Apartments Amsterdam - Houseboats Amsterdam - Amsterdam Apartments

es war einfach alles perfekt. Man kann unserer Meinung nach nicht origineller in Amsterdam die Zeit verbringen.

We've had the great staying on Jackie's boat in Amsterdam in period from 23.07 to 27.07.2011. Almost everyday was raining, but it couldn't make us unhappy and change our great impression of the city and accommodation :) Every evening we hurried to come back to our lovely boat. We suppose it because of atmosphere which has made by Jackie. We never thought that sitting on the deck and watching walking people, waving boats, hungry ducks and swans can be so attractive, so harmonical and so relaxible! We dream about that day when we come back! THANK YOU SO MUCH, JACKIE!!!

With warm wishes from Moscow, Russia

Jackie is a gracious host and friendly tourist helper. My wife and I spent a long weekend with her on October and totally enjoyed the boat, the neighborhood, the terrace, and the adventure. Even when Jackie needed to do some maintenance on the boat we were thoughtfully keep up on all activity as we went. It was a great visit and we plan to come again.

The boat was in an excellent location. Close to all the great sights and the Jordan:-) I loved the way the cabin was decorated. I had wonderful stay and I would definitely like to come back.

A very lovely place to stay in a fantastic part of Amsterdam. The living area is small but perfectly formed with everything you need for a short stay.

Great place to stay. The boat was great. Sitting on deck watching sun go down is the best. Good location 10 minute walk from Dam square. Jackie was a great host. I Would stay again highley recommend.

This boat is great. I spent my birthday with my boyfriend on Jackie's houseboat and we loved it. The boat is perfectly located, the owner Jackie is very nice and helpful and you'll find everything you need.
Sitting on the deck, waving at passing boats is a real highlight :)

This boat is wonderful. We had a really great time there. It rained a lot during our stay but the boat was so beautiful that we still had a lot of fun there. WLan is also available. 5 Stars!!! The owner of the boat is also a great person.

.. we had a very nice stay at this boat in the centrum of amsterdam. We enjoyed sitting on the terrace on the boat. The owner was very pleasant and kind. It was a wonderful stay.

Wir durften 5 schöne Tage zu zweit auf dem Hausboot genießen. Es ist alles wie beschrieben - klein aber schön eingerichtet - es fehlt an nichts. Der Platz auf Deck ist bei gutem Wetter super - die einzige Einschränkung die man bei schlechtem Wetter hat, ist ein gemütlicher Sitzplatz unter Deck fehlt (wäre vom Platz her aber auch nicht machbar). Beim nächsten mal Amsterdam werden wir wieder das gleiche Boot wählen. Bei der Gelegenheit auch Dankeschön an Jackie, die als Vermieterin immer da war, wenn man eine Frage hatte und alles schön sauber hält.

Nous sommes restés dans cette péniche pour le week-end de l'ascension et avons adoré ! La péniche est très jolie, la chambre joliment décorée et surtout elle se trouve dans un des plus jolis quartiers d'Amsterdam ! Jackie est très sympathique et a beaucoup d'attentions...
Rien de tel que le petit déjeuner pris au soleil, sur le pont !
Nous y retournerons !

We loved our stay on this canal boat. It is small and quaint, set up with everything you might need and exactly how it looks on the website. We would stay there again and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a different accommodation experience rather than just staying in a hotel room. Loved sitting on the deck and having a drink and watching the world go by. We also loved the fact we werent in the really touristy area but close enough to walk to all the sights. Cant recommend it highly enough.

The BK18 boathouse is a very lovely boat, especially the deck, where we spent a lot of time making the tourists jealous. The Jordan disctrict is one of the best place in Amsterdam.
We can recommend this place for everybody, but the life with large baggage is complicated.


Frank and Vera from Hungary

My sister and I spent 4 lovely days on Jackie's House-Boat. The boat is very cosy and beautifully decorated with lots of little details. The location was perfect to discover Amsterdam by foot and there are many little shops, a supermarket, nice restaurants and bars nearby. It's a perfect way to discover the spirit of Amsterdam and we would stay there again! We had the impression that Jackie's boat was the nicest we have seen during our stay - still in the traditional style and very well kept. Thanks for this special experience!

What a great experience to spend 4 nights on the canal in Amsterdam. Boat BK18 was in a great location in the Jordaan and had everything we wanted and more - compact and cosy with a deck on top that allowed us to sip a quiet drink at the end of each day while we watched the canal traffic drift by, our host Jackie was terrific and kept the houseboat in tiptop condition during our stay.
Would highly recommend this houseboat to any traveller.

From Portugal, my best regards Jackie. And thank you for all.

My girlfriend and I spent a wonderful week on this lovely houseboat. From the moment we arrived Jackie was a gracious hostess. She had wonderful tips on things to see such as the Monday market, directions to a couple of grocery stores and a great little place to eat called La Festa. The boat location couldn't be better with coffee shops, museums, lovely architecture and charming restaurants nearby. The ice cream shop at the top of the block is a must hit on a nice spring day! Nothing beat the afternoon we sat up on the boat deck drinking wine, snacking on cheese and crackers and watching life pass on the canal.
I can't recommend Jackie's houseboat highly enough. We enjoyed our stay immensely and would stay again in a heartbeat.

very nice accomodation, excellent location and brilliant host would stay again

Cette location a été merveilleuse. C'est un petit nid douillet et la propriétaire est adorable. Serviable et discrète, elle a pensé chaque détail. La petite cuisine, la salle de douche, le coin repas sont pratiques et permettent une totale indépendance proche de toutes commodités comme on dit. Car en plus d'être bien décorée, la péniche est très bien située (dans le Jordaan, à 10 min du Dam à pied). Cafés bruns, commerces vintage et visites typiques vous attendent !

After a short stay in Jackie's wonderful guestroom, my wife and I could not imagine staying anywhere else in the city the next time we come. The romantic room, tranquil (and private) roof deck area, and accessibility to neighborhood necessities and comforts were only exceeded by Jackie's appreciated hospitality.

Great Location, profeesionally managed, clean room everyday, eclectic decor, great shower, Bed is just OK, interior space is limited.

Warning: getting on / off the boat with large suitcases maybe a problem for some travelers, especially those with physical disabilities. The gang way is small and there is a steep ladder into the room.

The best part of the 3-day experience is the roof-top seating area. We spent hours watching the locals bicycle back and forth, and waving to the passing tourists on canal boats.

If we did this again, we would look to rent the whole boat.

This houseboat is the perfect accomadation for an Amsterdam trip. Located down the street from Anne Frank house you can hear the same church bells she heard in her annex. A market, take out thai, shopping are all just a short walk away. We loved our cozy and romantical bed. We made a few meals that we enjoyed on the zen patio above. The highlight of our european travels. Jacky is so generous and nice. The houseboat comes equiped with all of the essentials including power converters. We highly recommend this boat and cannot wait to visit again.

We had a very pleasant stay at Jackie's barge. The location is great. The place is very well organized and perfect for a couple visiting Amsterdam.
Thank you.

We loved our stay on Jacqui's houseboat. The Prinsengracht is a wonderful base both for visiting and exploring Amsterdam and for daytrips by train to other parts of beautiful Holland. The evenings on "our" rooftop terrace, drinking wine and watching all the boats go by was a delight. Our houseboat accommodation was great and everything we might need had already been anticipated by our hostess. Jacqui also suggested places to buy groceries, local restaurants (wish we could bring La Festa back with us). We stayed on the boat for nine days and wish it could have been longer.

Thank you for providing us with such a unique and "Amsterdam" location for our vacation! It was perfect!!!

BK18 was a truly fabulous place to stay and Jackie has decorated the accommodation beautifully - lots of little touches to make it really special. Definitely worth reccommending and set in a lovely area thats worth exploring. Go to comedy store Boom Chicago and try out the Algerian cafe just across the road - they do take away food which is soooo tasty. Go, stay, wave at tourists from your "own" houseboat, feature on their holiday photos and just enjoy!

WE HAD A VERY NICE EXPERIENCE AT THE HOUSE BOAT. Jackie Wijnakker is a very nice a pleasant hostess and she made it very cozy for us putting flower on the boat.. Its more a privat home than a guesthouse and that makes it a very much more personal and intime stay, What a wonderful boat and to sit in a sofa on the deck waving to the other tourist taking pictures of us because they believed we were the owner of the boat - it was quire funny..!
We will surely recommend the Jacki es boat to others and we hope to be back another time..We were a little unlucky thou that there were some road work nearby at Prinsengracht, but as we mostly went out it was okay..
Amsterdam is wondeful and plesant city in a relaxed atmosphere.. If we can send a note to Jackie we will wish her a nice trip to India thus winter.
Many greetings from the 2 danish couple Annette and Lisbeth

The houseboat is perfectly located to enjoy Amsterdam. One of the best things about the houseboat is sitting on the roof deck and just chilling while watching boats and people passing by.
We had some of our meals on the roof deck and others in the nearby restaurants/cafés. I miss so much the Dutch food, you can find the basics at the grocery store Albert Heijn but if you go to the Nine Streets (mostly Runstraat) you will find the most amazing cheeses at De Kaaskamer and delicious breads at the bakery nearby.
The boat is really well maintained and nicely decorated; Jackie was a perfect hostess, always available and giving good tips about the neighborhood.
For the nightlife you can go to Leidseplein. This square is surrounded with bars, sidewalks restaurants, great nightclubs and some of the friendliest people on the planet: the Dutch!
For the shopping you have to go to Nieuwendijk and there is also Kalverstraat, both are pedestrian streets with really nice clothing and shoe stores.
We rented bikes for an afternoon and just riding in Vondelpark is a cool experience.
You can rent scooters or motorcycles at Gilex (www.gilex.nl), it is about 5-10 minutes by walking from the houseboat.
If you stay a little while in Amsterdam you should visit outside of the city, I recommend strongly the town of Haarlem (15 mns by train) and if you like beach resorts just go to Zandvoort (30 mns by train) and Scheveningen (near Den Haag), bring your swimsuit and your sunscreen!
I miss so much chilling on the roof deck and sipping a glass of wine after a day of sightseeing, the boat was a great part of my perfect vacations.
Thank you Jackie, the souvenir of your houseboat will stay forever :-)

