Vincent Van Loon was a houseboat owner in Amsterdam who was constantly being questioned by tourists about his houseboat and what life was like for him living on it.
So, in 1997 he decided to open a houseboat in Amsterdam to the public to address this curiosity.
Take a peek inside the Maria Hendrika!
She was built in 1914 to haul materials up and down the canals.
In the 1960’s she was converted to a houseboat where people lived until she was opened to the public for tours in 1997. And yep, that’s me, reflected in the mirror.
Holland houseboats have all the comforts of home as you can see, including heating, kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms and decks which function as garden terraces.
There are approximately 3,050 houseboats in Amsterdam with people living onboard, and 100,000 legally occupied houseboats in all of the Netherlands.
Does life aboard a houseboat appeal to you? If it does, and you want to try out living aboard, there are houseboat bed & breakfasts you can stay in to see if you like the lifestyle.
Cheers to you from a cozy and comfortable Amsterdam houseboat~
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Super cool pictures!
Ahhh, thanks so much~
I best not show this to my hubby! He’ll be on the next flight! It looks so cozy, but not sure I could handle the constant movement of water. Beautiful pictures!
Yes, I understand, some people tend to not like the motion, for me it enables the best night sleeps ever, much better than on land.
That’s interesting. I may have to give it a try one day 😃
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I think I would love it….if only I were younger…the simplicity, and being rocked at night in the cradle of the sea….
Exactly, the ‘rocked at night’ thing works so well for me. It gives me the deepest and most peaceful sleep. We are alike in more than name, but we knew that……
Fantastic! That would be a dream of mine…
Here’s sending you wishes to grab your dream. The more you dream, the more likely it is you’ll get what you wish for! <3
I love the decor, Cindy. So colorful and vibrant. The diamond shaped mirror and the green hearth were details plus large, bold paintings! It reminded me of the miniature doll houses, filled but not “crowded” looking. I am not sure since I have to take ‘dramamine’ even on slow ferry boats, the motion is not easy on my equilibrium. I would visit bur not plan to live there! 🙂
Happy Hump day, tomorrow! ♡
I understand the motion sensitivity, some of my family members have it too. I notice your eye for detail Robin. You don’t miss anything. And yes, these Dutch artistic themes are utterly charming, and pass down through the generations, making the Netherlands a visually distinct and most pleasing place to vist.
Thanks for this tour – so cool! Love the selfie too. We had a friend who lived in a houseboat and after less than a year left – it was in the northwest US and she said it was too damp!
I think people who live differently have so much to show us in terms of how we live. Like your friend who tried it. Good for her. She’s living and searching. How cool it that?
Yeah- well at the time – her hubs was in school and she was nannying (that means broke dollars wise – ha) and so I guess the boat was free – they now have house with children – and I assume bank account – lol-
Oh and I saw a lighthouse today that reminded me of Amsterdam –
I love the neatness and scale of the houseboat but I would prefer something similar on dry land. How about living in a windmill?
Ahhh……. Yes! You whose mind thinks like mine. I want to go back and am doing so. It’s great to look at all these working windmills that are x hundred years old, but the people who live in them fascinate me more, and I never met them. So I am going back to see a windmill or six where people live today. Love to you Mandy.
Hooray! That’s made my day.
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Looks so cozy!
Yes, and different, which is always good~
How wonderful! I think it would be a terrific vacation. Do permanent residents live year round?
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Yes they do. They are limited in Amsterdam, to 3050, or so berths, because Amsterdam is a world treasure and houseboat berths are limited. But a 100,000 or so live “legally” in houseboats all over the Netherlands. I wonder how many live illegally. There are people living very non-standard lives all over the Netherlands. How cool is that?
Well I think it is amazing!
I remember seeing all the houseboats in the canals of Amsterdam, but never got a peek of the inside. Thanks, Cindy, for the inside look. I think I could live there. 🙂
I think we both could. Easily. <3
So beautiful, it would be lovely to spend some days in the houseboats, thanks for the photos:)
Thank you much more for the kind appreciation. <3
I think I’d be a little claustrophobic, but with climate change…maybe we’d all better get used to houseboats! It certainly could not be outfitted better.
A waterworld scenario eh? Of course we are still in drought in SoCal but are in the midst of three storms with lots of rain so maybe that will be next!
