The Houseboat Museum (Woonbootmuseum) is set aboard the Hendrika Maria, a former cargo ship built in 1914 and moored at Prinsengracht 296 K, opposite the Elandsgracht, in the Jordaan. Converted into a home in 1967, its cargo hold is now a cosy living room, and the boat shows from the inside what living on the water in Amsterdam is like. A visit takes 25 to 35 minutes, with a free audio guide in 18 languages; an adult ticket costs €9.50. It is a short visit that is easy to combine with the Anne Frank House and the Westerkerk, about 5 minutes away on foot, or with a walk along the Amsterdam canals.
Highlights
The Hendrika Maria on the Prinsengracht
A long black boat with a deck covered in plants, the houseboat is moored at the quay opposite the Elandsgracht, among other houseboats. Its green roof is topped by a flower-decked bicycle, the Dutch emblem par excellence.
The living room in the former hold
Where cargo was once loaded, a living room with bookshelves, armchairs, a radio set and a fireplace shows the conversion carried out in 1967. The boat is heated and air-conditioned, there is plenty of headroom, and photography is allowed on board.
The bunks
Beds built in behind wooden doors recall life on board when the boat was still sailing. The museum keeps the original bedrooms from 1914, very cramped, which contrast with the comfort of the home fitted out later.
The audio guide and video screens
The audio guide, available in 18 languages, tells the story of Amsterdam's cargo ships and their conversion into homes. Interactive video walls and a film shot at a shipyard explain the maintenance a houseboat requires.
The terrace and the shop
A small outdoor terrace looks out over the Prinsengracht. The shop sells maritime souvenirs and books about historic and modern canal boats; coffee, tea and soft drinks are served on board.
Opening hours and tickets
Open every day from 10am to 5pm, and until 8pm from 1 July to 30 September. Closed on 1 January, 27 April (King's Day), the first Saturday of August (the Pride Canal Parade) and 25 December. Adults €9.50; €8 for morning entry between 10am and 12 noon with a ticket bought online; ages 5-12 €5; free for under-5s and with the I amsterdam City Card. With the Museumkaart, admission costs €8.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Buy your ticket online for entry between 10am and 12 noon: it costs €8 instead of €9.50, for the same visit (prices checked in October 2026). Tickets bought online are non-refundable. The boat is small: come at opening time to see it in peace. To see more historic interiors, our guide to canal houses to visit complements the visit, and our Jordaan guide introduces the neighbourhood.
How to get there
Prinsengracht 296 K, 1016 HW Amsterdam, on the quay opposite the Elandsgracht, in the Jordaan, about 5 minutes on foot from Westermarkt (Anne Frank House) and close to the Nine Streets. About a 25-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal station. During the Rozengracht works, no tram serves the Westermarkt and Elandsgracht stops: get off at the Dam tram stop, about 15 minutes away on foot.
Opening hours
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