For those of us that have always wanted to sleep on houseboat this is the perfect houseboat experience. If you (like my wife) have some hesitations due to motion sickness, fear not, there is very little motion. Be aware that you need to be comfortable climbing down a short ladder into the suite which might make you think twice if you have mobility issues. The space itself is compact but that is half the fun, and fun is really what this kind of accommodation is all about. I recall reading some negative comments about the shower, the shower is a bit tricky to find the right temperature but with a bit of patience you can have a wonderfully warm shower. I actually thought the shower was quite spacious for a houseboat. The boat is lovingly decorated and from the morning light though the portholes covered with red oriental fans to comfortable bed and soft light in the evening the place invites a relaxed romance. The kitchen is limited with only a microwave for cooking so shop accordingly for groceries. There is a great grocery store within a 3 minute walk and several restaurants to choose from within easy walking distance. The best thing for me was people watching while sitting on the roof deck for breakfast; boats go by on the right and sidewalk traffic on the left. The tour boat people wave and snap pictures of you on the deck as they drift by which made me feel like a local (or a celebrity) Is the canal noisy at night? Oh yes it can be, this is Amsterdam after all, it comes with the territory. Our hostessJacky was great, there when you need her but separated enough that you feel alone. All in all this was a unique and magical place to stay and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Great experience to be on this houseboat. The owner is a most friendly and very helpfull lady.
The rooms in the boat are very good for chilling out even very functional too. One could see it was desingned and made with love and conviction.
the rooms have been done every day and there was a very good sortiment of things one might need.
The place of the boat was marvellous - central, quiet but in nice and origine surrounding with little cafes and shops.
Better than any hotel I ever had been for much more money.
Could´nt be better !
Thank You, Jacky !
Birgit, Karin

Friday, June 4, 2010

We thoroughly enjoyed our 9 day stay on Jackie's Barge "The Josja" Boat BK18 on the Prinsengracht Canal in Amsterdam from May4 to May13, 2010.

I found out about Jackie's boat through your on-line site. The postings by previous people who stayed on her boat were very helpful & realistic. We had a wonderful time, which was made possible by Jackie's attention to detail in the design & maintenance of our retreat at the front of her barge. The boat has a special ambiance. Jacki remained quietly in the background during our 9 day stay, periodically giving us some suggestions. She placed a beautiful orchid flower in a pot on our table, gave us a pair of miniature ceramic dutch shoes & delicious European chocolates ! We felt well cared for ! Jackie was very thoughtful in finding a place by the entrance gate for my wife to store her folding wheelchair which she uses periodically for longer distances.

The Prinsengracht canal in the Jordaan area is an ideal location to call home while exploring Amsterdam. It is a quiet residential area, yet in the heart of the city. I am still amazed by the stream of people riding their black bicycles down the slope of the narrow lane by the boat; - teenagers with friends side-saddle on the back, twenty something singles dressed up, business men & women in their suits, families with large wooden boxes on the front of their bicycles to hold their children & stately white haired seniors gracefully pedalling by. It really gave us an idea of the flow & vibrancy of life in Amsterdam.

We visited several excellent informal restaurants in the surrounding 2 to 3 blocks. We also got daily supplies at the supermarket Albert Heijn, around the corner on Elandsgracht. From outside it appears to be just a regular small store, but it opens up into a bustling market with the locals rushing in & out to stock up for their evening meal. There is also a gellato ice cream shop on the way home by the bridge near the boat !

This year Amsterdam was cool & windy in early May, but by dressing in layers we were fine. I wore my winter ski jacket & often sat on the couch on deck & watched the world go by, while my wife enjoyed reading books in the snug & warm cabin below !

We took a boat tour the second day, which gave us a good overview. We visited numerous museums, art galleries & different areas of Amsterdam - its a fascinating city and Jackie's barge is the perfect place to stay !

Charlie Middleton Greetings from Canada !

Wir waren vom 08.04. bis 12.04.2010 insgesamt 5 Tage in Amsterdam und wohnten auf's Jackie Wijnakker Hausboot in der Prinsengracht.

Für uns als Segler war diese Unterkunft einfach ideal, weil wir lieber auf einem Hausboot als in einem engen Innenstadthotel übernachten wollen. Es ist typischer für Amsterdam und außerdem viiiiiel idyllischer!

So konnten wir unser Frühstück selbst zusammenstellen (ein Albert Heijn-Supermarkt ist ca. 50 m am Anfang der Elandsgracht) und am Nachmittag auch gemütlich unseren Kaffee am Hausboot (am Dach gibt's ein gemütliches Plätzchen zum Chillen) genießen. Außerdem war es IMMER ruhig, und wir fühlten uns beinahe schon als Einheimische.

Bei Nachttemperaturen um ca. 10 Grad war die Heizung im Boot super, tagsüber drehten wir diese jedoch zurück.

Das "Zimmer" wurde jeden Tag von Jackie gesäubert; Handtücher, WC-Papier, sogar ein Toilettspray, Duschgel und Küchenrolle waren vorhanden; ebenso wie ein kleiner Regenschirm - eigentlich fast wie zuhause und wesentlich besser als im Hotel!

Das Zentrum bzw. die wichtigsten Sehenswürdigkeiten kann man entweder mit der Tram oder zufuß wunderbar erreichen - also ideale und vor allem RUHIGE Lage!

3 x gingen wir Abendessen: Balthazar's Keuken - Elandsgracht 108 (TOP!!), Cilubang - Runstraat (gut) und Pizzeria La Festa - Haazenstraat (na ja, nicht ganz unser Geschmack)

Sollten wir wieder nach Amsterdam kommen (und das werden wir sicher), werden wir 100%ig wieder ein Hausboot mieten!! Das BK-18 Hausboot ist auf jeden Fall zum Empfehlen!!!!

Rotina & Harald aus Wien (Österreich)

We were pleasantly surprised by the cozy nature or our houseboat accommodation. It's quaint nature brought us back to the era of the '60's...the time of the flower children. We enjoyed returning to our warm and cozy little hide away every evening after the day spent walking and exploring the city...it's central location with it's closeness to many shops, resturants and canals made it a perfect place to stay.

Thank you Jackie for personal hospitality and sharing your houseboat with us!

Leon and Jill

We had a great break in Amsterdam and enjoyed our stay on BK18. The location of the houseboat was ideal - central to the usual tourist spots (Dam Square / Museums etc). However, the best part is being able to retreat back to the boat and away from the throng, once you've seen the sights. The boat is situated in a lovely area, very close to some great restaurants. There is also a reasonably priced supermarket, and a very cosy traditional brown cafe just up the street. The area is quiet and residential, and it is the perfect spot for relaxing and watching the world go by. At various times of the day you can hear the bells of Westerkerk chime, which is especially nice in the mornings and evenings.

The boat itself is (as already mentioned by other reviewers) is decorated in a very unique fashion, which made our stay all the more special. There has been clever use made of the limited internal space (although I should also point out that the space is ample for two adults). At night, when the lights are dimmed and the candles lit, it couldn't have been any cosier.

Facilities on board are all you would need for a short stay. Good shower/ bathroom, and always plenty of hot water. Small galley kitchen with sink, kettle, microwave oven and plenty of storage. All cutlery, crockery and utensils povided, including that all important 'waiters mate'. We were impressed also that things like a hairdryer, and even travel plug adaptors were provided.

Jacky, the owner of the boat, was friendly and obliging, but never ever obtrusive. Just like other reviewers have commented - you would never have known if she was at home or not. Jacky also cleaned, tidied and left fresh towels while we were out each day, which was nice to come home to after a hard days sightseeing.

If you are looking for something different, quirky and fun - whilst maintaining a good level of home comforts, in a great area of Amsterdam, then look no further. I doubt that I'll ever stay in a boring old hotel in Amsterdam ever again.

We had a lovely time, Jackie was a fantastic hostess, very welcoming and helpful. The boat itself was full of her own beautifully unique and personal touches that made us feel pretty privelaged. every time we returned to the boat, we found people taking their photographs next to it! wandering around the canals, i genuinely didn't see a prettier looking boat, or any better location for it! highly recommended! x

This is the perfect accommodation for a couple in Amsterdam. Most other houseboats are too big & therefore too expensive. All the interesting parts of the city are within walking distance. Prinsengracht is relatively busy which is good as you experience the gentle movement of the water caused by the passing boats. Because of the weather we didn't get to sit out on the upper deck but I imagine it must be lovely in sunny weather. 2 slight quibbles. The heating might have been left on a little longer before our arrival (but once it warmed up it was fine). Also the shower tended alternately to freeze or scald. One needed the dexterity of a safecracker to get the controls just right! Overall, though, highly recommedned.

A comfortable cabin, clean and quirky, in a lovely location. The host Jaquie was friendly and helpful. We will return!

Thanks

Jacky, many thanks for the wonderful few days we had the pleasure to stay at your houseboat. We're Dutch, and just write Englisch so everybody can read what our experience was at the Prinsengracht !! As we entered the boat we directly loved it... It has a perfect spot, and is good for public transport as it is right between the center and the Jordaan, a famous part of Amsterdam... We were there during christmas, and it was a shame we couldn't sit on the deck as it was too cold, but the temparture in the boat was perfect... We bought a Iamsterdam card which cost about 50 euro, and gives for three full days, free entry in 90% of the musea, free public transport, free canalboat trip, and many discount at restaurants and shops in Amsterdam, if you visit Amsterdam for three days or more a good advice to buy one at the VVV central station... Now a few words for Jacky in Dutch... Have a good time !! Jacky bedankt voor de leuke tjd die we hebben gehad op je boot, het was heel lief om ons te verwelkomen met chocolade en kerstbrood, en we hopen dat de bloemen het lang hebben volgehouden... We komen je boot zeker nog een keer bezoeken... Groetjes, Frans en Cathy...

