10% discount for party-goers 🥂
During the upcoming holidays, we’ll be coming together again with family and friends. The perfect moment to make plans for a special outing in the new year. Because you know how it goes: before you know it, everyone’s calendars are full.
So reserve your boat now. Whether you choose a relaxing day of sailing, an elegant salon boat cruise on the Vecht, or a voyage through Amsterdam’s canals – we’re happy to help you plan.
And to make it even more attractive: early bookers enjoy a complimentary welcome bubbly or 10% discount on the boat rental.*
Valid when booking your cruise before January 20, 2026. Mention when making your reservation that you wish to take advantage of the newsletter offer.
The lights are on, won’t you come see? 💫
Elk jaar verandert Amsterdam tijdens het Amsterdam Light Festival in een openluchtgalerie. Wat in 2012 begon als een ambitieus lichtkunstproject is uitgegroeid tot een van de meest toonaangevende internationale lichtkunstfestivals. Kunstenaars, designers en architecten van wereldniveau reizen van over de hele wereld af om hun lichtsculpturen te tonen langs de grachten en in de stad. Een unieke ervaring die blijft verrassen — en die u vanaf het water op een heel bijzondere manier beleeft. Hieronder lichten we graag een aantal spraakmakende onderdelen uit.
SWANS | JON VOSS (UK)
Known for their lifelong bond, ‘Swans‘ reflects the shared care of swans for their young in a cycle of love, learning, and continuity. Swans captures not only the form of two swans about to take flight, but also the spirit of their connection – rising together, embarking on a new journey south.
CORAL LUMINANCE | HENRY HU (SG)
Far from the tropical waters of Southeast Asia, a fragile colony of coral polyps has temporarily found shelter along the weathered walls of Amsterdam’s Herengracht. Coral luminance is both a visualization of the coral bleaching process and a call to protect what is vital and to recognize that resilience requires action.
WHALE FALL | XINYI WANG (AU)
What appears to be an ending is, in reality, a new beginning. When a whale dies and sinks to the ocean floor, her body becomes a rich food source for deep-sea life. This enormous floating skeleton brings the hidden world of the deep sea to the surface and reminds us that even in death, our bodies nourish the earth and give rise to new life.
Photography: Janus van den Eijnden
Want to see more? Rederij Belle will take you there
The festival can still be experienced until January 18. Our salon boats are specially equipped to take you past all the artworks in
Feel free to contact us — we’re happy to tell you more about the various packages.
25 years of Rederij Belle – uncertainty and Success
In our anniversary series, we’ve arrived at the years 2012 through 2017 – these years were marked by further expansion, struggles over permits, and sustainability initiatives.
In the previous edition, we ended with the conclusion of the mortgage crisis and the christening of the Emma in 2012. Things were looking up again. However, the years that followed were characterized by uncertainty. The municipality imposed a cap on the number of permitted tour boats in the city center, which meant existing permits were converted from indefinite to fixed-term. Allocation was henceforth done by lottery.
These uncertainties made it difficult to further expand the fleet. Banks became more cautious with their financing, while at the same time stricter requirements were imposed on sustainability. Electric sailing became mandatory.
Rederij Belle rose to this challenge. Both the Belle van Zuylen and the Emma were thoroughly refitted during this period and converted for electric sailing – an important step toward a future-proof fleet.
When an opportunity unexpectedly arose again in 2017 to take over the steamship Succes, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation. Suddenly, Rederij Belle was the proud owner of the oldest still-operating steamship in the Netherlands. A wonderfully atmospheric vessel that was a valuable addition to the fleet.
The year is coming to an end, but the stories about Rederij Belle’s history are not yet finished! There’s much to tell. In January, we’ll conclude with the (for now) final installment.
Be inspired by the vastness of the water
Whether you opt for a salon boat on the Vecht or in Amsterdam, or prefer to take to the open waters of the Markermeer, sailing or motoring, Rederij Belle arranges it perfectly.
Contact us for a customized program.