perfect trip for you to plan next.
With countless water basins, the Netherlands is the perfect destination to try your first river cruise on a houseboat. The plethora of lakes, ponds and canals offer the most spectacular views and we have no doubt that you will quickly fall in love with dream landscapes, from the vast green expanses, to the windmills and traditional gabled houses. The Friesian lakes and waterways area is undoubtedly one of the most popular areas for renting a houseboat because it is easy to moor and you will also find many activities to do in your free time.
If you are a fishing enthusiast, on the other hand, head over to the north, where the Polders are particularly popular.
The one thing we can guarantee, is that you definitely won’t be bored renting a boat in the Netherlands.
How much does it cost to rent a houseboat in the Netherlands?
The cost of renting a houseboat varies based on several factors. Firstly, the price can fluctuate according to the season in which you want to rent the boat. The cost is also affected by the model, dimensions and technical specifications of the boat, as well as where you want to charter your houseboat in the Netherlands. Below is a list of prices according to some of the different destinations where you can rent.
To rent a houseboat
in South Holland, prices will typically start at
$159 per day and $1113 per week in
low season, and
$249 per day and $1740 per week in
high season.
In Heerenveen and
Drachten, houseboat rental prices start at around
$122 a day and $670 a week in
low season, while prices in
high season typically rise to about
$305 a day and $1261 a week.
In Utrecht, the cost of chartering a houseboat is around
$731 per week in
low season and
$975 per week in
high season.
In Vinkeveen, you can expect to pay around
$1139 per week in
low season and
$2266 per week in
high season, while prices
in Hindeloopen start at about
$901 per week in
low season and
$1558 per week in
high season.
In Loosdrechtse Plassen,
Kerkdriel and
Hoorn, prices remain fairly
consistent all year round, starting at
$152 for a day and $1065 for a week in Loosdrechtse Plassen and
$183 for a day and $1280 for a week in Kerkdriel. The prices
in Hoorn start at
$317 per half day, $609 per day and $1827 per week.
In Friesland and
Terherne, houseboat rental prices will usually start at around
$101 per day and $709 per week in
low season, but the prices rise to
$147 per day and $1035 per week during
high season.
In both
Urk and
Harderwijk, houseboat charter prices start at about
$244 per day and $1096 per week in
low season, and
$365 per day and $1815 per week in
high season.
In Ijsselstein, you can expect prices to start from about $146 for a day and $1370 for a week in low season, while prices rise to about $203 for a day and $1857 for a week in low season.
In Ijsselmeer, prices usually start at around
$366 for half a day, $611 for a full day, and $2076 for a week in
low season, and prices will rise slightly in
high season to
$488 for half a day, $733 for a full day, and $2687 for a week.
Woubrugge houseboat rental prices are typically around
$138 per day and $966 per week in
low season, and go up to
$211 per day and $1476 per week in
high season.
Can I rent a houseboat with or without a skipper in the Netherlands?
Yes! It is possible to rent a houseboat with or without a skipper in the Netherlands but if you choose to rent without a skipper, the following regulation applies:
If the boat is smaller than 15 meters and does not exceed a speed of 10.8 knots (20 kmph/12.4 mph), you don’t need a license.
If the boat can travel at more than 10.8 knots (20 kmph/12.4 mph) on rivers, canals and lakes, you need the “Klein Vaarbewijs 1” license.
"Small Vaarbewijs 2" is the license required for boats sailing in the open sea, as well as on large inland water basins such as the Oosterschelde and Westerschade estuaries, the IJsselmeer and the Waddenzee.
What are the weather and sailing conditions like in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, you will encounter a temperate climate, with relatively cool summers and cold winters. In general, the weather is cool, cloudy and humid all year round. The temperature usually ranges from 5-14.4°C (41-57.9°F), with average summer highs of 20-25°C (68-77°F) and average winter lows of 0-4.4°C (32-39.9°F).
The annual rainfall averages between 73.66 and 83.82 cm (29-33 inches).
When is the best time to go on a houseboat holiday in the Netherlands?
To fully enjoy your first experience on a houseboat, it is essential to correctly choose the time of year in which you intend to sail. Unfavorable weather conditions could in fact compromise the happy outcome of your holiday.
Our advice is to choose the summer period. Higher temperatures and sunnier days are ideal for navigation. Alternatively, spring and autumn could also offer wonderful moments on the boat, although sunny days could be less frequent and the probability of rain could increase.
In general, it is best to visit between May and September as between these months the weather conditions are comfortable, although you may still encounter a fair bit of rain. During this period, you will generally get up to 16.5 hours of sunlight and the humidity levels will be a good deal lower than during the winter months. May and June are fantastic months for flower lovers to visit as this is when the tulips bloom. If you visit in summer, we highly recommend that you take your boat charter to the beach as the water temperature in the summer months is above 15.6°C (60.1°F). The only drawback about going to the Netherlands in the summer is that there will be more people and thus, the boat prices will be higher.
