Amsterdam · Museum

Houseboat Museum: Step Inside a Real Amsterdam Canal Barge

Everyone who walks Amsterdam's canals wonders the same thing: what is it actually like to live on a houseboat? The Houseboat Museum answers it properly — aboard the Hendrika Maria, a 1914 cargo barge moored on the Prinsengracht that was once a real family home. Here is what you will see, how to get tickets, and why this quirky little museum is worth 30 minutes of your trip.

By the AllTrips Editorial Team · October 3, 2026

The Houseboat Museum at a glance

Location: Prinsengracht, opposite the Westerkerk, on the edge of the Jordaan. Allow: 20–30 minutes. Entry: ticketed, one of Amsterdam's cheapest museums. Nearby: Anne Frank House (2 minutes) and De Negen Straatjes (5 minutes).

The story of the Hendrika Maria

The museum's boat, the Hendrika Maria, was built in 1914 as a sailing cargo barge, carrying sand, gravel and coal along Dutch waterways. Like hundreds of working barges after the Second World War, she was eventually retired from freight and converted into a home — Amsterdam had a severe housing shortage, and its canals offered cheap, unconventional living space.

For decades the barge was a real family home, and the interior you see today is preserved much as its last residents left it: a snug wood-panelled living room, a compact galley kitchen, bunks built into the hull and a wood stove for winter. In 1997 the boat opened to the public as the Houseboat Museum, the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated to life on the water — and it has been answering visitors' curious questions ever since.

What you will see

• The living room — a surprisingly spacious, wood-panelled saloon with period furniture, a stove and skylights; it feels far bigger than the barge looks from the quay.
• The galley kitchen — a lovingly preserved mid-century kitchen with orange cabinets, a gas stove and every pot and pan in its place, showing how a family cooked on board.
• The sleeping quarters — bunks and cabins tucked into the hull, cosy in every sense of the word.
• A short film and displays — on the history of Amsterdam's houseboats, from working barges to the roughly 2,500 floating homes on the canals today.
• Practical answers — how houseboats get water, electricity and heating, where the mooring permits come from, and what daily life on a canal is really like.

Tickets

The Houseboat Museum is one of Amsterdam's most affordable museums, and you can usually just walk up — queues are rare even in summer. Tickets are also available online, which is handy if you like to plan ahead or want to bundle the visit with other Amsterdam attractions.

Getting there

The museum is moored on the Prinsengracht, directly opposite the Westerkerk and a two-minute walk from the Anne Frank House. From Dam Square it is a ten-minute walk down the Raadhuisstraat; from Centraal Station, take a tram to the Westermarkt stop. Look for the dark barge with plants growing on its deck.

Practical tips

• Combine it with the Anne Frank House and Westerkerk next door — the museum takes under half an hour and slots neatly into the same morning.
• Access is via steep boat steps, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
• Children love it — the bunks, the tiny kitchen and the ship's wheel make it one of Amsterdam's most family-friendly small museums.
• Go before or after a stroll through the 9 Streets, five minutes away.
• The boat rocks gently when canal traffic passes — part of the charm, but worth knowing if you are sensitive to motion.
• See every stop on our Amsterdam attractions map.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Houseboat Museum cost?

Admission is a few euros per adult, with reduced prices for children — it is one of the cheapest museums in Amsterdam. Check the official website for current prices, or compare ticket options via the booking link in this guide.

How long does a visit to the Houseboat Museum take?

Most visitors spend 20 to 30 minutes aboard. The boat is compact, but the short film, the displays and the chance to poke around a real houseboat interior make it a satisfying stop between the Anne Frank House and the 9 Streets.

Is the Houseboat Museum suitable for children?

Yes — children usually love exploring the bunks, the tiny galley kitchen and the ship's wheel, and there are playful touches like the houseboat cat trail. Note that there are steep steps down into the boat, so it is not stroller- or wheelchair-friendly.

Do people really live on houseboats in Amsterdam?

Yes — around 2,500 houseboats are moored on Amsterdam's canals, all with official mooring permits that are now almost impossible to obtain. The museum answers the questions everyone asks: where the water and electricity come from, how the toilet works, and what winter is like on the water.

Where is the Houseboat Museum?

The museum is moored on the Prinsengracht, opposite the Westerkerk and a two-minute walk from the Anne Frank House, on the edge of the Jordaan. Look for the dark barge with the museum sign and the plants growing on its deck.

Sources

• Houseboat Museum — official website
• I amsterdam — official city guide