Big Group Tour · One boat, your whole group, Leiden’s historic canals — up to 36 passengers, all year round
A private boat departs from the city centre and takes your whole group through Leiden’s historic inner-city canals — one boat, no strangers, room to actually be together rather than split across a shared sightseeing cruise. It’s built for groups who want the whole party on the water at once: birthdays, works outings, reunions, bachelor/bachelorette parties. A drinks and snacks package can be added when you book.
A private boat: No sharing with strangers, just your own group up to 36 people and the captain.
No stress: A relaxed, easy 90 minutes through Leiden’s historic waterway with a tour tailored around your group.
A local captain-guide: Able to share stories and knowledge only a local can.
Drinks and snacks: Available as an easy add-on.
Evening departures available: For a magical, lit-up atmosphere on the water.
Flexible & personal: celebrating something special? Let us know and we’ll help make it memorable.
Make the most of Leiden’s quieter streets with this seasonal private cruise, available October through February. Snuggle under a heated blanket with a hot chocolate or glühwein as your captain guides you past the city’s best-loved sights. Prefer quiet? Your captain is happy to stay in the background and let you enjoy the ride in peace.
The Big Group Tour isn’t the only way to see Leiden from the water. View all our canal cruise options, including the Cosy Tour, Autumn and Winter Tour, Dutch Windmill Tour and Deep Dive Discover Tour, or explore our land-based Culinary, Cultural and Active tours if you’d rather stay on your feet.
The boarding location for the Big GroupTour is on Aalmarkt, or de Apothekersdijk in Leiden, both about a 7-minute walk from Leiden Central Station.
The Big Group Tour lasts 90 minutes. If you’d like something shorter or longer, send us a message, and we’ll see how we can accommodate you.
Leiden’s historic inner city: its canals, bridges and merchant houses, with the captain pointing out highlights along the way.
Our Big Group Tour is available in English and Dutch.
Plans can change and unforeseen things can happen; we understand! You can cancel or reschedule the Big Group Tour free of charge up to 72 hours before departure. If you book multiple big boats with us, we offer free cancellation up to 1 month before the departure date.
In daylight and evening — you choose a start time when booking. Evening tours offer a particularly atmospheric view of the lit-up canals.
Big Group Tours run in most weather, with umbrellas and blankets on board. We’ll contact you to reschedule if conditions become unsafe. We have options for closed boats but they depend on group size and availability. If you want to specifically book a closed boat, please contact us. In general we recommend to dress for the weather.
Guests need to step from the shore onto the boat. Unfortunately, we currently don't have wheelchair access available on all off our boats. If limited mobility might be an issue, please contact us so we can discuss the situation and look for solutions together.
Exploring Leiden on foot is a delight, but the city reveals a different character from the water. On a boat tour, you’ll drift along historic canals, pass beneath centuries-old bridges and admire the city’s distinctive architecture from an angle few visitors get to see. Along the way, you’ll hear about Leiden’s rich past and the stories behind its landmarks.Looking to pair sightseeing with a chance to unwind? A canal cruise offers the perfect balance of both. Discover our boat tour options here.
If you’d rather explore on land instead, our sister site Discover Leiden runs Culinary and Cultural tours year-round.
We advise you to be at the departure spot 10 minutes before departure so we can maximize your time on the water during the tour.
The Big Group Tour ranges from 14 to 36 passengers (€349 for the first 14, €12 per extra person). Want to take more people along? Send us a message, so we can discuss options.
The Big Group Tour runs all year from morning till well in the evening. You can book it through the booking button under the tour.
We are happy to create a custom, personal experience together with you. So please don't hesitate to convey your ideas and contact us.
There’s no shortage of things to do in Leiden, whether you’re browsing its museums, strolling through its historic streets or admiring its charming canals. But for an experience you won’t forget, head out onto the water. On a private canal cruise, you can settle in and watch the city’s historic scenery glide past, discovering a side of Leiden that stays hidden from those on land. You can check out boat tour options here
A Big Group Tour can be ordered through our website by clicking on the booking button under the tour. The button will open up a calendar where you can select your preferred date and time, select how many guests will be joining the tour, and select any other tour-specific options. You can find the Big Group Tour and the booking button underneath here.
Drinks and snacks on board can be ordered as an add-on, on the Big Group tour, so generally there’s no need, but you are welcome to bring your own. In case of special dietary requirements, please contact us by phone or through our contact form.
On our Big Group Tour, your captain doubles as your guide. With an in-depth knowledge of Leiden, they’ll share the city’s sights, history and plenty of fun facts as you cruise along. Have a question? Just ask, because your captain is happy to help.
Highly recommend this company for a Leiden canal tour! We requested a custom tour for a group of nine with a focus on windmills. Jonathan delivered a perfect three-hour itinerary starting in the city center that took us out to see nine windmills. Our skipper was very hospitable and highly knowledgeable about the local area, and the team even provided packets with details about each windmill. We were looking forward to the included pizza, beer, and wine and were delighted to see that Jonathan included juices and soft drinks for those in our party who don’t drink alcohol and also surprised us with extra snacks and desserts.
It was such a relaxing ride, truly fabulous! The ride was lovely and Martijn was so knowledgeable and kind! I would recommend this service 100 times over! I will definitely be contacting them again!
Do you want to receive further information about the tours we provide or do you want to receive a tailor-made quote? Send us a message below and we'll get back to you!
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