Generally it is best to avoid a houseboat charter in the Netherlands from December until February, as during this time it can get very snowy, very dark, and the humidity is typically very high. There are also often many storms in winter, as well as strong winds. Furthermore, if you want to swim, the sea temperature is way too cold in these months, being only around 5°C (41°F).
Why rent a houseboat in the Netherlands rather than another type of boat?
One fifth of the surface of the Netherlands is covered with water. Although there are some deeper stretches of water, some waterways are only accessible by smaller boats. A houseboat is therefore an excellent solution for exploring shallower lakes and narrow Dutch canals.
What are the best sailing areas to explore during a houseboat charter in the Netherlands?
If you want to go somewhere a little off the beaten track, you could visit Friesland. The region is located in the north northern part of the country and contains an infinite number of magical places just waiting for you to explore them. You will feel like you are immersing yourself in the Veermer landscape with large expanses of green meadows, woods, dunes, canals, typical mills and ancient cities!
Or maybe you want to explore the province of Zeeland in the southwest of the Netherlands. In this area, you simply can’t miss the Oosterschelde national park with its wide range of habitats, from marshes to drylands. The tide transforms the landscape in this area twice a day and with each tide, the park is filled with 800 billion litres of water.
In South Holland there are also a wide range of exploration possibilities. Maybe you want to discover the aptly nicknamed Dutch "Green Heart", a large lush area that stretches between the cities of Rotterdam, The Hague, Zoetermeer, Haarlem, Amsterdam and Utrecht. The landscapes that can be admired in this area are truly unique and completely unlike anything you can see in the rest of Europe! If you are a sports lover, this is definitely the right destination for you, giving opportunities to cycle, hike and also experiment with new water sports.
What to do in the Netherlands?
There are so many things to do and see in the Netherlands that you definitely won’t be bored. Aside from exploring a canal system to rival that of Venice, you can also head over to Zaanse Schans if you want a real window into the past. This area is about 15 km (9.3 miles) north of Amsterdam and is one of the best places to see old style Dutch windmills along with the windmills of Kinderdijk.
If you like to learn more about the culture of the country you’re visiting, you can also visit one of the many museums that the Netherlands has to offer. Rijkmuseum is a fantastic collection of art and antiques and also has a library with around 35000 books. Other great museums for viewing artwork include the Van Gogh museum, which has the largest collection of this famous artist’s work in the world, and Mauritshuis. The latter, having only 800 works of art is relatively small but does have some pieces of great historical significance, such as the Girl with a pearl earring by Johannes Vermeer.
If you want to stick with the nautical theme, you visit the Houseboat museum. This one shows how people have lived on houseboats over the years and is a great opportunity to see how much houseboat life has changed. Our favourite museum though, and one the most famous attractions in Amsterdam, is the Anne Frank museum. This is the former home of Anne Frank and although it has been restored since she lived there, the attic in which she hid with her family has been left more or less the same as when it was her residence.
If you want to visit places that give you a chance to be close to nature, you should go to either Keukenhof or Hoge Veluwe. Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe, has colourful flowers that stretch as far as the eye can see, and is also a great place to see tulips, the signature flower of the Netherlands. Hoge Veluwe, on the other hand, stretches across 800 acres of woodland, and has a sculpture park, many species of deer, and is also an excellent spot for bird watching.
Marken is another beautiful place to visit and is very conveniently located close to Ijsselmeer Lake. It’s worth visiting here in the summer, when lots of festivals take place and the residents dress up in traditional clothes and demonstrate lots of traditional craft activities, such as clog making.
If you like visiting old buildings, you should visit Grote Kerk, a large Gothic church located in the Hague. This church is particularly significant as many members of the Dutch royal family have been baptised here. Another great place for visiting old buildings is Valkenburg, a town situated in the Geul Valley. This town is home to the only hilltop castle in the Netherlands and is also a great place to explore some caves. In fact, during the months of November and December, there is even a Christmas market in the aptly named Velvet Caves.
If you’re a bit of a thrillseeker, you should visit Effeling, the biggest amusement park in the Netherlands, and one of the oldest theme parks in the world, having been opened in 1952. The theme park is divided into different realms, each of which focuses on a different ancient myth or legend and is definitely an interesting visit if you have the time.
What to do if you want to see lots of different attractions in the Netherlands but are only staying for a short amount of time? You should visit Madurodam, a scale model version of the Netherlands.
How to get to the Netherlands?
There are many ways to get to the Netherlands, but the
quickest and easiest way is to fly. There are
many direct flights, especially to
Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport from countries such as
Ireland,
the USA,
Norway,
Canada, and multiple airports across
the UK, including several
London ones. However, you can also
arrive by train, long distance bus, car and ferry. The possibilities are endless.