Staying withJackie was just lovely. Such a gorgeous house boat with so much character...it really feels like youve had a holiday after staying here! Will definately go back! Highly recommended :) enjoy

We are a young couple on Honeymoon. We had a very very pleasant stay. Miss Jackie is great! She is very helpful and kind. The boat is perfect. We had erverything we needed and more. 10 mins walk from everything. Upmarket area. Quiet to sleep at night. We fully recommend. Thank You Mrs Jackie!

I had a very nice stay on this boat - The room is small, but the space is well used - lots of nooks and crannies to tuck stuff away into. The water pressure was good, and I never ran out of hot water. There was actually a high-speed wireless network available durning my stay, which was very helpful (I am not sure if you should count on this, because it is a personal network).

The heated towel racks are a big plus!

There is only a big duvet on the bed, no individual sheets - so temperature regulation was a littole tough (too hot with the duvet, too cold without, but by being smart about opening the portholes, I was able to get it to a temperature where the duvet was perfect.

all in all, a very nice place to come back to on those cold rainy amsterdam days.

I recently had a most enjoyable stay onboard. The owner was very welcoming and helpful and the accomodation was just the right size and so much nicer than any hotel in amsterdam and very good value for money.

The accomodation was warm and very comfortable. Very well situated for shopping and for any trip around town.

I will return again as I was very happy and sad when I had to leave.

Einen herzlichen Dank an die sympatische Jackie, bei der wir 4 Tage wohnen durften. Das Hausboot ist genauso wie auf den Fotos, vielleicht noch schöner ;) Von diesem Anlegeplatz aus ist wirklich alles in ein paar Minuten zu erreichen und ein Supermarkt ist auch gleich um die Ecke. Das Zimmer ist zwar schon schmal, vielleicht kommt es mir auch nur so vor, weil ich etwas breiter bin, aber es ist wirklich ausreichend und total gemütlich. Jackie hat alles sehr schön hergerichtet, da sieht man die Liebe zum Detail. Auf jeden fall war auch alles sauber und gepflegt. In der Küche ist alles, was man braucht... Geschirr, Besteck, Kühlschrank, Mikrowelle, Flaschenöffner, Feuerzeug usw. Wir haben unseren Aufenthalt genossen und würden jeder Zeit wieder kommen.

Liebe Grüße aus Bayern
Bianca

We just returned from a great week at Jacky's BK18 houseboat. The pictures on the website accurately depict the boat. The decorating is beautiful.The room is really a bedroom, kitchenette area, small sitting area and a bathroom with stool and shower ( there is no tub).The bed is queen sized and very comfortable.You gain entry to your quarters by walking the length of the boat to a hatch near the rear. You go down to your area via a ladder of 5 steps. It is not difficult to do, but some one with a handicap should give thought. There is no TV if that is important to you nor is there a phone.The quarters by their very nature are small and compact, nevertheless I am six feet five inches and 250+ pounds and I had no problem moving about or using the shower .You have a roof top deck area that is a real treat. It has a couch and stuffed pillows and a table as well as lovely flowers all around. We spent each evening, as weather permitted, watching the canal traffic and being photographed by those on the canal boats.Jacky is a great host, she is friendly and helpful but lets you alone, you will forget that she shares the boat.We found 4 good places to eat nearby that cater to locals and not the tourist trade: 1. "The Hoek" - leave the boat, go down Prinsengraht to the first bridge , take a right over the bridge and it is on the corner. We ate breakfast there each day. 2. "Restaurant 't Lwaantje" - leave the boat, go to the left on Prinsengraht to the bridge and turn left, go to the middle of the next block and it is on the left side of the street with its building extending out over the side walk. 3. "La Festa" a pizzaria, mention Jacky to the owner and you will be greeted warmly.Leave the boat and go straight down the street to the first intersection, turn left and it is halfway down the block. 4. 'BurgerMeester", leave the boat by going left on Prinsengraht, go to the bridge and turn right at the colorful little Jordaan museum, go down the block nearly to the the end ( note that the grocery store is across the street ). All of these places were reasonaly priced with good food.We found that the "Stop and Go" bus was extremely helpful in getting around the sites.It runs right outside the door of the boat going on Prinsengraght to the Central Station in one direction, and to Waterloopein in the other direction. It is cheap, one euro for an hour, and runs frequently. Used it as a tour bus the first day and rode it from end to end.We went to Haarlem, a miniAmsterdam, by train from Central Station .Well worthdoing, just a 20 minute trip by train. We went to Muidenslot, a cool castle and town ( take the Metro from Central Station about 5 stops to Amstel Station and Bus 101 to the second Muiden stop (20 minutes or so), walk up a path to a small bridge and into the town and the Castle, its a great half day. We also took in the trip to the "Historic Triangle" taking the train from Central to Hoorne , again a quick trip,and then a steam train and boat to an open air museum, and finally a train back. Summing up, the house boat stay was wonderful from start to finish. It stands head and shoulders over any hotel and the prices are close enough to make the choice easy.BK18 is located in a great neighborhood within walking distance of most everything .We walked to the boat from Central Station pulling 2 suitcases and it was an effort, the next time we would take the Stop and Go bus which is located in a small parking lot between Central Station and the Victoria Hotel. Don"t be intimidated , it is easy.

We loved our stay on Jackies houseboat! Our quarters were comfortable and cozy. It is situated in a primo area in the Jordaan district--lots of resturants, cafes, and interesting shops. Within walking distance of just about everything you would want to see in Amsterdam. Sitting on our private deck with a glass of wine looking at Westerkerk, watching the boats go by on the canal is one of the most memorable moments of our trip.

This was a great place to stay. Our quarters on the houseboat were very cozy and comfortable. Jackie made us feel right at home. The Jordaan district where the houseboat is situated is a primo area of Amsterdam. very pretty area with lots of good resturants and interesting shops. We were able to walk every where from the houseboat.

Accueil sympathique meme si jackie ne parle pas francais on se comprend ,
bien situe dans le vieux quartier du Jordaan, animé en soirée et calme la nuit
chambre avec tout confort sans tele c'est tant mieux!!! deco asiatique
le tout est plus petit qu'une chambre d'hotel mais au combien inoubliable!!! super sejour dans un cocoon
merci!

tres belle deco détails et finitions réalisées avec beaucoup de gout-terrase represente un veritable plus - tres bonne situation le quartier est tres agreable et proche des centre d'interets - proprietaire tres accueuillante sympa et discrete -serviettes fraiches à disposition quotidiennement au besoin

logement de taille reduite 2 pers. max.

nous sommes tres satisfaits de la prestation et serions prêts à le relouer pour uin prochain séjour

We LOVED our stay on the houseboat! It was convenient, and offered a great place to experience both the excitement and the serenity of Amsterdam living. The chimes of the churchbells and evening bell concerts really anchored the whole experience, and made us envious of the residents who have these charms all the time. This was definitely a do-again experience. MAGIC! Our host provided a perfect balance of privacy and attentiveness. What more can one ask?

...es war eine wunderschöne zeit!
das sehr schnuckelige boot liegt ideal um zu fuß einerseits in ca. 15 min. in chinatown und anderseits sofort in den cooleren vierteln zu sein.
jacky hat wirklich alles sehr liebevoll bis ins detail eingerichtet.
klein aber fein!!!
wir würden sofort wieder hin!!

I was very satisfied with the BK18. I stayed there for just four nights and I wish I could have stayed longer. I loved the atmosphere of the place, the owners were very friendly and the houseboat itself was just wonderful. Definitely recommended 8-)

We had a great trip to Amsterdam esp. due to the lovely house boat we stayed at. It was styled with love and had a great terrass (right word for a houseboat?). It was ideally situated at the Prinsengracht, close to the center, Leidse Plein but also direct at the Jordaan, where you can even meet real Amsterdam people and not only tourists :).

In summary a great place to stay at in Amsterdam.

Nous avons passé cinq jours sur cette péniche en juillet et nous avons adoré ces vacances.

Ce "petit studio" est décoré avec soin par la propriétaire qui a été très gentille à notre arrivée (dommage qu'elle ne parle pas français !), on y dort très très bien (les seuls bruits aux alentours sont les bateaux-mouches et les sonnettes des vélos...) et la kitchenette ainsi que le supermarché situé à deux minutes à pied nous ont permis de faire nos repas le midi, très pratique et économique (néanmoins, le micro-ondes limite les possibilités, deux plaques de cuisson seraient les bienvenues).

Situé à quelques minutes des trams et des bus, nous avons pu nous rendre au centre ville très facilement (et même à pied, en traversant les canaux, c 'est très agréable, Amsterdam c'est tout plat...).
Sans oublier qu'un loueur se trouve quelques rues plus loin, pratique pour la découverte de la ville à vélos !

Bref, le concept de la chambre d'hôtes sur péniche est pittoresque et très reposant, on se sentait "chez nous", surtout le soir, en dégustant, sur la terrasse privative de la péniche, les excellentes glaces du glacier situé à quelques pas de la péniche (un régal !!!).

Si nous devons revenir à Amsterdam, sans hésiter nous retournerons là-bas.

Jean et Vanessa

The boat is beautiful, comfortable, cosy and a relaxing place. The location is ideal, since it is in a peaceful area and not far from Amsterdam's central station.
The hostess, Jackie, was friendly and charming. We highly recommend it.

This is the first time I've stayed on a houseboat, having been to Amsterdam many times previously and always stayed in hotels. I don't think I will stay anywhere but this houseboat on future visits! The location is excellent - very central. Everything is walkable. It is quite small, but the deck on the roof makes up for that very nicely. It's a great place to sit and watch the world go by. The houseboat is very clean and the bed is comfortable. Jackie the owner is very friendly without being intrusive, and does a great job daily while you are out making up the bed etc. I cannot recommend this place highly enough as a place to hang out in Amsterdam.