We can hope. 🙂 Getting quite a storm up here as well. Most importantly – snow in the Sierras!
Hooray! We’re going skiing in Mammoth for the first time in two years!!!
I’ve never seen such cozy and colorful accommodations aboard a houseboat before Cindy. How fabulous! But, you know which image I think is most awesome? The one which has a reflection of you in it! Nice to see you enjoying your time there! 🙂 ~Lynn
Oh you are so sweet Lynn! Thank you. I avoid photos of myself, but in the small quarters, if you wanted to see the fireplace, there were no other options. Be well my friend~ <3 <3
I’d quite like to holiday on a houseboat but I might wait until the kids are older and better swimmers.
Yes indeed. Jumping into canals for rescues would be a vacation spoiler! I hear it is a great way to travel so I hope you do it, later.
God, this makes me want to live on a houseboat. Cindy, your first photo was so beautiful, I thought it a painting at first.
Awwww, that is so lovely and motivating! Thank you~
I’m glad. Cindy, looking at the photos you take makes coming to your blog a real pleasure. :O)
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Looks very cozy. Interesting post Cindy, thank You. Me, I’ve just booked a few nights stay near Amsterdam, so am gonna see those!
Oh, Amsterdam is such a fun city to visit with so much to do and see. Enjoy! I know you will~
Thank You ☺
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I love houseboats, ever since I saw a movie with Gary Grant and Sophia Loren. I am not sure if I would like to sleep on one, but I would give it a try (I think).
Who was it who said, “I will try anything once?” Good for you and I hope you post on it if you do!
I’ve always liked Amsterdam, and much of the rest of Holland. Utrecht is well worth a visit, Rotterdam has those mad cube houses, and Antwerp has its charms. I have a friend who lives on a narrow boat, so I know how it works. 🙂
We were in Holland twice this year on two separate trips. I finally saw the cube houses and the Keukenhof tulip garden. It is always a treat when I see your name in the comments! I hope all is well with you and that you have the very best and happiest New Year! Cheers~
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Cindy Knoke brought us the delights of a doll’s house last week and this time a peak into life on a houseboat in Amsterdam – fancy life on the water? Do it in style…
It would be fun to rent one for a few weeks and toodle around Holland in it. Thank you for your thougthful generosity Sally! <3 <3
Fab photos again, Cindy. I’d never imagined the interiors of houseboats to be so plush!
Can you imagine how much fun it would be to furnish and decorate your own? I would love doing it & thank you Polly for your thoughtfulness!
What a fun stay for you- lovely pictures!
Awww, much appreciated!
Oh, I’d l;ove the textile on those armchairs – strikingly culturally exquisite
I noticed this too. Beautiful! <3
Lovely photos ,Cindy. 🙂
Thank you Ranu and hope your week is going well my friend~ <3
I could gladly and happily live in ‘this’ houseboat!
We are in accord on this! 🙂
That was a beautiful boat inside. Thanks for sharing Cindy. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you more for appreciating and Happy Wednesday Patricia~
Apart form the stove, it looks like they have a separate equipment to keep their teapot warm. These pictures are so much fun! Thank you Cindy.
Yes, they had a kitchen area, a fireplace with a teapot and a heating stove. It would be toasty, but not dry furnace heat, in the winter. It seemed to have sleeping accomodation for six people, and an extensive deck and sun roof with plants and tables.
Lovely. I wouldn’t mind trying out the houseboat lifestyle for a week or so.
If you do, please post about it, because I am interested too!
Great photos and it looks gorgeous. I wouldn’t mind trying it for a few days – like the idea of being rocked to sleep at night – but I fear it might become claustrophobic after a while.
Yes, I know what you mean. Fun for a vacation maybe, but not necesarily full time. I get claustrophic in motor homes after a while too, but never cabins.
Dream affair!!!
I love seeing the creative ways that people chose to live differently, not cookie cutter suburbia by a long shot!
Nice! Always the super photos Cindy. I missed it. Probably spent to much time in the Delft pottery shop. Thanks for another great visit.
