See Van Gogh First, Then the Canals: See Amsterdam Twice in One Day

Tour Highlights

Take a canal cruise and experience the most beautiful side of this historic city

Hop on a 75‑minute canal cruise and soak in Amsterdam's canals, bridges and merchant houses

Book a combination ticket for the canal cruise and Van Gogh Museum to save time and money

Admire the timeless masterpieces of world‑class artist Van Gogh

Some say that to truly understand a city, you must first see its two sides — one side is what it houses, and the other is what flows through it. Amsterdam entrusted the former to the Van Gogh Museum, and the latter to its canals. This combination ticket stitches them together: in the morning, you lock eyes with a genius on canvas; in the afternoon, you meet a city on the water. Skip the queues, skip the hassle of price‑matching — and leave yourself a complete Amsterdam.

Itinerary Schedule

The whole experience takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours. The meeting point is at the Van Gogh Museum (make your own way to the designated meeting point to join the guide). The ticket is valid on the day of use, and you can freely arrange the order of the museum visit and the canal cruise at your own pace.

Using the “museum first, cruise later” approach as an example: arrive at the Van Gogh Museum in the morning, present your e‑voucher for entry, and freely explore all permanent and temporary exhibitions. We recommend allowing 3 to 4 hours to savour the artworks and use the audio guide. After your visit, head to the Amsterdam canal jetty on the same day to redeem your boat ticket and board for a 75‑minute canal cruise. Along the way, you can enjoy a personal audio guide available in 20 languages (earphones included), while children can enjoy the exclusive “Freshwater Pirate” guide. The tour concludes once the cruise ends. If you opt for the snack box package, you can enjoy Dutch treats on board while taking in the views.

Actual departure and boarding times are subject to the boat schedule on the day of redemption. We recommend arriving at the meeting point early.

Tour Description

“Van Gogh on Canvas: The Trail of a Burning Genius”

Step into the Van Gogh Museum, and you are not just facing a name — you are facing a man who poured his entire life into paint. From the early, sombre sketches of miners to the blazing yellows of Sunflowers, and the swirling blues beneath the starry sky — Sunflowers, Wheatfield with Crows, and a series of self‑portraits string together into a trajectory of life across the galleries, showing you how he moved from awkwardness to brilliance. The museum offers access to all permanent and temporary exhibitions, and we strongly recommend renting the audio guide — with its music and commentary, it will slowly tell you the stories behind every brushstroke. Set aside three or four hours — don't rush; a genius deserves your time.

“Amsterdam on the Water: A Gallery in Motion”

Step out of the museum, change your perspective, and rediscover the city. Board the 75‑minute canal cruise, and Amsterdam transforms from a single painting into an entire unfolding landscape — 17th‑century canal houses, arched stone bridges and old merchant mansions glide past one after another, while modern architecture and historic buildings interweave around every corner. The city's past and present unfold together on the shimmering water. The boat is equipped with personal audio guides in 20 languages (earphones included), with Chinese among them — pick whichever you like. Children also have their own special surprise — they can transform into “Freshwater Pirates,” listen to their own stories and receive their own gifts, so the whole family enjoys the ride. The cruise boat has a roof, ensuring a comfortable sightseeing experience even on cooler days.

“The Meaning of One Ticket: Giving Time Back to the Scenery”

The smartest thing about this package is not just how much money it saves, but how much hesitation it removes — no need to grab tickets for two popular attractions separately, no need to wait idly in the long queues outside the museum, and no need to research which jetty the cruise departs from. The ticket is valid on the day of use — after visiting the museum, you can redeem the cruise at your own pace. For extra comfort, add the snack box package and savour Dutch treats while taking in the canal views — one bite at a time, ingraining the scenery into your heart.

Some collect Van Gogh in frames, others collect canals through their lenses. But with this one ticket, you can take both home — on the canvas, the burning soul of a genius; on the water, a thousand years of this city's breathing. Only after seeing both sides can you truly say you have seen Amsterdam.