Amsterdam: Fly High with This is Holland & Sail the Canals

Amsterdam looks different from the air and the water, and this compact combination lets you try both in one three-hour outing. This is Holland uses a 5D flight presentation to sweep you over windmills, tulip fields, canals, and Dutch towns, then you board a 75-minute cruise near the attraction.

I like the easy pairing of two very different views, and I like the small-group format, limited to 10 people. The main drawback is language at This is Holland: some of the early presentation is in Dutch with English subtitles, so you may miss details while watching the scenery.

Key points to know

• The 5D flight is the main attraction: You see Dutch scenery from a moving theater rather than from a real aircraft.
• The canal cruise lasts 75 minutes: It passes Westerkerk, Magere Brug, and other central Amsterdam sights.
• The two parts are close together: The boat leaves from in front of This is Holland, so there is no long transfer.
• The best timing is easy to understand: Choose the late-morning option or the early-afternoon option, depending on your day.
• Live cruise commentary is offered in six languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, and German are listed.
• Food and drinks are not included: Plan to eat before or after the three-hour experience.

A two-part introduction to Amsterdam

This experience gives you a quick lesson in the Netherlands before placing you inside a moving flight theater. After the indoor presentation, you shift to Amsterdam’s canals, where the city’s old buildings, bridges, and churches pass at a slower pace.

That change of mood is the chief appeal. The first half is theatrical and energetic. The second half is calm and scenic. If you have only a short time in Amsterdam, this pairing gives you a broad first look at Dutch culture and the capital without requiring a full day away from the city center.

The activity is based at This is Holland, in North Holland, and the cruise departs right outside. That location matters. You are not asked to cross town between the two parts, and the schedule leaves enough time to move from the flight presentation to the boat.

The advertised price is $37 per person. For that amount, you receive entry to This is Holland and the 75-minute canal cruise with live commentary. I consider that fair value if you want both a major indoor attraction and a standard Amsterdam canal tour in one booking. It is less useful if you only want a quiet boat ride, since part of the cost goes toward the flight attraction.

What happens inside This is Holland

Allow about one hour for This is Holland. The attraction combines information about the country with large-scale visual effects and a simulated flight over Dutch scenery.

The central feature is a 5D cinema experience. You are shown Holland from above, with views that include windmills, tulip fields, canals, and city sights. The presentation is designed to make you feel as if you are flying, using moving seats and other effects rather than a simple film screen.

That makes this more than a museum introduction, but it is not a real sightseeing flight. You will not choose the route or look out from an aircraft window. Instead, the attraction gives you a carefully edited overview of the country, with motion and wide views doing most of the work.

Before the flight, the experience includes two rooms with images and information about the Netherlands. These sections help explain what you are about to see, and they give the attraction a bit more substance than a short ride alone.

Language is the one area to consider closely. The main cruise commentary is listed in six languages, but the attraction’s earlier rooms may use Dutch audio with English subtitles. If you do not read English quickly, it can be hard to follow every detail while also watching the images. This does not spoil the visual part, but it can reduce the amount you take away from the introduction.

The flight itself has received the strongest praise in the supplied ratings. A score of 4.7 out of 5 from 19 ratings reflects a generally positive response, and the most consistent point is simple: the flight is fun. It works especially well for families and mixed-age groups because adults and older children can enjoy the motion, while the information rooms give the experience some context.

Choosing between the two start times

You can choose between two program options.

The first begins with check-in at 11:45. The flight starts at 12:00, followed by the canal cruise at 13:15. This option uses the middle of the day and finishes roughly three hours after check-in.

The second begins with check-in at 13:15. The flight follows, with the canal cruise scheduled for 15:00. This is useful if you want a slower morning or plan to visit another part of Amsterdam first.

Pay attention to the check-in time printed on your booking. The stated meeting point is the HopOn HopOff Holland desk inside This is Holland. Arriving at the building is not the same as completing check-in, and the flight portion has a set start time.

The break between the flight and cruise is short but practical. Since the boat departs in front of This is Holland, you should not need a taxi or public transport between the two. Use the gap to find the boat, take a quick restroom break, or buy something to eat if needed. Food and drinks are not included in the price.

Taking to Amsterdam’s canals for 75 minutes

After This is Holland, you board the canal cruise near the attraction. The boat is described as a luxury canal boat, and the ride lasts 75 minutes.

This is the quieter half of the outing. Instead of fast-moving images and theater effects, you get a steady view of Amsterdam at water level. The canals let you see the relationship between the narrow houses, bridges, churches, and waterways in a way that is hard to understand from a pavement.

