Vacation Rentals by Owner

Perfect houseboat in the perfect location

Guest: Michael L.
Date of Stay: 03/16/12 Review Submitted: 03/19/12

Our party of four (two couples) came to Amsterdam for a quick weekend trip, and stayed at the Prins and Brauer. It was an absolutely wonderful place to stay. It is much bigger on the inside than it appears in the pictures, with plenty of space and could comfortably sleep 8 (two couples and four singles spread among various large couches). The boat was spotless inside and out, and there was even beer in the fridge for our arrival. The kitchen has everything one would need; the living room has a flatscreen TV, DVD, and sound system (which is also wired to the upstairs lounge and the master bedroom). The entire boat is serviced by fast WiFi. The caretaker, Rene, was very responsive and helpful, and arranged for our arrival late at night (2300) without an issue. Most importantly, the location could not have been better - the top of the Jordaan, one of the best neighborhoods in Amsterdam. It was a short 15min walk from the central station, which was easily accomplished with luggage and Rene's directions. We spent the majority of our time around that neighborhood at night. It was very safe, there are grocery stores (and a great cheese shop, Kaasland) just up the street, and by crossing the canal you will find wonderful 'brown' pubs and excellent restaurants. The 'visitor's manual' contains everything one needs to use the boat, as well as helpful tips about restaurants and places of interest in the area. All in all, it made our stay in Amsterdam very special, and I would highly recommend it.

Owner response:Dear guests, we are so happy to hear you have enjoyed your time at our home. You listed all the reasons why we can't wait to come home ourselves. The Jordaan is a unique place isn't it! We are lucky to have Rene take care of our guest as he always tries his best to accomodate and be flexible. We hope you will come back and visit us once more. All the best Steven & Ing (the owners).

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Fantastic four days on the Prins & Brouwer

Guest: calz (London, UK)
Date of Stay: 12/30/11 Review Submitted: 01/06/12

Six of us stayed for four days on the Prins & Brouwer and agree completely with all the positive comments of previous reviewers. The boat is spacious, modern, warm and comfortable. The location cannot be beaten... beautiful, quiet. If anything, the pictures don't do it justice. The owners Steven and Ingrid were at the boat to meet us and were charming and friendly. Rene, who managed our booking, kept us up to date with regular emails and offered helpful advice. He even arranged an amazing canal view table at a local restaurant. We really enjoyed our holiday and hope to stay again on this fantastic houseboat.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Christmas on the Prins and Brouwer

Guest: Susan (US)
Date of Stay: 12/24/11 Review Submitted: 12/31/11

Our family spent a wonderful Christmas vacation on the Prins and Brouwer. We are two parents and three adult children. The accommodations were excellent, and just as described. Staying on a houseboat was great! The beds were comfortable and the bathrooms were very modern with good hot water. We cooked breakfast and one dinner on the boat, and found that the kitchen was stocked with all of the equipment that we needed - even had a dishwasher. The boat was cozy and well-heated (we recommend that you bring slippers as the floor can be cold in the winter time). The linens and bedding were plentiful. The location is excellent, and very quiet. On Saturdays there's a wonderful market across the canal, and restaurants and shops are nearby. We were tourists and enjoyed walking through the neighborhood. When we found this houseboat, we had been looking for a 3-bedroom apartment to rent in order to have a living room rather than a hotel lobby in which to congregate. We thought that the houseboat is perfect, with a big couch and TV downstairs and a delightful room with 360 degree views upstairs. We spent hours up there reading, sipping wine, planning our days and just enjoying the ambience. The boat manager was very helpful with our arrangements and gave excellent dining suggestions. The owners provided an informative notebook, and we felt that if we had any questions or issues, we had someone to contact. We highly recommed the Prins and Brouwer and would definitely like to come back again.

