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17th-Century Amsterdam canal Cruise with VR: historic gems and first reactions

Sail through the present and the 17th century in Amsterdam with VR Voyage and discover Amsterdam’s true history. Read the first reviews here!

BlogHistoria

Michiel Coebergh6 min de lectura

Still from VR Voyage: a ship under construction and a mud mill in the 17th-century harbour

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Amsterdam is an open-air museum. Anyone walking along the canals can feel the city’s history in the leaning facades and centuries-old bridges. But as impressive as the city is today, the story of the 17th century (the Dutch Golden Age) is often difficult to truly imagine. Where canal boats sail today, enormous trading ships once filled the waterways. Where cars now drive, world-famous painters and admirals once walked.

Bicycles on a bridge over a tree-lined Amsterdam canal
De Amsterdamse grachten (van Kireyonok Yuliya)

Imagine this: you’re calmly sailing through Amsterdam’s canals, the sun sparkling on the water… and suddenly you come face to face with the past. That’s exactly what you experience with VR Voyage. During our tour, you don’t just admire the monuments of today—you step straight into the 17th century with a VR headset. Buildings regain their former glory, historical figures come to life, and events unfold exactly where you are—right in the middle of the water. What exactly will you encounter? We’ll keep that a surprise for now. But expect a mix of iconic locations, remarkable stories, and moments from Amsterdam’s history that you won’t soon forget.

Since our launch in June ’25, nearly 6,000 visitors have experienced the tour — and their reactions have been overwhelming. With an average rating of 4.9 on Tripadvisor (300 reviews) and a perfect 5.0 average on Google (210 reviews), VR Voyage has sailed its way to the top of Amsterdam’s canal tour scene within just six months. But even more meaningful than those numbers are the words and stories shared by our guests. In this blog, we’ll share a small glimpse of what you can experience during the tour, along with some of the many enthusiastic reactions we’ve received.

  • 10/10 BEST BOAT TRIP EVERRRRRRRR

    The trip was incredible well worth it when your in Amsterdam. It takes you round a lot of the city in the trip allowing you to enjoy Amsterdam from the water. The crew are really nice and welcoming. The vr experience itself was a cinematic masterpiece casting your mind back to Amsterdam in the old days. Additionally this trip is accessible to anyone who speaks different languages as there were a lot of language selections available. The seats were also really comfy which is always good when embarking on a long boat trip. If you are a tourist and it’s you first time in Amsterdam this trip is a great way to see the city and learn about its historic past. This was a very very very very good experience 10/10 would recommend like crazy.

    Tripadvisor
  • An excellent (the best) way to take a boat trip in Amsterdam

    It was truly an excellent tour! The team was very eager to provide a positive and quality experience. The instructions were clear, the quality of virtual reality was great, everything was on time. In short, I can whole-heartedly recommend this boat tour in Amsterdam. All three of us were very satisfied. Special thank you to the passionate and patient team that made all this possible! Ainars

    Tripadvisor

Wealth Along the Canal: The Golden Bend

No place in Amsterdam shows the wealth of the 17th century better than the Golden Bend on the Herengracht. This is where the richest merchants, bankers, regents, and mayors lived. The canal houses here are wider and deeper than anywhere else in the city. During the cruise, you’ll discover how this elite lived and how the city’s expansions between 1613 and 1663 shaped the Amsterdam we know today.

[The 17th-century canal ring area of Amsterdam within the Singelgracht.]

  • BEST EVER

    It was an amazing experience and a high light of my stay in Amsterdam. It was informative, entertaining and beautiful. I highly recommend it.

    Tripadvisor
  • Unforgettable!

    I wanted to say it was such an amazing experience! I am still talking about this trip to everyone! I love the comfort of the boat as it is enclosed so perfect for a fall or winter trip. I was impressed by the ease of the equipment. Putting it on and off was super easy and it was such a great combination of history and today. I learned a lot of things I had not heard before on other tours. Good information and a nice and clear voice. Not to forget a wonderful staff on the boat who were patient and knowledgeable and also added lots of tidbits of information as we went along! I highly recommend this tour and it is good value for the price! Thank you!!