Delft is pretty hard to tear yourself away from, especially the truly old pieces. Hope your week is going well my friend. <3
Great selfie. It would be fun to just move your home anytime you felt like but alas I get motion sickness so I don’t think it would be the life for me. 😀
I hear you about the motion. The selfie was inadvertant.. Someone keeps reposting a photo of me on FB which is highly annoying. I am not a card carrying member of the selfie or twitter movements. Laughing……
It can be a little scary once we post on line how little control we have of where it goes. I’ve noticed that people have found my site from Facebook and my first thought is “but I’m not on Facebook.” I understand the inadvertent selfie. I love taking pictures of puddles but often forget about my reflection.
It’s much larger than a Tiny House. What’s not to like? 🙂
My thoughts exactly!
It is lovely isn’t it. Our boat is only 41 feet long, and I don’t think as wide as this one, but it’s comfortable and home. We love the life.
I did posts on it here
https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/up-close-and-personal/
and after our mini revamp here
https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/the-great-unveiling/
Oh how perfectly wonderful! I am now following you and am so impressed you are living the dream! Cheers to you and thank you stopping by! I look forward to learming more about your adventures~
Thank you for your follow Cindy. I am likewise. Looking forward to future conversations. 🙂
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Living on a house boat like that would be wonderful. Great photos, very interesting
It would be fun to go around Holland interviewing and taking photos of people and their houseboats~
I would love to stay in this boathouse forever! ✩◝(◍⌣̎◍)◜✩
I can picture a cat sleeping contentedly on the roof! ✩◝(◍⌣̎◍)◜✩
(“⌒.⌒”)
Houseboats are so quaint and enchanting, although can be rather chilly and damp in the winter. One of my friends and I nearly bought one when we were in our 20s — albeit, not one as picturesque as those in your pictures — but we changed our minds when warned about the damp and the rats! Of course, I’m sure that Amsterdam is a much more attractive place to hang out in a houseboat than near the gasworks at Shoreham harbour!!!
How cool that you nearly did this! The rats and damp don’t sound too appealing at all. One would need cats to repel the rats. Maybe renting one and touring around Holland in the summer would be the ticket.
That sounds like a wonderful idea. I used to love the canal boat holidays I went on as a child on the Shropshire Union Canal in the UK.
Lovely and very charming – I love it!
So glad you do and Happy New Year to you! <3
This kind of houses is one of the Amsterdam landmarks. I did not know they have houseboat B&B. Next time I’ll try it.
Please post if you do stay in one. I would love to learn about the experience!
If it happens I promise you to share my experience, opinion, and feeling. 🙂
Thank you!
Cindy darling, you “caught” one of my curiosities. thanks =^_^=
Pleased as punch that I did! =^_^=
It’s so cute!!! Love the little stove with the tea pot!!
Can’t you just imagine sitting there reading!!
Yes. The entire ambience is adorable!
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Instead of an Air B and B… A Water B and B… Looks cool!
Yep! Works for me. So VERY happy to hear your son is getting the help he needs, finally! Hang in there my friend. <3
Yes! Thanks for your caring… I mean it!
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If I were to visit Amsterdam, this is the kind of accommodation I would seek. Fun & different!
I hope you do visit and post about your experience. I am curious about it too and think it would be an awesome way to travel.
Houseboats have always fascinated me. Who would think they could fit so much in that small space? I’d love to visit Amsterdam. I was there years ago but only for a day and I don’t remember much.
I am seeing another trip to Europe in your near future Carrie. It would be a great time for your family and planning is half the fun. I hope you go and post about it. I love traveling vicariously, when I am not traveling actually! 😉
Gorgeous! I want one!
Well, I hope you get one then! 😉
Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
Thank you for your kind thoughtfulness and cheers to you!
How wonderful!
I love people who have the courage to live differently! <3
There is something very intriguing about living aboard one of these vessels – it’s a simpler and I’ll bet fulfilling lifestyle. The quality of materials and how compact everything is perfect, love the idea!
Yes, I agree with you about the compelling nature of life on a houseboat. I bet the residents form their own unique community too.
How beautiful ! Thanks for sharing Cindy!
Thank you more for appreciating!
I’ve passed by those houseboats while in Amsterdam in ’86 and have always wondered what hey looked from the inside…so thanks for giving us a virtual tour of one and letting us know we can rent them!
I was tickled to be able to get into one too. It is part of the experience of travel to see how people live in different places. It expands your own palate of possibilities~
If I ever go back, I’ll definitely rent one of those to stay in!
So attractive. Would make a great vacation rental.
I think it would be an ideal vacation! Happiest New Year to you Carol. <3