Magere Brug and Amstel Hotel
The best-known stretch of river in Amsterdam. Often the moment for the first photographs and the opening toast on deck.
Sailing area
Getting married on the Amstel
The Amstel is the river Amsterdam grew from: wide, calm and with a view that slowly shifts from city facades to open meadows. It is the sailing area for couples who want to see the city and feel the space, with the Magere Brug and the Amstel Hotel as familiar landmarks.
- The Amstel runs from the old centre past Ouderkerk aan de Amstel into the countryside.
- On the Amstel we sail saloon boats for 2 to 60 guests.
- Wide, calm water: suitable for a ceremony on deck while the ship lies still.
- The route connects the canal ring with the green area south of the city.
The route
From the Magere Brug to the meadows
A day on the Amstel usually starts in the city and moves outward. The further the ship sails, the stiller the water and the more open the landscape.
The Amstel bend
Broad water with houseboats, rowers and the Berlagebrug. Calm enough to hold the ceremony here.
Amstelpark and Ouderkerk
Green banks, country estates and windmills. Here the day leaves the city and it falls quiet on board.
Back at sunset
The return leg with the city in golden hour light, exactly when dessert reaches the table.
Ceremony
Vows on the aft deck, the river as your aisle
The Amstel is wide enough to hold the ship still mid-river. That makes a ceremony on the aft deck possible, without onlookers on the quay and without through traffic passing close by.
After the signing the ship continues upriver. Dinner in the saloon and dancing on deck follow while sailing, with a return to the city at the end of the evening.
- Ceremony on the aft deck or in the saloon
- Lying still mid-river is possible
- Route to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel or back into the city
- Combines with a ceremony ashore
Practical
The Amstel in brief
| Subject | On the Amstel |
|---|---|
| Guests | 2 to 60 aboard a saloon boat |
| Ships | Historic saloon boats, luxury sloops |
| Character | Wide, calm river water with city and countryside views |
| Duration | Four to eight hours, depending on how far south you sail |
| Combination | Often combined with the canal ring in a single route |
If you want to marry under sail, the Amstel has too many low bridges; choose the IJmeer or the Markermeer instead.
Frequently asked
Marrying on the Amstel
Can the ceremony take place while the ship lies still?
Yes. The river is wide enough to hold the ship still during the ceremony, so there is no engine noise or movement during the vows.
How long is the cruise to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel?
Roughly an hour and a half from the old centre, depending on bridge openings and the ship. There and back fits comfortably within an eight-hour wedding day.
Can the Amstel be combined with the canals?
Nearly every route includes both: the Amstel links the canal ring to the countryside, so one day can hold city and landscape alike.
What does a wedding on the Amstel cost?
A complete wedding arrangement is € 10,000, including ship, crew, ceremony, dinner, open bar and wedding planner. The breakdown is on the cost page.
Read on
More along the Amstel
- See a wedding in the Amsterdam canals
The sheltered sailing area in the heart of the city.
- Read how a wedding on a boat in Amsterdam works
From the legal ceremony to boarding and timings.
- View the catering and menus on board
Dinner, buffet and walking dinner from our own galley.
- Compare the ships by capacity and type
Which ship suits your guest count and route.