Owner response:Thanks Susan, It was great having you and your family stay at the Prins and Brouwer. I hope we can welcome you some other time again. Greetings and all the best for 2012 ! Rene

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Excellent as long as everything works

Guest: KV (South Carolina)
Date of Stay: 12/17/11 Review Submitted: 01/02/12

We rented this house boat with 3 adult children for 6 nights. The location was excellent and the layout of the boat such that within a small space, we could lounge in separate areas. The pilot house was wonderful for watching activity on bridges over 2 canals in the morning. As others stated, it's close to the central station and stores. Unfortunately, we woke the first morning to a freezing cold boat (stayed in December) with no electricity and because the phone on the boat was not working either, we didn't get an immediate response from the manager. The pump grinder also wasn't working so that meant the water didn't flow away in the shower either and it could not be used. The problem was temporarily resolved by noon with extension cords running throughout the master bedroom. The next morning there was no hot water or WiFi service. All was fixed during our absence that second day including the phone, extension cords were removed and there were no other major issues. Unfortunately, there was no financial or other consideration for the inconvenience in the price and barely an apology. When we asked for a break on the price, the manager stated that the owners had been asked, but did not want to provide one. Although the owners were in town, we did not hear from them and still haven't. Overall, we would still cautiously recommend a stay here for one couple travelling with or without children or with 2 single adults.

Owner response:Hello Karin and Charles, Thanks for staying at the Prins and Brouwer and for writing a review. Too bad to read that you feel like you should have had a break in the price. Both times, after you called, I was able to come over within 15 minuts and solved the problem, even with the major power problem. I also feel I apologised everytime I came by or send you a text or email with an update on the status. I am really sorry and would like to apologise again. Greetings and all to best in 2012 for you and your family. Rene

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

A great find and a fabulous stay

Guest: Dianne and David (Los Altos, California, USA)
Date of Stay: 11/21/11 Review Submitted: 11/27/11

Staying on the Prins & Brouwer was a wonderful experience. We lived in Holland in 1992 and 1993 and this was our first time back and gave us an opportunity to introduce our children to the cultural heritage of Amsterdam and the Netherlands. The boat was warm, welcoming and spacious, and very good value for the money. Although we stayed in the winter, and were unable to use the outdoor table and chairs on the deck, our favorite spot was the upstairs room, where you get a 360 degree view of the world going by from a comfortable and cozy seating area; what a great place to enjoy morning coffee! The boat was well equipped with every modern convenience and provided everything we needed for our comfort, while blending in with the traditional architecture of the neighborhood. The close proximity to all of the major attractions makes everything reachable on foot, with local grocery, bread and chees stores at the end of the street. We would highly recommend this boat and would love to stay there again. Thank you Rene for helping to make this so easy.

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Just Perfect!

Guest: Susie K. (Bellingham, Massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 10/20/11 Review Submitted: 11/09/11

Wow, what an unbelievably fun adventure! My three friends and I stayed on “our boat away from home” from October 20-23, 2011 and had an absolute blast. Renee was more than welcoming and extremely accommodating. The boat is exactly as it looks in the photos. . .if not better! Clean, large, and in a perfect area where the women felt safe and the grocery store was about a block away. The Prins & Brouwer is walking distance to many attractions (Anne Frank house just 10 minutes away) and close to many very good restaurants. But, the best was sitting at the picnic table on the boat with your bottle of wine, some cheese, and the best view in all of Amsterdam. I hope to one say go back and I would definitely stay on the Prins & Brouwer again and again and again. One quick tip. . .the taxi dropped us off on the other side of the canal so we had to walk with our luggage to the boat. Make sure you give the driver the street address too as that is a huge help! Other than that one hiccup the stay was just perfect! Thank you for such a wonderful stay! Susie

Owner response:Hi Susie, thx so much for your kind words on your stay in our home. We are so happy to hear you and your friends have enjoyed such a great time. We build the Prins&Brouwer first and foremost as our own favorite place to be and are glad to be able to share it with others who want to enjoy Amsterdam in a unique way. Off course we look forward to welcoming you once again. all the best, Steven & Ingrid Ploem

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It does not get better than this.