My friend and I spent 5 days on Jacqui's beautiful houseboat in May '09 and can't recommend it enough. Though only small, it's clever design makes the most of the available space and Jacqui's original finishing touches make for a unique, comfortable stay. The location is excellent and offers easy access to the very best of Amsterdam. If, like us, you are a little hesitant about sharing the boat with your hostess, don't be. Jacqui gave us plenty of space and we were rarely aware whether she was onboard or not, plus it was great to get her local knowledge on how best to enjoy this amazing city.

This boat is a dream! Decoration, details... are beautiful and charming. You can see Jackie's artistical mastery in.
Very comfortable and a real relaxing place, no details missed.
Location is ideal, in a peaceful, quiet and alternative area.
And the extra value: our exceptional hostess, Jackie. Always discreet and so nice, helpful and charming... we miss her!

Many thanks to Jackie for making her boat available. I couldn't think of a better place to spend my time than on the Prinsengracht on Jackie's boat. The accomodations were cosy and pleasant and even boasted a small kitchen. The four days on the boat at the beginning of our 3 week vacation were the favorite.
Full marks!

We spent a very pleasure week's holiday on this houseboat! It is very nice, quiet, clear and original-looking accomodation with ample facilities, just perfect for 2 joung persons like us. The deck set upstair is absolutely fantastic and relaxing place with a view of the Westerkerk tower:)
The houseboat is located very close to the down town and most of tourist attractions.
Jordaan district is the best location to enjoy your holiday with your partner.
Also Prisengracht and the streets over there are full of nice shops, cafè, restaurands and everything you need you can find there.
The owner of the boat ,Jackie and her daughter, were so professional and helpfull, but absolutly not intrusive to us, and we' ll never forget their ospitality. Don' t hesitate to choose this houseboat!
Thank you.

Alberto & Magda

We had an absolutely great time on the houseboat we stayed on. Our host Jackie was lovely and just left us to it. Very relaxing, cute and cozy. Highly recommend it.

Toukokuu 2009.
Aurinkoinen Amsterdam ja vähän erilainen hotellivaihtoehto:
asuntolaiva.Prinsengracht-kanavan varrella.
Jacky on vuokrannut laivansa etuosaa 25 vuoden ajan matkailijoille, mutta olimme ensimmäiset suomalaiset, jotka löysivät tämän mukavan majoituspaikan. Laivassa oli kaikki, mitä tarvitsimme: jääkaappi, mikro, espresso- ja vedenkeitin sekä ruokailuvälineet. Se oli erittäin siisti, itämaisittain kalustettu, vuodelta 1923 peräisin oleva vene vai pitäisikö sanoa laiva.
Laiva sijaitsee rauhallisella paikalla. Seurasimme kannelta kanavan elämää ja kadun puolen polkupyöräilijöitä. Nautimme kannella välipaloja punaviinin kera - tämä oli elämää.
Suosittelemme, ei kuitenkaan huonopolvisille.Kannattaa huomioida, että laiva täytyy vuokrata vähintään neljäksi päiväksi.

Thank you Jacky,
Merci-chocolate was excellent.

We stayed 4 nights in total, including Queens Day. Despite the central location of the boat the general feeling was that of staying in a summer cottage - very private and relaxed. No five-star hotel can beat this!

My girlfriend and I spent 4 days in Amsterdam in Feb 2009 and I keep a very good memory. Jackie is a good host, very friendly and available if needed and very tactful all the time. The guestroom is nice, customised and warm at any times even during this winter.

What a fantastic time we had on the house boat, i would definitely recommend staying here over any hotel in Amsterdam. It is so different and very very cosy! You have your own separate section of the boat so you don't see the owner at all and the small kitchen is adeqaute for making small meals. The area is lovely with some really nice quaint shops and only a minute walk away from Anne Franks house and about a 5-10 minute walk to Dam Square. Overall we had a great time and the boat definitely was the best part of our holiday, i would definitely go back!

The houseboat was very nicely decorated. The shower was very nice. The deck set up on top was great, unfortunately it was too cold to sit out there during our stay. Jacky was on holiday during our stay, but the people watching over the boat for her were very friendly and helpful. There was a little radio in the room, which we took advantage of. I would definitely recommend this houseboat to others.

We had a lovely time in Jackie's houseboat. It is really beautifully decorated. It has heating which was great for us as we stayed there from the 5th to the 8th of December. We really recommend this boat for people who want to stay in the center on one of the main canals (Prinsengracht) in the Jordaan district. There is a great Thai takeaway just round the corner on Elandsgracht!!! The guestroom is bigger than I imagined and even has a lovely little kitchenette. There is no shortage of hot water either which is lovely. It made our stay in Amsterdam all the better.

Nos alojamos en el barco de Jackie del 5 al 8 de diciembre. El barco está genial!! Recomiendo la habitación en el barco a cualquiera que quiera quedarse en uno de los canales más importantes (Prinsengracht) en el barrio del Jordaan (super céntrico). Ha sido una experiencia preciosa. El barco tiene calefacción y es más grande de lo que nos imaginabamos. La decoración es muy bonita y todo fue perfecto. Hasta tiene una pequeña cocinita. La ducha tiene agua caliente. Cerca del barco en el barrio hay muchos bares y hasta un restaurante Thai para llevar (en Elandsgracht). Para una estancia diferente en Ámsterdam recomiendo una estancia en el barco.

the houseboat is cute and in a great location close to everything. we had a great trip and look forward to returning, thank you..

Jackie's houseboat was the perfect place to stay in Amsterdam - we absolutely loved it! We quickly realized that it was in the best neighborhood and offered incredible views from the boat. The room itself was spacious, beautifully decorated, and well-equipped with everything we could have needed on holiday. We had our breakfast every morning on top of the boat and loved watching the people go by. Jackie was very helpful and knows the area well - there were great restaurants and shops near by made it ideal for a weekend stay. We highly recommend this to any couple looking for a unique way to see Amsterdam.

We recently stayed for 2 weeks on Jackie's boat. We didn't want to leave. She is fantasitic as a concierge. She popped into the cabin daily when we were out on the town sightseeing to freshen up our area. If we didn't know it, we wouldn't have known that someone else was on the boat as well. You have your own entrance, kitchenette, bathroom and sitting area. It is decorated with an Asian theme in reds and gold-romantic and cosy. The weather was great while we were there. We spent most evenings sitting on the couch on top of the boat enjoying our surroundings. You can see the Westerkirk steeple from the boat and hear the chimes. We walked everywhere. It is a 10-15 minute walk from the Centraal Station and really close to the Leidesplein as well. There are terrific places to drink, eat and shop in the area. The location is also great for day trips to the surrounding areas and then being able to 'come home'. If you are lucky enough to go to Amsterdam, you must stay here. You will never forget your experience.

Our 4 nights on the houseboat were so great! It was such a beautiful space with everything you need - a very comfy bed, a little kitchen, a bathroom, vanity, and desk. The decor was really cool too! Very romantic.
Our favorite part was relaxing above on the deck. It was a great view, and we had wonderful weather. We watched the people and bikes go by and waved at the boaters as they passed us on the canal. The funniest part was that the tourists on the tour boats would take photos of us like we were locals enjoying an afternoon on the deck of a signature Amsterdam site - a real houseboat!
It was most definitely the coolest thing I have EVER done in Europe!
I will highly recommend this boat to anyone who is looking for a unique experience! Can't wait to come back!
Thank you!

Jackie's houseboat is charming, colourful and cosy. The kitchenette has everything you need to make a simple breakfast or picnic lunch. The bed is very comfortable and the shower is excellent. But the real highlight is up on deck. Lounging against the bold zebra print cushions - wine glass in hand - you really feel you've arrived. This is a very pretty location and a great place to chill and watch the lively street and canal life of Amsterdam go by.

The owner, Jackie, was delightful and very helpful. The accommodation was comfortable and spotless with excellent facilities. The location of the boat was the stuff dreams are made of, sitting on the front of the boat sipping wine and watching the envious looks of the passing tourist boats, was terrific!
Five stars!

absolutely delightful.Beautifully conceived accommodation.Compact(you've got to like living on boats).Steep ladder for entry.Great shower.Very nice,informative owner.Five stars!

I enjoyed my stay on the houseboat. As a solo traveler I would not use this one but would bring my romantic interest here. It was very easy to get to and close to lots of things. I really liked the deck and in the afternoons sit up top and watch as tourist and locals passed by. Many people took pictures from the street and from the boats that passed by.
I was concern for Jacky for something happen to her on my last night there and some of her friends came by to wake me about 5am in the morning to tell me she was in the hospital. I hope she is okay.
Overall a wonderful experience and would recommend it.

Ensconced in the heavenly guestroom on this delightful boat I was tempted to just enjoy the experience and give Amsterdam a miss. Up on deck, river and road trafiic (mostly bikes) provide amusement for you, as you are to them. The location is ideal for the Jourdain or the centre with good bars and restaurants close by. The interior is entirely golden with red accents, cosy but glam at the same time. Although compact all that you'll need is provided - and if not Jackie will be happy to provide. Even though she was hospitalized whilst we were there (after falling off her bike) she made sure that her friends looked after us. This is the perfect situation, people around but complete seclusion in your own private haven.

Un séjour qui restera gravé dans notre mémoire. Un vrai nid pour amoureux, au fil de l'eau, idéalement situé au coeur d'amsterdam. Une "terrasse" sur le pont de la péniche, à l'abri d'un arbre, pour regarder passer les bateaux, les vélos, et échanger quelques mots au passage... le soleil était invité, une chance !
La personne qui nous accueille habite dans l'autre partie de la péniche, présence sympathique et discrète.
Vraiment, je vous le conseille.
On a a-do-ré

Our experience of booking a house boat rather than a hotel or a hotel appartment was excellent . Anybody who is planning a visit to Amsterdam should go for a house boat rather than a hotel .