    Tripadvisor

The Gateway to the World: The Old Harbor

Our route takes you past places that formed the beating heart of global trade in the 17th century. One example is the Schreierstoren, an iconic defensive tower where countless sailors said goodbye to their wives before setting off on dangerous voyages (discover the Schreierstoren). Even daarvoor kom je langs de Montelbaanstoren. Deze toren werd oorspronkelijk gebouwd als verdedigingsbouwwerk, maar groeide in de 17e eeuw uit tot een baken van de maritieme macht van de stad. Ook het Scheepvaartmuseum (‘s Lands Zeemagazijn) mag niet ontbreken. Dit gebouw uit 1656 diende als pakhuis voor de marine; hier lagen de kanonnen, zeilen en uitrusting voor de oorlogsvloot opgeslagen. In onze VR scenes zie je deze plekken niet als stille monumenten maar als drukke locaties waar schepen zich klaarmaakten voor vertrek óf net aankwamen onder luid gejuich van de haven.

Still from VR Voyage: from a rowing boat among 17th-century sailing ships
  • Love it, must try experience

    It was amazing, love the experience. Definitely a must if you love history and exploring the canals. The views are fantastic too.

    Tripadvisor
  • Unforgettable Amsterdam Adventure

    The luxury canal cruise with historical VR in Amsterdam was fantastic! Combining the beautiful canals with engaging VR stories made it truly unique and unforgettable. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the whole experience felt luxurious and relaxing. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to explore Amsterdam in a special way!

    Tripadvisor

Icons of the 17th Century

The bricks tell only half the story; it were the people who gave the city its character. During the tour and through the stories in the audio guide, you’ll encounter famous historical figures who once walked these very streets. Some of their houses can be seen virtually and/or in real life. We’ll mention just one here. A relatively unknown person, although many cities have a street named after his surname. Jan Swammerdam (1637–1680) was one of the quiet geniuses of the Dutch 17th century. While painters and merchants were conquering the world, Swammerdam was diving deep into nature. Using self-made microscopes, he studied insects and demonstrated that even the smallest creatures have astonishingly complex structures. Swammerdam combined sharp observation with endless patience, laying the foundations for the modern entomology. He also proved that the male sperm cell fertilizes the female egg cell and discovered the existence of red blood cells. His work shows that the 17th century was not only about wealth and art but also about curiosity and science.

Engraving of Jan Swammerdam, the 17th-century Amsterdam naturalist
Portrait Jan Swammerdam
  • Top experience!!

    Amazing experience, great and funny crew! Was super fun to see the 1700s version of the city, in "real life" would recomend

    Tripadvisor
  • Must if visiting Amsterdam!

    Very cool experience in learning about old and new Amsterdam. Very nice people….nice boat. Definitely worth the money.

    Tripadvisor
  • Amazing experience!

    If I could give 10 stars I would. Absolutely wonderful experience, literally like going back in time, in a 100 year old boat too!! For someone like me who loves history, and usually feels ill with VR or boats, this was just the best. Will 100% go again!

    Tripadvisor
  • Unique Experience . 100% recommended

    Amazing experience. It is such a unique activity that everyone must do while in Amsterdam . Very friendly staff! Five stars and a hip hip hoorey from me !!!

    Tripadvisor

Experience It Yourself

It’s one thing to read about the founding of the Exchange Bank or the return of the Second Fleet, but it’s something entirely different to stand in the middle of these historic developments. With VR Voyage, we combine the comfort of a modern boat with the magic of time travel.

Do you want to not only hear about the 17th century, but truly see it? Book your tickets for VR Voyage here and experience 17th-century Amsterdam.

  • Wow …. A canal cruise not to be missed!

    How to properly describe this experience; being in the present and then to be transported by Piet to the most influential period in the history of the Netherlands and Amsterdam - the Golden Age!…

    Tripadvisor
  • Best and unique canal tour experience

    Absolutely amazing canal tour experience with VR. We felt like we time travel to 1600s of Amsterdam. The visuals, story telling and information is incredible through the VR. The captain and the guide were super friendly. We went on 31st of December, so it was incredibly cold outside and the boat was cozy and warm inside. Whether you are new to Amsterdam or Netherlands or if you have lived here your entire life, I am sure, there will something new to learn. Highly recommend!! ✨

    Tripadvisor

Escrito por

Michiel Coebergh

Fundador de XR Visuals Factory

Actualizado el 20 de julio de 2026

Lees in het Nederlands

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