The Houseboat Museum is a museum located on a former freighter named the Hendrika Maria, permanently moored on the Prinsengracht canal in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam. This guide provides practical information regarding opening hours, ticket prices, transport options, accessibility, and visitor requirements for planning a visit.
To skip the information and just buy your tickets, head here. The Houseboat Museum is covered by the Go City Amsterdam Pass, which can save you a lot of money if visiting several Amsterdam attractions.
Current Status: This guide was updated in February 2026 to reflect the current adult entry price of €8.00 and the requirement for visitors to leave large backpacks in the unsupervised storage area before boarding the vessel.
Quick facts for planning your visit
| Category | Details |
| Opening hours | Daily, 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Ticket prices | Adults: From €8 |
| Address | Prinsengracht 296K, 1016 HW Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Nearest transport | Tram 13 or 17 (Westermarkt stop) |
| Typical time needed | 20 to 30 minutes |
Houseboat Museum opening hours
The Houseboat Museum is open daily, from 10:00 to 17:00.
Houseboat Museum ticket prices
The entry fee system for the Houseboat Museum is a little tricksy. Book online for an early morning visit (10am to 12pm) and standard adult entry costs €8. At all other times, and for on-the-door bookings, it’s €9.50.
Tickets cost €5.00 for children aged 5 to 12. Children under the age of 5 are admitted free of charge.
This attraction is included in the Go City Amsterdam Pass. These passes also provide entry to other nearby attractions, including:
- Rijksmuseum
- Houseboat Museum
- This Is Holland
- Amsterdam Tulip Museum
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in February 2026.
Why book the Go City Amsterdam All-Inclusive Pass?
- 🏢 Access 30+ Top Attractions: Enjoy entry to Amsterdam’s most popular sites, including the Heineken Experience, Rijksmuseum, Moco Museum, and This is Holland.
- 🚤 Iconic Canal Cruise: Includes a quintessential 1-hour cruise through the historic UNESCO-listed canal belt, the best way to see the city’s unique architecture.
- 💰 Substantial Savings: Save up to 50% on admission prices compared to purchasing individual tickets at each attraction.
- 📱 100% Digital & Easy: No need for physical tickets; simply download the pass to your smartphone and scan it for instant entry at every stop.
- ⏱️ Flexible Scheduling: Choose a pass for 1, 2, 3, or 5 days, allowing you to explore the Dutch capital at a pace that perfectly suits your itinerary.
How to get to the Houseboat Museum
To reach the Houseboat Museum, visitors should travel to the Westermarkt tram and bus stop. From Amsterdam Centraal Station, trams 13 and 17 provide a direct connection with a travel time of approximately 10 minutes.
From the Westermarkt stop, the museum is a two-minute walk. Cross the Prinsengracht canal and walk south; the museum is the freighter moored directly across from the Elandsgracht junction.
Parking at the Houseboat Museum
Parking in the immediate vicinity of the Houseboat Museum is limited to street-side spaces which are frequently occupied and expensive. The nearest formal parking facility is Q-Park Europarking, located at Marnixstraat 250, approximately an eight-minute walk from the museum.
Alternatively, visitors can use the P+R (Park and Ride) Sloterdijk facility and take tram 19 toward the centre to minimize parking costs and city centre traffic.
How long to spend at the Houseboat Museum
A typical visit to the Houseboat Museum lasts between 20 and 30 minutes. The museum consists of a single vessel, and the tour is self-guided using informational leaflets provided at the entrance.
Visitors interested in reading all historical displays in the cargo hold or watching the available video presentation may require up to 45 minutes.
Accessibility at the Houseboat Museum
The Houseboat Museum is not accessible to wheelchair users or visitors with significant mobility impairments. Entry to the ship requires navigating a narrow gangway and descending a set of steep, vertical stairs into the living quarters.
The interior of the boat has low ceilings and narrow passageways, which may be difficult for some guests to navigate. There are no lift facilities on board this historic vessel.
Inside the the Houseboat Museum
The museum is housed inside the Hendrika Maria, a steel sailing freighter built in 1914. Originally used to transport sand and gravel, the ship was converted into a residential houseboat in the 1960s. The interior has been maintained to show the layout of a traditional Dutch houseboat from that era.
Visitors can explore the living area, which features a coal stove, a small kitchen, and built-in sleeping berths. The original steering cabin remains intact and accessible for viewing. The space is furnished with items typical of a 20th-century residential vessel.
The cargo hold has been repurposed as an exhibition space. It contains scale models of different types of houseboats used in Amsterdam, historical photographs, and panels detailing the logistics of electricity, water, and sewage systems on the canals.
Handheld guides are available in 20 languages, providing a numbered tour of the ship’s features. The museum provides a factual overview of the legal and technical requirements for living on the water in the Netherlands.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Recommendation |
| Timing | Arrive before 11:00 or after 15:00 to avoid the peak period when the interior can become crowded. |
| Crowds | Because of the small size of the vessel, entry may be paused if more than 20 people are on board. |
| Layout | Mind your head when entering the sleeping berths and moving through the lower doorways. |
| Entry process | Tickets are purchased at the small desk located at the top of the stairs inside the ship. |
| On-site logistics | Large bags and umbrellas must be left in the designated storage area as they are a safety hazard in the narrow holds. |
Frequently asked questions about the Houseboat Museum
| Question | Answer |
| Is the Houseboat Museum suitable for children? | Yes, though children must be supervised on the steep stairs and strollers are not allowed on board. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Houseboat Museum? | No, but if you want to reserve entry for a particular time, advance booking is advised. |
| Is the Houseboat Museum open on Sundays? | Yes, the museum is open every Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. |
| Are bags allowed at the Houseboat Museum? | Only small handbags are allowed; all large items must be placed in the unsupervised locker area. |
Things to do near the Houseboat Museum
The following paid attractions are within a five-minute walk of the Houseboat Museum:
- Anne Frank House: The historic house and museum located on the Prinsengracht.
- Amsterdam Tulip Museum: A museum dedicated to the history of the tulip in the Netherlands.
- Electric Ladyland: A museum dedicated to fluorescent art and geology located in the Jordaan.