Guest: L Dawg (Yorkshire, UK)
Date of Stay: 08/10/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

Simply put, this boat is amazing. Situated in arguably the best location in Amsterdam, the only downside of our visit was having to force ourselves ashore to explore the city!! The attention to detail cannot be overstated enough, and from the moment we entered the vessel we immediately knew we had found a very very special place. Sincere thanks goes to Rene for his outstanding service, we were well and truly looked after. If you are lucky enough to find this place, i've got three words for you... just do it!

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Can't wait to come back!

Guest: lynnie (USA)
Date of Stay: 02/25/11 Review Submitted: 03/01/11

I booked a last minute weekend away and enquired about a 3 night stay. Rene was wonderful and he reduced the price to accommodate our budget because we were a last minute booking. The boat is really comfortable, feels so spacious, and in a fantastic location. There is a grocery store and shops just a few yards round the corner on the main street. I loved relaxing on the day bed in the wheelehouse, watching the world go by, then when we got home from dinner we would put a movie on and lounge on the other day bed. The kitchen is fully equipt but we only did breakfast because the restaurants (all walking distance) near the boat are really good and full of character. Rene was the perfect host and a gentleman. We hope to be back again before summer and have our fingers crossed that the boat will be available for us. I live and work on a boat but this just felt special to be on the canals in Amsterdam. I would reccommend this to anyone coming to visit. Lyn F Murray

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Amsterdam 2 day getaway on Hercules Seghers boat

Guest: Freighter (Perth, WA)
Date of Stay: 12/13/10 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

A nice boat and good layout & location.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Four wonderful days in Amsterdam

Guest: Cindy (Newport, RI)
Date of Stay: 11/12/10 Review Submitted: 11/25/10

John and Christine,our hosts, greeted us at the door of this wonderful canal boat in the center of Amsterdam. They had many good recommendations for nearby restaurants and cafes. No car necessary, we were within easy walking distance of everything. The canal boat is situated in one of the prettiest canal in Amsterdam. The boat was warm and comfortable. It came equipped with everything we needed for 4 perfect days in Amsterdam. Hopefully we can stay longer the next time. Thanks

Owner response:Dear Cindy, we are delighted you've had such a wonderful time at our home in Amsterdam. We hope you'll come and stay with us again in the future. All the best, Steven & Ingrid Ploem.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great family experience (w/ young children)

Guest: Ted (Tripoli, Libya)
Date of Stay: 11/11/10 Review Submitted: 11/23/10

We had an outstanding experience. We are an American family living in Tripoli, Libya and have children that are 7, 5, and 3. The location of the boat was superb with a short walk to the station and immediate access to shops (Albert Hein and a nice bread and cheese shop) and nice places to eat (highly recommend the Orangerie around the corner). The layout of the boat was very nice as well... Our older girls loved the bunkbeds and our son was right next door in a double bed of his own. The boat was completely modern, no issues at all with the bathroom / showers. There's a place to plug in the ipod and show movies on the tv if you're staying in or lounging in the evening. Internet connection was great as well. Since we stayed in November, we didn't get to make as much use of the deck table as we will next time we visit in the spring or summer. I must say we were a little nervous staying on a boat with the children... some of our Dutch friends warned us the boat would be cold and drafty, etc. and we just didn't have any issues at all. Rene stopped in to make sure we were in good shape a few times and was very helpful. All in all, a wonderful experience and a great way to spend a week in such a magical city.

Owner response:Good to hear you enjoyed yourself! Hope to welcome you again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Amazing experience!! Highly recommended!!