Our house boat was very well decorated (although it was a little smaller than expected) . The hostess was very nice . The check in time was 3:00p.m but she gave us the room at 12:00 . She was kind enough to keep our bags on the check out date in her part of the boat as the check out time is 12: 00 and our flight was at 9:00pm .

Overall the experience was great .

That was the best place I have ever been (seen) in my life.

Boat BK18 is in an excellent area and is absolutely charming. The landlady was so kind in buying me some chocolates as it was my birthday.

Bonjour,

nous avons passé un agréable séjour au sein de cette péniche et la propriétaire fut très acceuilante!!

I must say, this was the best experience of staying in a houseboat I ever imagined.
Jackie, the owner of BK18 houseboat was very nice, we meet her at 3pm day of arrival and she took us through to our room. We had a very large bag so it was hard to get the bag to our room, because of the narrow walkway (approx 1 ft wide). She had everthing we would need for our stay, bed, kitchenette, wc, hot water shower. She has everthing from a hairdryer (a proper one my wife wants to include) to plug adapters/convertors, fairplay to Jackie for having things in the room that you would forget to pack or might leave at home. The room was cleaned, bed made, towels changed every day of our stay. I must admit, before we stayed we thought it would be a bit weird staying on a boat with the person living their but I must say, we didn't hear Jackie once of our 5 day stay, very relaxing......
On the deck we watched time go by, aswell as the locals on there boats and canal boat tours where we waved at people passing, which of course people said "ye lucky feckers". The deck is very relaxing, a couple of drinks with the sun shinning, cant get better than that.The deck is actually the roof of your room so your not interupting Jackie...
when we were leaving Amsterdam, our flight was late so again fairplay to Jackie, she held on to our bag. we were out of our room at 12pm so she could clean it for the next couple to arrive.
Bk18 is very central we thought, 5 min walk to Dam Square and 5 min walk to leidsplein...brilliant!!!!!!!!
Thanks for everything.
Bernard & Karen.

The boat is in a brilliant location - easy to walk to most of the sights and if you get tired jump on a tram or the STOP / GO bus that makes its way from the Central Station along Prinsengracht. There is a huge range of food options in the area and some great brown cafes where you can sit and while the night away by the canal.

The houseboat is ideal for two people, cosy and comfortable with a lovely deck where you can sit and watch the world go by in boats or on bicycles!

My husband and I had such a wonderful time in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago. The description, pictures and reviews of the houseboat are all spot on! BK18 was the perfect place to stay, and what an experience it was. It felt very romantic and indulgent, but its location made it a very practical choice. We wish to thank Jacky for making us feel at home - hope to come back again!

EL barco está muy bien. Muy limpio y muy apañaete.En la pagina web te da la sensación de que no es tan pequeño pero en realidad es muy pequeñito. Te sacan el barco entero y te piensas que es todo para ti, y en realidad estas alkilando una cuarta parte del barco que el resto es la vivienda de la dueña.De todos modos esta muy bien y tiene eso de el rollito del barco y esta decorado graciosete.Y la dueña era agradable o eso nos parecio porque nosotros no dominamos el ingles y a todo lo que nos dijo le asentimos con la cabeza y nos sonrió.Eso si para parejas que tienen total y plena confianza porque es tan pequeñito que todo todo se sabe o se ve o se huele jejeje.Vale la pena.

This boat is charming and comfortable...we had a wonderful stay! The boat is in a wonderful location on the canal and in the nice Jordan part of town. Jackie, the hostess, had great reccomendations for dinner...try Divan, which is delicious Turkish food around the corner. You won't be dissapointed!

I am a little late in posting this, but I want to comment on what a great experience our stay in Amsterdam was last spring. The was probably the first time the place we stayed at was the most memorable part of the experience, especially when Amsterdam is such a beautiful and vibrant city. I had been to Amsterdam several times in the past, but this was my wife's first visit. We both loved staying on Jackie's houseboat, BK18, along a a beautiful canal. There were a lot of houseboats along the canal, but this one stood out so much that people would knock on the door, thinking it was the Houseboat Museum. The views were fantastic, there were some great parks nearby all the major toursist attractions were within easy walking distance, especially West Church and the Anne Frank House. We loved the small cafes around the West Church, but found the best food in the city directly across the street from Jackie's houseboat. We want to thank Jackie for being such a creative decorator and such a considerate hostess.

I've been a lot of times in Amsterdam for the past years, and I've stayed in very different accommodations, but never in a place as lovely, pleasant and well located as Jackie's Boathouse !
Last New Year's Eve, I really enjoyed in a great way the wonderful experience of living over a Channel for a few days. I will ever remember it...
Thank you very much for all, Jackie !!!

This was our first stay in Amsterdam and it will be not the last. We enjoy a lot and we had a great time at Christmas. The weather was really cold, -2 degrees, but the boat was always warm
Amsterdam looks like a fairy tale. People are charming, kind, tolerant and you can breath tolerance also in the street. Peaceful city with no noise. Few cars, lots of bikes, birds over the street. Plenty of charming and warm bars, restaurants and coffee shops.
The boat is in the Jordan neirbourhood, nice place near everywhere. We went walking to Dam´s square, to the most important museums, to the amazing Red Ligt district. In the morning from the boat we coud heart the swams and ducks and the silent pass of the boats because Jackie´s boat is on the one of the most important channels and there are a lot of boats passing all the day,
The boat is a real boat, there are no much room but it is delight design by Jackie. It is comfortable, the attention was fine and tactful.
Jackie, what can we say about lovely Jackie? Better go and discover by yourself.
Sure we will repeat.

We spent a week on the BK18 Houseboat at the beginning of December and it was wonderful. The boat itself is a perfect place to stay. It is just a short walk from the centre of Amsterdam and at that time of year all of the streets were beautifully lit with Christmas lights. The room on the boat is beautifully decorated and spacious with everything you need on board, even umbrellas which were really useful!!. The host made us feel welcome and popped in everyday to ensure that everything was clean and left clean towels everyday. She was always a good source of information regarding museums and things to do. We will definitely be going back to visit again.

j'ai été agréablement surpris de l'endroit de bateau, aménagé avec une fantaisie remarquable ce fut un dépaysement total , tout dans les moindres détails est d'un bon goût . L'hôtesse également un accueille remarquable et service impeccable . Je ne peu que le recommander a tous , André

Myself and my girlfriend stayed in the guest room on BK18 for 3days and it made our trip, we were the envy of our friends who we were meeting over there for the weekend. The room itself has everything that you could want, even a hair dryer as my girlfriend pointed out :)

We both found it very comfortable, romantic and cosy. The landlady is very nice and on the couple of occassions we spoke was very helpful with directions and advise on eating out and nightlife.

We will most definately be recommending boat BK18 to everyone we know and we both look forward to staying there again !

11/10

My wife and I have never been in Amsterdam before and wanted to try a stay in a houseboat.

The houseboat was placed in a rather quiet place in the centrum of Amstedrdam. A few minutes with cab from the railwaystation.

We stayed for 3 nights i November and I wondered if it would be cold. 2 ovens made it warm, but it was cold for your feet if you didn't have any shoes on inside the cabin. We had a bathroom with shower and a kitchen with microwave.

The houseboat is not far from restaurants and will be a good place be for walking and discovering Amsterdam.

We liked the stay very much and would like to come back to stay in Jackies houseboat someday.

My husband and I have just spent 5 nights aboard Jackie's boat on the first holiday we've been on since getting married.

The boat's beautifully decorated - with a very bohemian feel, and Jackie, the owner was there to meet us when we arrived. As previous reviewers have said, Jackie was there to answer any queries / offer some useful advice, but for the most part just lets you get on with it if that's what you'd like.

The room was cosy, and comfortable, a perfect place to come back to and chill out in after strolling around all day.

The area the boat's moored in is one of the nicest in Amsterdam (we thought), with loads of lovely restaurants, shops and picturesque streets as well as being about a 10 min walk to the centre if you wanted to get into the heart of the city.

There's an Algerian restaurant, Rainerai, just a little further down the street (Prinsengracht) which serves the most divine food you can imagine! Then there was the Noordmarkt which happens every Monday morning between 9-1 just a 15 minute walk away, with numerous places to eat the delicious apple strudel, and buy cheap cheese.

Could go on! We would thoroughly recommend staying here if you have the opportunity. We would love to return when the weather's a little warmer so that we could take full advantage of being able to sit on the deck upstairs!

You could not describe the feeling being on a boat and life like a real citizen of amsterdam. We realy enyoy our time there. Jackie was very friendly and helpfull and her boat is one of the most beautifull boats in amsterdam. The place of the boat is not far away from the city and there are several goog restaurants and shops around. If you like to have an other experience than a normal hotel you defenetly have to try this. We loved it and we sure will come back.

Rico

My wife Julie and I spent a week on Jackie's boat in Sept. '07. The accomodations were wonderful, I'm over 6ft. tall and I didn't feel cramped, not even in the shower. The location of the boat couldn't be better, we covered a lot of Amsterdam in our week's stay and "The Jordaan" neighborhood is by far the nicest area in town. There is a grocery store near the boat where you can buy bread, cheese, drinks etc....and keep them in the mini-fridge. Jackie is a very interesting individual, most helpful to us in getting around town. She had some great suggestions for restaurants as well as local festivals. By all means , rent a bike, it's the only way to see the city like a local. Riding a bike out to the Artis Zoo was one of the hi-lites of our trip. We both loved BK-18 and would recommend it to anyone, sitting up on deck and watching the tour boats pass by will be a great memory. Mike & Julie K. St. Paul, MN USA

My boyfriend Mike and I stayed on Jackie's houseboat from September 19th - 23rd. It was amazing. We absolutely loved everything about it. It was decorated really nice and everything was so clean. Everyday we sat on the boat and drank a glass of wine and watched the canal boats go by. The tourists took pictures of us and waved as though we lived there. Jackie was really helpful and so nice. She took us to the post office one day and we went out for a drink with her after. She was always available to answer questions and snuck in everyday after we went out to straighten up for us. Although she was always there when we needed her, we felt like we had the place to ourselves. The location is really terrific too. We were a short bike ride or walk away from dam square. There are really cute restaurants and stores on prinsengracht. Also on our last day there was a horse and buggy parade that passed right by and we were able to watch it from the boat. It was a really wonderful experience all around. It is such a great city and staying on Jackie's houseboat made it that much better. My boyfriend has been to Amsterdam about 10 times and said this was the best place he has ever stayed. I have already recommended it to friends and will probably never stay anywhere else in Amsterdam.

