Romantic Private Tour in Amsterdam: Proposals, Honeymoons and Celebrations

Amsterdam is a good city for a proposal or a honeymoon because so much of it is small and quiet: a bridge over a side canal with nobody on it, a hidden courtyard behind a wooden door, a boat with just the two of you on board. The hard part is finding those places at the right moment. That is what we do.

Together with our partners we plan the whole day, so all you have to do is turn up. Whether it is a proposal, a honeymoon, a pre-wedding shoot or an anniversary, the day is private and built around what you both enjoy.

No two couples want the same day. Some want museums and long lunches, some want to walk for hours, some want to see as much as possible. We start with what you like and then add the moments that make the day yours.

A few ideas that couples often choose:

• A sunrise canal cruise. The city is still quiet and the water is flat, which is why it is our favourite time for a proposal. Breakfast and coffee on board can be arranged.
• An evening on the water. A private boat at sunset, with drinks and Dutch snacks from the bar on board, as the lights come on along the bridges.
• A walk through the old city. Your guide takes you away from the crowds, through the Jordaan and the quieter canals, to the spots that locals know.
• A picnic in a park. Cycle to one of the city’s parks and find a picnic ready for you.
• Flower fields and windmills. In spring, drive out by private car to the tulip fields or the windmills of Zaanse Schans for photos you will keep for ever.
• Photos of the day. Our private photo tour can turn the day into a set of pictures of the two of you.

A proposal on a private canal boat

Ask couples where they would like to propose in Amsterdam and most of them say on the water. A private canal cruise gives you a boat and a captain to yourselves, so there is nobody else on board and the moment is entirely yours.

We work with two boutique boat companies and choose the boat and the route to suit the moment. A sunrise cruise is the quietest time of day, with flat water and the canals almost empty. A sunset cruise is the most popular, with the light turning gold on the canal houses and the bridges lighting up as it gets dark. We can arrange champagne, rose petals and a photographer on board, and agree with the captain exactly where and when you want to ask, so you are in a quiet spot at the right moment.

Many couples combine the boat with a walk. You meet your guide, explore the old city together and step on board at the end of the afternoon, so the proposal comes as a complete surprise.

Other romantic places to propose in Amsterdam

Not every proposal needs a boat. These are some of the quieter places we like to use:

• The seven bridges of the Reguliersgracht. From the corner with the Herengracht you look down a line of seven arched bridges, beautifully lit after dark.
• A hidden courtyard. Amsterdam’s hofjes are small almshouse gardens tucked behind wooden doors. Many are still lived in, so they are calm, green and quiet.
• The side canals of the Jordaan. Narrow canals such as the Bloemgracht and the Egelantiersgracht, with houseboats and little bridges, well away from the busy streets.
• A park at golden hour. A picnic in the Vondelpark or along the Amstel, with your guide out of sight until you need them.
• The tulip fields in spring. From late March to early May the bulb fields between Haarlem and Leiden are in flower, a short private drive from the city.

Sample days

Every day is planned with you, but these give you an idea of what is possible.

The sunrise proposal (about 4 hours). A private boat at sunrise, with coffee and breakfast on board and the question asked on a quiet canal. Afterwards a slow walk through the waking Jordaan with your guide, and a celebration brunch.

The honeymoon day (6 to 8 hours). A morning with a private guide at the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum, lunch in a canal-side café, an afternoon wandering the quieter canals and courtyards, and a private boat at sunset.

The spring anniversary (a full day). A private car to the tulip fields or the windmills of Zaanse Schans in the morning, back in the city for an early dinner, and an evening cruise as the lights come on.

How we plan your day

You tell us the occasion, your dates and what you both enjoy. We send you a suggested plan, adjust it with you, and then book everything: the boat, your guide, museum tickets, transport, the photographer and, if you like, a table for dinner. For a proposal we agree the moment in advance, so your guide or captain knows exactly when to step back. On the day, all you have to do is turn up.

If the weather turns, we simply adapt the plan with you, and there is always an indoor alternative ready.

We take care of all the arrangements, from the boat to the tickets, so you can concentrate on each other. Tell us about your plans and we will put the day together with you. Free cancellation up to 7 days before the tour, minus any non-refundable tickets, in writing, under our terms and conditions.

Find out more about how we plan your private tour.