The route passes the Westerkerk, one of Amsterdam’s best-known churches. Its presence helps anchor the cruise in the old central city, and it is a good sight to watch for if you want a photograph of historic Amsterdam architecture.

The boat also passes Magere Brug, or the Skinny Bridge. This is one of the city’s most recognizable bridges and a natural photo stop from the water. The canal approach gives you a different angle from the usual street view, especially as the bridge frames the waterway.

The captain provides live commentary during the ride. The stories cover Amsterdam’s past, famous artists, important figures, and cultural landmarks. The listed languages are English, Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, and German, though you should select or confirm your preferred language when booking.

I would treat the commentary as an important part of the cruise, not just background sound. Amsterdam can look beautiful from the water without explanation, but the stories help connect the buildings and canals to the city’s development. If you prefer complete quiet, the narration may feel less appealing. If you want to understand what you are seeing, it adds real value.

The boat ride is also a useful counterpoint to the flight. From above, you see broad patterns: fields, windmills, water, and city form. From the canal, you notice details at close range, including bridges, church facades, and the tight shape of the old streets.

Who will get the most from this experience

I would recommend this combination to a first-time Amsterdam visitor who wants an overview rather than a specialist tour. It gives you a fast introduction to Dutch scenery, followed by the city’s most familiar waterways.

Families are a strong match. The flight presentation adds movement and spectacle, while the cruise offers a slower section for adults. The experience also suits groups with different interests, since one person can enjoy the technology and another can focus on architecture and history.

It can work well for couples, too, particularly if you like mixing a playful attraction with a scenic ride. The canal portion has a more relaxed feel, and the views around the bridges and historic buildings are well suited to photographs.

I would be more cautious about booking it if you have already visited This is Holland or strongly prefer a traditional museum. The flight is a simulated attraction, not an in-depth study of Dutch art or history. Likewise, serious canal-tour fans may find the route familiar, since Amsterdam’s central waterways are the main draw.

The small-group limit of 10 is another useful point. It suggests a more limited booking size than a large coach outing, though the canal boat itself may accommodate more people. The smaller format is most helpful at check-in and during the This is Holland portion.

Practical value at $37 per person

At $37, the experience asks you to pay for two attractions rather than one. That is its main value.

A standalone canal cruise gives you 75 minutes on the water, but this package adds about an hour at This is Holland. If you already planned to visit the flight attraction, combining it with a cruise can save you from arranging two separate bookings.

The package also reduces planning effort. The attraction and boat departure are in the same spot, and the scheduled handoff between them is clear. You do not have to work out a route from an attraction in one neighborhood to a cruise pier in another.

The price does not cover food or drinks, so budget for those separately. Because the full activity lasts about three hours, you may want to eat before check-in, especially for the noon start. The later option gives you more flexibility to have lunch first.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Amsterdam schedule is still changing, but check the exact conditions shown when you book.

The main strengths and limitations

The strongest part is the simulated flight. It makes Dutch scenery easy to grasp and gives the activity an energetic opening. The flight also appears to be the part most likely to please adults and older children alike.

The second strength is the change in pace. You move from a highly produced indoor presentation to a real canal ride with Amsterdam passing around you. That contrast keeps the three-hour outing from feeling repetitive.

The canal commentary adds another layer. Captains tell stories about the city, and you can take in major sights such as Westerkerk and Magere Brug without having to plan a route yourself.

The main weakness is the language setup at This is Holland. English subtitles may be available, but some of the early content is heard in Dutch. If understanding every spoken detail matters to you, ask about the language arrangement before booking.

Another limitation is scope. This is a short introduction, not a full Amsterdam history tour. You will see and hear about major features, but you will not spend long inside any one site. Think of it as a broad first taste that can help you decide what to explore later.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want a playful flight attraction and a classic Amsterdam canal ride for one moderate price. It is especially suitable for families, first-time visitors, and anyone who wants a simple three-hour plan with no transfer between the two activities.

Skip it if you want a purely traditional sightseeing cruise, a serious history lecture, or a fully translated presentation in every part of This is Holland. The flight is the reason to choose this package. The canal cruise then gives you a calm and scenic second act.

FAQ

Where does the experience start?

Check in at the HopOn HopOff Holland desk inside This is Holland.

How long does the full activity last?

The experience lasts about three hours.

How long is the canal cruise?

The canal cruise lasts 75 minutes.

What is included in the price?

The price includes entry to This is Holland, the 75-minute canal cruise, and live commentary on the cruise.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

Which sights can I see from the boat?

The cruise passes the Westerkerk and Magere Brug, along with other central Amsterdam canal views.

Which languages are available for the cruise commentary?

Live commentary is listed in English, Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, and German.

How many people are in the small group?

The small group is limited to 10 participants.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.