Amsterdam Pancake Cruise

4.4 (1,702 reviews) from travellers who booked this experience

Duration75 minutes
Daily
Group

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Overview

This family-friendly Amsterdam pancake cruise combines 75 minutes of sightseeing on the IJ river with a relaxed pancake meal on board. As the boat sails along Amsterdam's working waterfront, past Central Station, the EYE Film Museum, the A'DAM Tower and the creative NDSM wharf, you help yourself to as many traditional Dutch pancakes as you like, with sweet and savoury toppings. Gluten-free and vegan choices are available. Drinks are bought on board. It is a great choice for families with children and for a relaxed lunchtime outing.

Highlights

75-minute cruise on the IJ river, Amsterdam's harbour waterway
All-you-can-eat traditional Dutch pancakes included
Toppings such as cheese, ham, fruit, jam and eggs
Gluten-free and vegan options available
Views of the EYE Film Museum, A'DAM Tower and NDSM wharf
Wheelchair-accessible boat with a friendly host on board

Full Description

The IJ River, Amsterdam's Harbour

While the famous canals wind through the old centre, the IJ is the wide body of water on Amsterdam's northern side, the harbour that made the city rich in the Golden Age. Ships from the Dutch East India Company once anchored here, and today ferries, barges and river cruise ships keep it busy all day.

Cruising the IJ gives you a very different view of Amsterdam: open skies, big water and a skyline that mixes historic docks with bold new buildings. Because the river is wide, the boat moves smoothly and quietly, which makes this one of the most comfortable boat trips in Amsterdam for families with young children or anyone new to cruising.

Amsterdam Noord: EYE Film Museum, A'DAM Tower and NDSM

On the north bank you pass the EYE Film Museum, a white, sharply angled building that holds the Dutch national film collection, and the A'DAM Tower next to it, whose rooftop lookout offers one of the best views over the city and even has a swing hanging over the edge.

Further west lies the NDSM wharf, once one of the largest shipyards in the country and now a creative district full of street art, studios and weekend markets. If you wonder what to do in Amsterdam Noord, this cruise gives you a first look before you visit on foot; the free public ferries behind Central Station reach both areas in a few minutes.

Dutch Pancakes on Board

Dutch pancakes, or pannenkoeken, are larger and thinner than American pancakes and are eaten at any time of day, with sweet or savoury toppings. On this cruise the pancakes are prepared on board and served as an all-you-can-eat buffet, so you can try classic combinations such as cheese and ham, apple, or syrup and powdered sugar.

Toppings include cheese, ham, fruit, jams and eggs, and gluten-free and vegan pancakes are available for those who need them. Drinks are not included and can be bought from the host. With the view outside and warm pancakes on your plate, the 75 minutes pass quickly, which is why this is one of the most popular family activities in Amsterdam.

Itinerary

BoardingArrive at the boarding pier on the IJ shown on your voucher about 15 minutes before departure.
Cruise on the IJSail along the harbour past Central Station and the Amsterdam waterfront.
Pancake buffetHelp yourself to unlimited pancakes and toppings while the boat cruises.
Amsterdam Noord viewsPass the EYE Film Museum, the A'DAM Tower and the NDSM wharf.
ReturnArrive back at the same pier after about 75 minutes.

What's included

75-minute cruise on the IJ river
All-you-can-eat traditional Dutch pancakes
Toppings such as cheese, ham, fruit, jams and eggs
Gluten-free and vegan options

Not included

Drinks
Local entertainment tax (paid on board)

Is this right for you?

Great for

Families with children — a child price for ages 0–11
Anyone who wants to see it from the water
A short visit — about 1.5 hours

Think twice if

You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
You get seasick easily

Not suitable for

Travellers looking for a cruise through the narrow canal ring (this route is on the IJ river)

Meeting point

The cruise departs from a pier on the IJ river; the exact boarding point is shown on your voucher. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure. There is no hotel pickup. The free public ferries behind Amsterdam Central Station cross to the north bank in minutes if your pier is on that side.

Important information

Arrive 15 minutes before departure
Drinks are not included and can be bought on board
A small local entertainment tax is paid on board per person
Gluten-free and vegan pancakes are available; mention special diets when you board
The boat is wheelchair-accessible
The cruise sails on the IJ river, not through the inner canals

Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.

How much does the Amsterdam pancake cruise cost?

The price depends on the date and the traveller type. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for adults and children; a small local tax is paid on board.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You meet the boat at the pier shown on your voucher.

How long is the pancake cruise?

About 75 minutes.

Are the pancakes really unlimited?

Yes. The pancake buffet is all-you-can-eat for the whole cruise, with sweet and savoury toppings.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks can be bought on board.

Is the pancake cruise suitable for children?

Yes, it is one of the most child-friendly activities in Amsterdam. The river is calm and children love choosing their own toppings.

Are there gluten-free or vegan pancakes?

Yes, gluten-free and vegan options are available.