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Amsterdam Canal Cruises

Experience Amsterdam’s heritage: The ultimate Singel Canal cruise guide

Amsterdam city skyline with colorful dancing houses along Singel canal, Netherlands.

Singel Canal: The historic medieval moat of Amsterdam

The Singel is one of the city’s oldest and most historically significant waterways, having originally served as the defensive moat that encircled Amsterdam in the Middle Ages. Today, a Singel canal cruise offers an intimate glimpse into the city's evolution, transitioning from a protective barrier into the innermost ring of the iconic UNESCO World Heritage canal district.

Where is it located?

The Singel is situated in the heart of the historic centre, stretching from the IJ bay near Amsterdam Central Station all the way to Muntplein, where it meets the Amstel river.

How to access?

Access to the Singel canal is a standard feature of most Amsterdam canal boat tours, typically included in city centre loops.

Things to know before booking the Singel canal tickets

  • While a Singel cruise is included in the majority of standard sightseeing packages, it is important to check your specific itinerary if you are departing from further outlying districts. Because the Singel is centrally located, nearly all classic 60-minute or 75-minute loops will pass through at least a portion of this waterway.
  • If you are looking for a more specialised Singel canal cruise, prices may vary based on the boat type; open-air sloops often cost slightly more than large glass-topped canal boats but offer unobstructed views of the Singel canal architecture. 
  • Please note that while the Singel canal is accessible to most, the historic Torensluis bridge and certain narrow quay sections may have steep stairs for those exploring the banks on foot after their cruise. 
  • Most Singel boat tours run daily from 10am to 9pm, though evening cruises are particularly popular for seeing the illuminated bridges of the Singel.

Singel canal in a nutshell

Singel Canal in Amsterdam with Bartolotti House and tree-lined banks.

A Singel canal cruise takes you through the very first ring of Amsterdam's expansion, showcasing the city's transition from a medieval stronghold to a global trading hub.

  • Must-see highlights: Look out for the Bloemenmarkt, the world's only floating flower market, and the Munttoren tower, which marks the end of the Singel.
  • Unique facts: The Singel is home to the world's narrowest house at number 7, and it also features the Torensluis, which is the oldest and widest bridge in Amsterdam.

Your Singel canal cruise ticket types

Ticket typeIs Singel access included?Why go for it?Starting price
Classic city cruise

Yes

Budget travel

From €10.88

Open boat cruise

Yes

Best for photos

From €17

Evening cruise

Yes

Romantic experience

From €19.50

Wine & cheese cruise

Yes

Guided experience

From €31.45

Dinner cruise

Yes

Fine dining

From €20.16

What to see along the Singel canal

Narrow canal-side houses in Amsterdam with bicycles and trees.
Amsterdam floating flower market with colorful blooms and historic canal houses.
Bicycles lined up on the Torensluis bridge over a canal in Amsterdam.
Ronde Lutherse Kerk dome and canal view in Amsterdam.
cat boat in Amsterdam
People walking and sitting at The Spui in Amsterdam, surrounded by historic buildings and cafes.
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Marvel at the narrowest house

As you sail past Singel 7, your guide will point out a facade that is barely a meter wide, a quirk resulting from historic taxes based on house width.

Pass by the floating flower market

A Singel cruise provides the best vantage point to see the underpinnings of the Bloemenmarkt, where stalls have rested on floating barges since 1860.

Pass under the Torensluis

This exceptionally wide bridge once housed a prison in its foundations; you can still see the barred windows at water level from your Singel canal cruise.

Admire the Koepelkerk

The copper-domed Round Lutheran Church is a landmark silhouette on the Singel that dates back to the 17th century.

Spot the cat boat

Keep an eye out for De Poezenboot between numbers 38 and 40, a unique floating sanctuary for stray cats on the Singel.

The Spui

Just steps from the Singel, this square buzzes with cafés, booksellers, and art stalls. You’ll glimpse lively street life spilling out toward the canal, hinting at Amsterdam’s creative and literary soul.

Architectural highlights of the Singel

Houses along the Singel Canal in Amsterdam with trees and boats.

The architecture along the Singel represents a timeline of Dutch design, featuring some of the oldest stepped gables in the city. Because the Singel was the original border, many buildings here date back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Notable styles include the Dutch Renaissance, visible at Singel 423, and the various neck and bell gables that define the Singel canal skyline. The Munttoren, or Mint Tower, stands as a remnant of the medieval city walls, showcasing a blend of 15th-century stone and a 17th-century clock tower designed by Hendrick de Keyser.

Historical and cultural significance of the Singel

The Singel canal is the historical anchor of Amsterdam’s water network. Originally dug in 1428, the Singel served as the city's western moat for over 150 years. Its cultural significance lies in its transition from a military defence line to a prestigious residential and commercial quay.

Today, the Singel remains a vital artery that connects the medieval core with the later 17th-century expansions, embodying the city’s spirit of water management and urban planning that earned it a UNESCO designation.

​History of the Amsterdam canals

Notable figures of the Singel

Frans Banning Cocq

The central figure in Rembrandt’s The Night Watch lived in the monumental house "De Dolphijn" at Singel 140.

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Multatuli

A famous Dutch writer whose bust now sits on the Torensluis bridge overlooking the Singel.

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Hendrick de Keyser

The renowned architect responsible for the iconic spire of the Munttoren at the end of the Singel.

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Know before you go

  • Most Singel canal cruise operators function from 10am to 9pm, with departures every 20-30 minutes. 
  • Evening cruises typically begin after 6pm to take advantage of the illuminated bridges along the Singel.
  • Boarding points are scattered, but the most convenient docks for the Singel are near Centraal Station or the Anne Frank House. 
  • Ensure you arrive at your specific dock 15 minutes before the departure of your Singel cruise.
  • The golden hour is the best time for a Singel canal cruise if you want to capture the brick facades in warm light. 
  • For the best view of the Bloemenmarkt, try to sit on the right-hand side of the boat when heading westward.
  • Sit on the right side when heading westward (toward the Jordaan) for the best views of the Bloemenmarkt, Munttoren, and floating market stalls. These highlights are all on the southern bank, so you’ll get clearer, uninterrupted views from the right-hand side of the boat.
  • Torensluis Bridge offers one of the best elevated photo spots of the Singel with wide views in both directions and plenty of space to frame passing boats. It’s also less crowded than some of the city’s more famous photo points, especially in the morning.
  • Bring binoculars or use your phone's zoom to catch quirky details like carved gables, hidden garden courtyards, and unusual rooflines on older houses along the Singel. The architecture here rewards slow, detailed viewing from the water.
  • Spot De Poezenboot (Catboat) between numbers 38 and 40 on the west side of the Singel—it’s easily missed unless you’re actively looking for cats lounging in the windows. It’s best seen from a boat’s left side heading north.
  • For fewer crowds and softer lighting, take a morning cruise between 9am and 11am. Shadows fall nicely on the façades, especially near the domed Koepelkerk, making for better photos and a calmer vibe.
  • Combine your cruise with a short walk afterwards from Spui to Begijnhof, which is often closed for maintenance in the afternoon. Mornings give you a better chance to explore.

Frequently asked questions about Singel canal tickets

Yes, the Singel is one of the most historic waterways and is essential for understanding the city's medieval origins.

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