Wheelchair Boat: Enjoy a private wheelchair-friendly canal cruise in Amsterdam
This post has been written in collaboration with Wheelchair Boat.
Canal cruises are an unforgettable way to experience Amsterdam’s architectural charm and gezelligheid. Since 2025, Wheelchair Boat has been offering private, wheelchair-accessible canal cruises, creating a unique opportunity to enjoy Amsterdam’s waterways with family or friends. Read on to learn more about Wheelchair Boat’s cruises and the meaningful story that led to this inclusive company.
An introduction to Wheelchair Boat
.Bas Peek, the owner of Wheelchair Boat
I first discovered Wheelchair Boat through a short, upbeat Facebook video featuring boat owner Bas Peek. Excited by the idea of a private wheelchair-friendly canal cruise, I reached out to Bas right away. To my delight, he invited me to experience the wheelchair-friendly boat for myself and share my impressions through Able Amsterdam. Just a few days later, I was on board, snacks in tow, cruising through Amsterdam’s beautiful canals with a group of friends.
Wheelchair Boat is led by longtime friends Bas and Roan, whose friendship began years ago on the island of Bonaire. There, they discovered a shared passion for water sports — from sailing to kite surfing and everything in between.
After a kitesurfing accident led Bas to become a wheelchair user, he has since combined his personal accessibility experience and love for the water to design a wheelchair-friendly boat in Amsterdam — one that opens up Amsterdam’s iconic canals to everyone, regardless of mobility. What makes Wheelchair Boat truly unique is the fact that its tours are private, creating a personalised accessible cruise experience you simply won’t find anywhere else in Amsterdam.
Wheelchair-Boat’s canal cruises are a wonderful way to enjoy Amsterdam’s architecture and waterways
Each individual cruise booked can accommodate up to 12 guests (14 people in total including the crew). You can choose from a variety of tour options:
The 3 Hour Highlight Tour: Cruise through Amsterdam’s canals while taking in historic architecture and some of the city’s most iconic landmarks;
The Sail & BBQ Tour: Enjoy a relaxing cruise as a cosy onboard BBQ grill is fired up (you can choose to bring your own food, or book catering with your tour);
A Custom Tour: This option allows for a tailor-made experience according to your needs.
The boat’s accessibility features
The boat has a number of accessibility features, allowing wheelchair users to enter, exit, and move around freely. Accessibility features include:
A ramp that takes wheelchair users from the jetty to boat’s entrance;
A platform lift that takes wheelchair users down into the boat;
Considerable step-free space throughout the boat to manoeuvre.
When booking a cruise with Wheelchair Boat, please keep the following in mind:
The platform lift can take a maximum combined weight of 300 kg (661 lbs);
Wheelchair dimensions can be maximum 1.30 m (4.2 ft) long and 1 m (3.2 ft) wide;
The boat is suitable to a maximum of 8 wheelchair users at one time.
Bas (left) using the wheelchair ramp that leads into the boat, with Roan (right) operating the lift
The height adjustable platform lift that connects to the wheelchair ramp
Overall impressions of the Wheelchair Boat cruise
Although I no longer use a wheelchair myself, I could see that Bas (supported by Roan) boarded and exited the boat in his wheelchair with ease. The boat has clearly been designed to allow wheelchair users to feel comfortable and confident onboard.
I found the boat spacious enough to move around freely, yet compact enough to maintain a cosy, intimate feel. Bas and Roan were not only helpful and professional, but also warm and friendly, making for genuinely great company throughout the cruise. With all of this in mind, I’d certainly recommend Wheelchair Boat to anyone looking for a relaxed, comfortable, and accessible canal cruise.
Fancy a private canal cruise on your next trip to Amsterdam?
If you’d like to make a booking, head over to the Wheelchair Boat booking page, and select the tour of your choice. You can also easily contact Bas via Whatsapp: +31 6 2932 3242.
Josephine (right) enjoying a canal cruise with a friend
Drinks, snacks, and great company on the wheelchair accessible boat
Beautiful blue skies during a canal cruise in June 2025
For more information, visit the Wheelchair Boat website or follow Wheelchair Boat on instagram @wheelchair_boat_nederland.