Spent 2 nights - 24 July 07 to 26 July 07 …had a fantastic time…perfect location…houseboat is excellent…I’m definitely going back!

Airline lost my luggage on the way out. Nevertheless, I had a great time – took lots of photos.

Jackie is the perfect hostess.

That's the place where you would live in amsterdam! there isn't anything more to say,
it's just marvellous and jacky the owner is just perfect!
so enjoy this boat as i did!
luca

My husband Mike and I stayed at Jackie's houseboat from July 11-July 15, and it was just fantastic. So highly recommended!! Jackie is a lovely person. We came in on the day of my 25th birthday and she had decorated with balloons and a birthday banner, whch was a sweet, unexpected touch. She was extremely warm and helpful in offering advice on what to do and see. Otherwise, she lives on her side of the houseboat, which is separate from the part she rents out, and she was very quiet and we really felt like we had the place to ourselves. We were so appreciative that we got her some chocolates on the last day to thank her...and found that she had already gotten us a box to thank us as well!

The houseboat itself is amazing. We went all over the city and we did not see a single boat on any canal that even came close in terms of how beautiful and unique and well maintained BK18 is. Tourists on the street and on the canal were constantly taking pictures of it. Inside, it is very cozy and very unique. It is impossible to compare this experience to the traditional experience of living in a hotel room...this will be so much more memorable. Jackie is an artist and the decor is unreal. Also, she uses every square inch (or centimeter, if you like) of space so well! We're from NYC, where space is a real premium, so we can appreciate how she has taken a small space and made it feel warm and cozy and very comfortable. Her color pattern is warm red, orange and yellow, and deep blue. The bathroom is incredible blue and white mosaic tile, and the bedroom is all warm wood, with so many artistic touches.

Basically, you enter from the street into the main living area, which has a nice sized kitchenette, dining area and couch, all for your use. On your right, there are a set of stairs leading down to your bedroom, which is the very front of the boat. And on your left, another set of stairs leading down to the bathroom, also for your private use. Beyond the bathroom is a door leading to Jackie's part of the boat, but she uses a separate entrance to the street so that you never feel disturbed. Also, across from the front door, there is a door leadng to your own private balcony, which overlooks the canal.

You should know that space is limited, and so if comfort is more important to you than adventure or character, then you might be irked at having to climb up and down steep tairs to get in and out of your bedroom and bathroom. Also, the small bathroom is tough on large people. My husband is 5'11 and a bit heavyset, and he had trouble standing up fully in the shower (the tub is elevated) and had to get on his knees when he wanted to shampoo and wash out is hair. But he was more than willing to put up with small inconvenience for the value of the experience. And Jackie worked hard to offer every convenience, cleaned every day while we were out, dried and folded towels, provided lovely satin bathrobes, a drawer full of toiletries, a shelf full of reading material and guidebooks, and basics like eggs and coffee in the kitchen.

The loction of te boat, on the third and most outside of the three golden age canals, could not be more convenient to everything, from the Jordaan to Centraal Station, to the Red Light District, to all the museums, and to public transport. We walked almost everywhere, and it as never more than a 15 min walk (always picturesque) to where we wanted to go, or a 5 min walk to the tram to take us to further away places. It is a beautiful location. Having a kitchen to do a little cooking in was great, because we shopped at the outdoor markets and prepared some meals, instead of eating out, and sitting on our balcony, drinking wine, eating cheese and smoking an occasional joint while the canal boats went by really made us feel like locals.The tourists on the canal cruises were always waving and photographing us, which was funny.

As should be obvious, we absolutely loved staying on BK18, and when we come back to Amsterdam, there is no doubt we'll be staying there again. Thank you Jackie!

If you like to be pampered, and value an image of prosperity, this is not the accomodation for you. If however, you are a true traveler, who appreciates a unique look at a destination from the perspective of the people who live there, this is the perfect place to do so.
During my stay in Amsterdam, I stayed at a five star hotel, a canal apartment, and Jackie's houseboat. The pool was the only amenity at the five star hotel which made it worth the eight HUNDRED euro's a night. Other than that, it could have been a hotel anywhere on earth. There was no "real" dutch experience.
The people who live on houseboats were traditionally less monied than those who have landed homes or apartments. In as much, you will hear the noises of the tourists. This is a fact of life in Amsterdam. You will ALSO experience the soothing rock of the water, the sounds of its fauna, and the very real difficulties of living on water. It takes a lot of work, and money. Jackie works very hard.
Jackie is creative and fun. She will help with anything you need. Never the less, when you want privacy, you have it. A house boat is better for privacy than a hotel! Mind you, accomodations are SMALL, the shower is too small to stand in, which didn't bother me at all, as there was a bath. There is limited lighting and the room is very tiny - but you will find enouh room to place all your luggage, unpack it, and live comfortably.
I am trying to think of gap's in others review's so to help the person wondering if they should book... The truth is, if I were to do it over again, I ould chose to stay on a houseboat. If there was a houseboat with MORE space, I might have chosen it - but alas, this was the only one offering bookings for three days. I am GLAD I stayed here. I would stay here again, and I would reccomend it to others who think like I do and travel like I do.

We loved our time in Amsterdam. The houseboat is in a charming area of the city and everything we wanted to see was within reasonable walking distance. The public transport system was very easy to learn and that made things even easier. Each night we felt as though we were returning home as we came on board. We have already recommended this to several freinds, and we hope someday that we will have the opportunity to do this again.

This was our second stay, but most certainly not our last.

The Houseboat is in a fashionable yet quiet area, just 10 minutes walk from the centre of Amsterdam (5 minutes if you hire a bike!).

Although the accommodation is shared with the lady owner, it is self-contained with full, exclusive facilities, so you do not really know that she is there.

There is a roomy combined full kitchen/dining area, separate shower/wc, bedroom and, best of all, a patio on the canal side of the boat where you can eat or have a quiet drink. The boat is very well decorated and one of the prettiest and most colourful in Amsterdam, so be prepared to have your photograph taken by a tourist on a passing canalboat if you sit outside.

Recommended!!!

We enjoyed our stay in Amsterdam very much and on any further visit we will always stay on a Houseboat! Boat BK18 is such a lovely and peaceful place. It's very cosy, quiet and romantic! The lady that owns the boat is such a good soul and so friendly and helpfull! The quarter where the boat is anchored (Jordaan) has so much to offer: bars, restaurants, shops, friendly people, culture. But first of all the gracht (Prinsengracht) is one of most beautiful grachts of all Amsterdam! Well, this is the ultimate accommodation for Amsterdam!

Very nice place... very nice Host... very well situated... not too expensive... I'd like to come back there.
Thanks

We want to thank Jackie for being such a gracious host and compliment her on having such a beautiful houseboat, BK18. Amsterdam was not originally in our vacation plans but we rerouted our trip just for the opportunity to live on a houseboat in the Jordaan district for four days. It was like living a dream. We had a great time sitting on the deck and sipping wine while tourists took pictures of us during their canal cruises, and the view of the West Church from the boat could have been straight out of a travel brochure. This was much better than any hotel.

The boat was wonderful and Jackie a gracious hostess. Despite the small quarters, which was certainly part of the charm, I plan to return again!! It was decorated so beautifully, and Jackie was always available but not visible, giving me the feeling it was my own. Would highly recommend!!

If you're looking for complete happiness...somewhere between dreams and discovery...
Jackie's wonderful floating creation houseboat accompanied by her, her imagination, her one of a kind fantastic decor, her personality, her smile, her knowing how to enrich your stay in amsterdam is the answer...!
we can not say enough word wise about the whole experience...
it really comes from her heart and by some quirk of osmosis is transferred to you...
you just know you will be back...
back to her boat...
back to her neighborhood...
back to friends and shops she introduces you to...
back to a way of life that just lets the good thoughts continually percolate .....
and forward to keeping in touch with her from whenever/wherever you are
thank you jackie...!
love ya'
jeff & lacy

We had a really fantastic holiday on BK18, the location is superb and found the boat very homely and comfortable. Jackie is a great host and very considerate, giving us lots of space to do our own thing. Highly recommend this to any couples looking for a cosy romantic holiday.

Enjoyed the trip so much and the accomodation was fantastic. In superb location near to everything you would need. Don't think about it book it!!!-

Have just visited Amsterdam for the first time, we had a wonderful time made all the better by staying on Jackie's boat. It gave us a feeling of living their as against stopping over which added to the visit considerably. Jackie was great we wouldn't have known she was their , but was always on hand to give advice and help. The location was simply wonderful, some truly great brown cafes which we loved on our doorstep and we felt as if we in the middle of everything. We will return to Amsterdam in the future and i shall without doubt try and rebook this boat.

Thank you very much for the service and the very nice hospitality.
The house-boat experience was just great and will surely do it again next time I am in Amsterdam.

Thanks
Savino

what a lovely stay we had on the boat. even though the weather outside was freezing, Jackies boat was lovely and warm. Jackie was very discreet during our stay. we only saw her a few times. She made us feel really welcome and were made to feel at home straight away. we had use of the kitchen/lounge and our own bedroom. it was great to have a bath on the boat aswell. we will be back for a visit in the summer, when we will be able to make more use of sitting outside etc.
thanks

This was a really lovely place to stay if you would like to meet a local lady and get a feel for local life. Jackie is great and the boat really nice, and in a great location. I would definately recommend this to anyone who wants to chill out in amsterdam!