Guest: Rebecca K. (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/17/10 Review Submitted: 09/27/10

We just returned from a 10 day stay on this incredible houseboat. We are all professional couples, no children, and wanted a place to relax, cook & see the the sights. What a treat!! This rental more than exceeded our expectations. Our local friends from Amsterdam who visited for dinner were equally impressed with the quality of the boat & interiors. We would recommend this rental to anyone who wants to have a truly Dutch experience on the canal. We were close to everything in the city. Bakeries, groceries, pubs & markets are all within a few minutes walking distance. Rene, the manager, was very helpful before & during our stay. He also met us before our departure, which we appreciated. If you are coming to Amsterdam, this is the place for you!! All 6 of us had plenty of space & hot water throughout our stay. And the deck was amazing! A perfect place to sit any time of the day or night & watch the action on the surrounding canals & streets. One of the best rentals in any country we've visited by far! FIVE STARS!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

No Better Place to Stay in Amsterdam

Guest: John K. (Coastal Virginia USA)
Date of Stay: 06/13/10 Review Submitted: 06/26/10

We have stayed on the boat two times in the last year and will be booking again next year. We own a house in another country that we rent through VRBO so we know how difficult it can be to present a perfect property for rental and the owners of the boat have done just that. The modern decor is perfectly done and the boat has every reasonable amenity. Further, it is in the perfect location in the city, right between the beautiful Western Canal Belt and the unbelievably charming Jordaan. The Prins and Brouwer is the perfect VRBO listing in Amsterdam and the owners, and Rene, who manages the property, should be commended for such a beautiful property that is managed flawlessly.

Owner response:Thanks guys! See you next year or maybe earlier in beautiful Isla Mujeres. René

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Our may

Guest: San Francisco guests (San Francisco Ca.)
Date of Stay: 05/07/10 Review Submitted: 05/25/10

Four adults from California, we are all used to renting vacation homes and this canal boat was the prize of all prizes. It could not have been more perfect, the owners made us feel as if we were the only people they ever rented to. They made our taxi reservations and confirmed flights that were changed and canceled due to the vulcanic ash cloud. The boat is spacious, has everything a modern home has and I consider this rental the best of the best. Go stay, enjoy and think of us, we will always remember our stay at the Prins & Brouwer FANTASTIC.!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU RENE THANK YOU WILFRED !!

Owner response:Thank you so much for your glowing words of appreciation. It is so good to hear your stay in our home has been a good one. We travel a lot ourselves and appreciate good accomdations with great service also. Rene and Wilfred obviously made great hosts to you. We hope to welcome you back at our Home at some point. Best regards, Ing & Steven. (The owners).

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

What a wonderful place to stay in Amsterdam!

Guest: Fress (NYC)
Date of Stay: 03/29/10 Review Submitted: 04/05/10

Never having stepped aboard a houseboat before, we had a few trepidations about logistics, but decided to take the plunge. We stayed here with our three children last week - and it was great! The location is beautiful, picturesque, and quiet - yet very central and one block away from a busy shopping street. The houseboat is surprisingly spacious, extremely well-designed with good storage space, excellent bathrooms with lots of hot water, an extremely well-stocked kitchen, and a great dvd library. We have rented flats all across Europe for family trips, and this was the most special place we've ever stayed. Westerpark for running is 5 minutes away, Anne Frank Haus 10 minutes, Cafe t' Smalle - wonderful pub 5 minutes, Marius - great restaurant 15 minutes.

Owner response:Dear Fress, we've been rather busy the past weeks and only now did i see your glowing comments on our home in Amsterdam. We are glad you've enjoyed your stay in our place. After all these years we still enjoy being there as much as you have. It doesn't get old. We hope you and your family will visit us again in the future. All the best Ing & Steven

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Guest: Owner Steven & Ing Ploem
Date of Stay: 01/19/10 Review Submitted: 01/18/10

Hello to you all, we hope to welcome you to our home in amsterdam right on one of the most beautiful canals of the city. As frequent travelers we know all to well how important it is to provide a warm and special home away from home. We encourage you travelers to experience this very special lifestyle on the water. You will find that there is no convenience overlooked in our home. Spend your trip in luxury in the most quaint and easily accessible location in the city. You won't regret it. See you soon. Steven & Ing.

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