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Red Light District route

For most of us and every visitor, this is the most famous part of Amsterdam: the Red Light District. Discover Amsterdam’s Red Light District from the water with the Red Light District route. The streets are always busy with many tourists, but from a boat on the water you have plenty of space to view this old part of the city. In the Red Light District you can see prostitutes behind the windows 24 hours a day. The exciting and lively atmosphere in this Amsterdam district in combination with the rich history of this part of the city makes it definitely worth a visit. Along the way you will sail past the impressive Old Church (Oude Kerk in Dutch), a museum with contemporary art and you will come across various heritage buildings. Please note: sail clockwise on the Red Light District route. It is one-way traffic on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal.

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Are you excited about this route? Click on the button below to reserve your boat. We recommend that you reserve a boat at the Amstel or Weesper boarding location. These locations are nearby, so you can start this beautiful route almost immediately.

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Download our sailing map

The Red Light District is marked in orange on our sailing map. Anyone who rents a boat from Mokumboot will also receive this sailing map prior to his or her trip. Would you like more information about this route? Then read on below. We would like to give you a short impression of this beautiful route:

the Old Church

The route starts at the De L’Europe Amsterdam hotel, a luxurious 5-star hotel from the 19th century overlooking the Amstel River. Turn left here and sail along the Rokin and the Grimburgwal, towards the Oudezijds Voorburgwal. On your left you will find the Old Church (Oude Kerk in Dutch) of Amsterdam. The Old Church is the oldest building in the city and was built in 1306! This church is also used for church services every Sunday, but also offers space for high-profile exhibitions, numerous activities, permanent archive presentations and wonderful concerts.

The Red Light District is located directly opposite the Old Church. The Red Light District is a prostitution area located in the oldest part of Amsterdam. Within this area, window prostitution is practiced at more than 300 workplaces, but numerous sex shops are also located.

The Schreierstoren

The Schreierstoren is located at the end of the Oudezijds Voorburgwal. The Schreierstoren is a defense tower that used to be part of the city wall of Amsterdam. The tower was built around 1487 on the corner of the IJ and the east side of the city, and is the only preserved defense tower in Amsterdam. The tower has now been converted into a café in a beautiful old style. Just after this tower you enter an open stretch of water, the Open Harbor Front.

The Oosterdok

Once you arrive at the Open Havenfront, turn right and sail towards the Oosterdok (Recht Boomsloot is closed at the time of writing, current information can be found on the municipality’s website) where you will find the NEMO science and technology museum. In the NEMO Science Museum, everyone, from young to old, discovers how fascinating science and technology are. On five floors full of exhibitions, experiments, demonstrations and workshops, visitors experience how special everyday things are. The building opened its doors to visitors in 1997 and is now an unmissable part of the Amsterdam skyline.

The Montelbaanstoren

From the Oosterdok you sail past the Montelbaanstoren. A 16th-century defense tower, once part of the city walls, with tower bells and a clock from 1606. Sail back towards the Amstel via the Oudeschans or Uilenburgergracht. The route ends here. Try a different route? View more routes below.

At the beginning of the 20th century, architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage designed a plan for the area south of the center of Amsterdam. Until then, this part of the city was still underdeveloped. Berlage used the Amsterdam School style for his design: stones with different colors, shapes and textures; rounded corners and undulating rooflines, and striking decorations on the exterior of the building. The Berlage route passes many of his buildings; rent a boat and see for yourself whether you can discover all the elements of Berlage’s style in Oud-Zuid.

Berlageroute Amsterdam

Amsterdam is known for its many canals. The waters of the canal belt that demarcate the city center are the best known: the Singel, the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht and the Prinsengracht. On the shore you will find the architecture of the Golden Age: narrow, high buildings with stepped gables and traditional ornaments. Discover this beautiful piece of Amsterdam history while sailing one of the many canal routes. Since 2010, the Amsterdam canal belt has been on the World Heritage List thanks to the unique and irreplaceable character of the canals. You can easily rent a boat at Mokumboot.

Canal route: 2 hours

Canal route 3 hours

The Plantage route takes you along the greenest areas of Amsterdam. During this ‘city safari’ you will see that the city is greener than you thought, with the highlight being the botanical garden – Hortus Botanicus – with more than 6,000 tropical trees and plants. You can even spot exotic animals from your boat, such as elephants and giraffes. The sailing route runs past Artis, so you can catch a glimpse of the oldest zoo in the Netherlands. You will also sail past the interactive NEMO museum and the Tropenmuseum, with exhibitions about the Dutch slavery past.

Plantage route

Red Light District route

Sail the Red Light District route yourself

Call Mokumboot directly for more information about renting a boat or book directly via our online reservation system. Mokumboot is open 7 days a week from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Book a boat Call 020 210 5700