I stayed at Jackie's houseboat in late December for four nights. It was cosy and warm - in fact I had to keep turning the radiators down - they are very powerful!Jackie was very welcoming - it was birthday and she even bought me a cake! Very sweet.

The boat is what you would expect in that you have to get yourself up and down little stairways so I would agree with earlier comments that if you have difficulty with movement its proably not for you. Also, you do share the space a little with Jackie, but she does try and keep out of your way as much as possible. So if you want absolute privacy it may not be quite right for you. We were allowed to use the kitchen as much as we wanted.

My partner is 6" but he did manage to cope with the shower, however it is a bit of squeeze. To be honest you have to go with an open mind and accept you are staying on a canal boat - if you have experience of caravaning then you'll be fine!

The boat couldn't have been better located, we walked everywhere and the area is surrounded by picturesque canals, boutique shops and great little bars and restaurants - a classy area. The restaurant across from the boat is fantastic, a little over what we would normally spend but we went on my birthday night so it was a good treat. Romanitc, great food and great service - definitley reccomend it.

I would highly reccomend Jackie's houseboat. My partner and I had a fantastic time and believe we have left a part of our hearts there.

"It's not about the destination, it's all about the journey"

My trip to Amsterdam was a great journey (& adventure) because of Jackie and her unique canal boat. A hotel room is a hotel room, no matter where you travel in the world, but staying in a unique living situation with a local is one of the best ways to "feel" the city and and experience what it has to offer (especially in a limited time).

Living on the Prinsengracht canal in Amsterdam put me in the center of the city. Jackie's tales of adventure put me in the spirit of the people of Amsterdam. This Amsterdam adventure will have me seeking out new ways to accomadate myself as I travel for PartyReptile.com in search of the best annual party events throughout the world.

Thank you very much for the experience and the memories.

We had really wonderful days in August at jackys houseboat. It's a very special place, perfectly located. Sitting on the balcony drinking a glass of whine and greeting the tourists who pass the boat in the tourist boats is a unique experience. The boat offers all you need for a few days, and all attractions are easy to reach. I recommend the boat without any restriction.

Hi,
I really reccommend Jackie's boat. It was a beatiful stay, really comfortable, the boat is cleaned and receiving. We used the kitchen when ever we wanted.
For a nice tour I reccommend to rent a bicycle, it is a nice way to see and go around Amsterdam.
Thank you Jackie.

Roberto

To all who choose Jackie's lovely boat for a relaxing weekend will not be disappointed. The boat is clean and tidy. The cabin where you sleep is cozy and well decorated. The balcony on the boat is a great way to pass the evening with a bottle of wine, cheese and a few crackers. The tourist boats passing on the canal all wave and take your photo so you feel like a real local. The area the boat is situated in is great also. A quiet area near the Old heart of Amsterdam. Pubs, supermarkets and all amenitities are close to hand. The only pitfall is people over 5 foot 8 inches will not be able to stand up in the shower. But there is a bath..... All in all it was a lovely weekend. Thanks Jackie.....

Hi, First a big thanks to Jackie for her hospitality and kindness. Me and my boyfriend Jay rented her houseboat for a long weekend and had an awesome time. We really enjoyed to sit on the balcony, sipping wine and watch the "Amsterdam world" go by......the big touristboats that goes by see you as an tourist attraction and I think we ended up being photographed 100 of times. A good laugh! Everyone who wants to experience Amsterdam and enjoy yourself, rent Jackies houseboat and cuddle up in a red satin bed after spending hours on the balcony. At last I have to agree with fellow speachers that even if Jackie also stays on the boat she sure knows how to leave you alone and give space. Its like she is not around!
We would like to recommend the restaurant just across the road from Jackies houseboat (to the right). Reserve a table, splur yourself and enjoy a good meal with french wine.

We will be back!

Love and big smiles Jenny & Jay (Sweden/USA)

I have spent 4 nights in March on this boat with my friend and we both enjoyed it very much, it was very clean and very well decorated , we could use the kitchen any time we wanted . Jacky was the perfect host and gave us some good advise.The boat is well located and within short walking distance to the main places of interest.
I will definitely recommend this boat and if I ever go back to Amsterdam I will stay there

I wasn't really sure what to expect when staying in a houseboat. I had heard stories about them being cold and cramped - but I booked a few nights anyway because the pictures of Jackie's boat looked beautiful. And when we arrived we were so excited to see that the boat was even better than described online! It was warm and spacious and we were able to prepare our own food there instead of eating out all the time. And the bathroom was GREAT too! It even had a bathtub. And the interior decorating is gorgeous, you feel very comfortable and magical. Overall, it was worth all the money and I really want to book a longer stay next time!

ALL OK. ACCOMODATION VERY VERY GOOD.

We have recently returned home after a wonderful stay on Houseboat BK18 and have to tell you that everything about our stay was perfect from the location, accommodation and the warm, friendly welcome we received fom our lovely hostess Jackie.We hope to visit Jackie's houseboat many times in the future and would not hesitste in recommending it to our family and friends. The boat is compact but beautifully decorated and there are numerous rstaurants,bars and an excellent supermarket within metres from the boat,with all major tourist attractions also within easy walking distance. In short, we cannot recommend it highly enough and look forward to our next visit, so thanks again Jackie,hope to see you soon,lovefrom Margy and Bren, Liverpool, England.

Our host Jackie was wonderful and the boat was amazing! The location was fantastic and nothing compares to being lulled into sleep on a canal in very comfortable and beautifully decorated surroundings. Jackie's boat is not your "typical" houseboat, a very talented artist she's taken the time to decorate and handpaint the interior, making it a very beautiful space comparable to any four star hotel. The boat is warm and inviting and she's a wonderful host that certainly made us feel welcome.

This is the best way to stay in Amsterdam - Thanks for the memories!

Arriving at Jackies houseboat was like coming home. A part of me doesn't want to let anyone else know about the treasure we found at Jackies and the other part wants her to be fully booked always. The rooms were clean and well provided.. the deck was a marvel in the mornings. The boat is located within walking distance of everything.
Our hostess Jackie is a delight and we feel our lives are richer for knowing her. She is a great source of information and took time to help us find the things we were looking for in the city.

Thank you for everything . We'll be back soon.
Corinne and Paul
Asheville, NC.

We found Jackie's accomodations to be just perfect for us! It was four days of heaven. Our little bedroom was a wonderful and comfy place to lay our collective heads after walking all around the city.

The little kitchen was perfect for our morning routine, espresso and all. The deck on the canal was a thing of beauty. The bathroom has a full tub. The weather was fabulous but Jackie even has a tulip handled umbrella just in case.

I have to wonder why anyone stays in a hotel

Thank you very much for a wonderful experience.

Dennis & Teri

We have just returned from a five day stay in Guestroom BK18. This was our honeymoon, which many friends thought an odd choice. However we can only say we had a fabulous time. Jackie's background as a designer is evident in every detail of the intricately decorated interior and attractive exterior of this lovely boat. Its location on the Prinsengracht is extremely convenient for attractions such as the Ann Frank house and a relatively short walk from the city centre with its trams and buses with easy access to all the tourist attractions offered by Amsterdam. We ended up walking to most places, including the Rijksmuseum to see some fabulous Rembrandts.

The whole area is full of lovely little shops and great restaurants so do venture down every side street - your curiousity will be well rewarded. I particularly liked the handmade soap shop on the corner just up the road from the boat and the quirky household goods from the Juffrouw Splinter shop, heading in the opposite direction, towards the Ann Frank house. Directly opposite the boat is an excellent restaurant which offers a reasonably priced Table d'hote and superb service. We also particularly liked the Choice restaurant which is only a five minute walk away, across the bridge. There is also a handy supermarket and we often sat out on the deck leading directly from Jackie's kitchen, quaffing our locally purchased wine and eating cheese, bread and grapes whilst enjoying the glorious view of the canal, only interrupted by the requirement to wave to the passengers on the passing tour boats. After going on a canal tour ourselves we concluded that this really is one of the most appealing houseboats in Amsterdam.

Jackie is a model host and keeps very much in the background whilst always being available and helpful if you need her. We would be very happy to return and are busy recommending this way of staying in Amsterdam and this boat in particular, to all our friends.

Staying on Jacquies houseboat was fantastic. Talk about value for your dollar! I dare you to find anything comparable. The houseboat is located on a beautiful tree-lined canal for easy walking to museums, shopping and nightlife. In the evening you can just chill and wave to the numerous boats cruising up and down the canal, or walk to one of the many nightspots. If you’re heading for Amsterdam, don’t look anywhere else. Jacquie is a wonderful hostess, our space was well cared for and very clean. While we shared the kitchen and bathroom with her, we only saw her occasionally when she checked in on us. I can’t recommend this comfy space more highly!

It was our first time in Amsterdam and staying on Jackie's boat was the best hit: Perfect location to walk around the city, Charming atmosphere, Free from timetables, Relaxing views while you have your breakfast tea on the balcony... aaaaah! We are planning going back soon!

The position of the houseboat BK18 at the canal Prinsengracht is ideal to meet the city and is also a fantastic place to relax. All important spots and places are near by the boat, like groceries, beautiful shops, bars, restaurants and so on. The landlady is a nice and polite person. The furnishings of the boat is practical and sometimes a little bit picturesque. Folks who are taller than 175cm will become problems in movement. We spent five wonderful days at the boat in Amsterdam - thank you very much.

We were very pleased with our stay on houseboat 18. Our hostest, Jackie, was very charming and welcoming. Her creative designs make this boat very special. The accomodations are very unique and furnished with everything you need. There is a full kitchen and sitting area. You can do as much cooking as you wish, tho we only cooked breakfast.
The location is excellent. It is walking distance to all the major sites but away from the tourist crowds.
If you have any physical limitations, it may not be the best boat. There are two sets of rather steep ladder stairs, tho they are only about 4 or 5 steps. Also, if you are extremely tall (2 meters or over 6'5") you would have to watch your head. These were not problem for us and my husband is 6' tall.
The bathroom sink is small and has only cold water. The shower is a bit cramped for tall people but the tub is full length. Plenty of hot water to shower. The bathroom is private for guests.
We loved sitting on the side deck and waving to the tour boats going by. It was a wonderful experience that we heartily recommend.

I have a special relation with this boat as I lived on this boat for close to a year in 1996-1997 before it was available as a B&B.

I know this boat very well and assure you that it is a beautiful boat in a wonderful location. The boat has a gorgeous bedroom, a bathroom with a bathtub, a cozy balcony, and a great view. Jackie is a great host and a long time Amsterdammer. There really is no downside to being in the center of the city and waking up to the pleasant sounds of water and birds.

For me, it was great to come back and spend a few nights back on the boat. It brought back nice memories and this boat is good for the soul and is the perfect home base for any stay in Amsterdam.

my husband and i had a wonderful time on Jackie's houseboat. She is a nice and unobtrusive host - there when you need her but she gives you plenty of privacy. The neighborhood was lovely and a good location to walk everywhere. There is a food market directly around the corner and lovely cafes everywhere. The houseboat was clean and very nicely appointed. We were able to use the fridge and enjoyed a lovely dinner on the balcony of the boat, which was our host's idea. The boat is small (as most houseboats probably are) but we had room for all our clothes and necessities for a 5 night stay. I would highly recommend this houseboat!

Quarter tourns to Amsterdam.This time was the best!!!We had realy great time at Jackie's boat.She is very friendly and also avalible to help you for everythings.The boat is cool and fully fornisched,receiving and warmth, so why don't go?The position is realy near to the city center and all shop...We realy vould like came back soon!!Thank's Jakie .

We are two italian girls who spent 4 days in Amsterdam end of March beginning of April 2005. Our stay was wonderful thanks to the kindness of Jackie the owner of the houseboat bk 18. To stay in this houseboat gave us the possibility to live as peole of A'DAM AND NOT AS NORMAL TOURIST. The boat is situated in center and you can reach by foot every interesting places. The view from the balcony give you strong and unforgettable emotions above all, drinking something during sunset.
The boat is very very nice and clean all the things you can need you have more than in a hotel. We suggest to everyone to do this experience.
Thank you Jackie and we hope to come back in feature.
Sally & Tiziana

We both had a lovely time. Cosy bedroom very clean and comfy.

Hi, just wanted to drop some lines to explain my wonderful stay at BK18 in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago.
The boat is just beautiful an cozy, perfect for a romantic rendevous or for a cultural trip with my nice (that was my case this time).
Location is very convenient, at beautiful Princegratch, close to Ann Frank house and with different posibilities to reach Central Station easily. Of course you can also take a nice walk to some of the city´s "musts".
Decoration is a plus, and Jackie´s kindness is one more reason (if not the main one) to choose this place for a 2-people occupancy.
No more comments about Amsterdam: it is just great!

I strongly recomend this accomodation option in order to enjoy the real Amsterdam.
Hope to have a chance to repeat soon!

Carmen -Madrid (Spain)

This boat is very nice and cozy, owned by a helpful and nice lady. The bedroom is beautiful and you can look right on the water. People should realize that a boat can not give all the comforts of a hotel room, there are for example some steep stairs, but that is what this boat gives its charm to stay. We had a great time there.

We had an amazing time staying on Jackie's barge for 3 nights. The room is very cosy and I love the way that Jackie has decorated the whole boat. While we were there, some people from a Japanese magazine came to do a story about Jackie and life on board a dutch barge, and we got to take part in the photo shoot! I can't say enough how wonderful a hostess Jackie is. She went out of her way to make us feel welcome. It was like staying with a friend we've known for years. I know we will definately be back!

Staying on Jakie's boat was a great experiance and beats Amsterdam Hotels everyu time because,

Its beatiful and romanticly designed and decorated.
beautiful views from the boat
in a great area of Amsterdam within walking distance of everything.
we were looked after well by our host Jackie who is helpful with directions and will have a friendly chat with you while being descreet in leaving you alone to enjoy you stay.

I had friends staying in hotels at the same time and were so jelous when they saw this boat I hope we stay again

We just returned from 8 nights in Amsterdam aboard Jackie Wijnakker's houseboat, the Josja. I would like to offer our enthusiastic recommendation. This is one of the prettiest houseboats you'll see, inside and out. Tourists frequently stop to photograph it. The space is efficiently utilized, and Jackie cleans every day. The location is unbeatable: a quiet, pretty neighborhood just a few blocks away from the center and the museums with interesting shops, restaurants and markets. Jackie is an ideal hostess. She's very considerate, even purchasing hypoallergenic pillows for us. We had free use of the fully-equipped kitchen with tea, coffee and candies. Despite all this, we hardly knew Jackie was there most of the time. We had complete privacy and the sense that the boat was all ours.

I think it's important to keep in mind that this is a boat, though. The bedroom and bathroom are accessible by short but steep, almost ladder-like stairs that may be difficult for some. Also, the canal can get busy during the day with some bumping when a tour boat passes. If this isn't a problem for you, then you've found the perfect accommodations for one or a couple in Amsterdam!

We stayed in the guestroom on boat BK18 at Christmastime, 2004. These accomodations are artsy, cozy and in a prime location in the center of Central Amsterdam. The stairs can be daunting - down to the bedroom, down then up to the bathroom - but if you are nimble this is a great place to stay! The location on Prinsengracht is quiet, yet just 15 or 20 minute walks to everything. Jackie is a lovely host. The most magical moment was at 9pm on Christmas Eve when the carillon in the Westertoren (a marvelous church just blocks down the canal) broke into 45 minutes of Christmas carols - including Jingle Bells! I'd love to be on Boat BK18 right NOW!

We had a great stay with Jackie on her houseboat. She was a wonderful hostess, very helpful and generous. The accommodations were quaint, cozy, and clean. The houseboat was centrally located, within walking distance to *everything.* We didn't use a tram or train at all other than to get to and from the airport. If we return to Amsterdam, we would definitely try to stay with Jackie again.

We really enjoyed staying in Jackie's houseboat this November and would love to make a trip back to visit again. Jackie has decorated her houseboat with the coziest and most creative touches--we felt instantly at home and grateful we'd chosen to stay there. We both enjoyed chatting w/ Jackie--it was also a great way to get a resident's perspective of the city. Jackie was a warm and kind host--[and we loved the chocolate biscuit cookies she left out for us in the kitchen!]. The location was excellent--we were close to many shops, grocery stores, and restaurants. We'd highly recommend renting a bike and viewing the city that way--there's a rental shop nearby the houseboat. It was lovely to eat out and we were also able to make our dinner in the kitchen and people watch from the sofa as the tour boats on the canal flowed by. We would definitely recommend staying here--it was a nice way to observe the city and to feel a part of it. It made our first trip to Amsterdam feel very special and memorable.

Best, Lorie and Sarah

We did enjoy ourselves on the houseboat, it is amazing design in the boat and it is so beautiful. it was lovely view when go outside.

Thank you very much jackie for beautiful 40th cake for justin,it is such nice surprise! also your help too.

thanks

alison and justin

I had the pleasure of staying on "BK18" for 4 days with my son in early November 2004. The boat is very well located in the most interesting Jordaan district of Amsterdam, close to interesting local shops and just 10 minutes walk from Dam Square.
The accomodation is of very high quality with a nice "personal" touch. Although some facilities are shared with the lady owner, such is the layout of the boat that it seemed as if we were on our own.
Good value and highly recommended!

We had a lovely stay on your barge. It was very nicely decorated and we had everything we needed. I have already recommended to other people.
Annick

Having lived on our own boat for more than a year in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, we were pleased with the overall stay on Jackie's canal boat and her spectacular hospitality. Inexperienced boaters or physically impaired might be put off by climbing ladders and the physical challenge getting to the head. It was , in all, a delightful place to stay and convenient to shopping and town, but it was a boat and therefore quarters were small by most standards. In spite of the continuous canal traffic, there was no motion due to wake action. We would recommend it for people who are physiclly fit and have a little adventure in their hearts. It's nice to talk about to your friends and a definite change from a hotel.

Hi houseboat-lovers.

After having stayed a few days at Houseboat BK18 also named Josja in the Prinzengracht there is simply no other way to stay in Amsterdam. A houseboat give you a soothing calmness and unique posibility of experiencing the fantasticly lively canals of the city. Sitting on the porch with a drink and you feel like king of the canals. The houseboat itself is very artisticly decorated and the host is as nice.

Don't expect a lot of room and luxury - except for the mental state! And don't tell too many. It would be nice to keep the houseboats-for-tourists-secret for ourselves!
Only missing information was that the twinbed only had one coversheet! Would be nice to know for future platonic friends seeking your beautiful accomodation.

Sincerely,
Dennis Drejer, Denmark

Hi dear Jackie, dear other former visitors, and dear visitors to be!

We stayed in Jackie's boat at the first week of September. The location is perfect; it is in the center area and takes roughly 30 minutes to stroll from the Royal Palace to the boat. A supermarket is available in 5-minute walk from the boat and a tram stop is in 15-minute walk. The neighborhood is nice and quiet. On the balcony, we can see the boats passing by on the Prinsengracht. It is also possible to take a picture of the boat on the Prinsengracht while taking the canal cruise.

The boat is neat, tidy, and the decoration is a bit exotic and full of charm and character of our hostess, Jackie. If you have seen the photos, then you must come and take a look yourselves. The guestroom itself is more than comfortable and really fantasitic.

Jackie is a wonderful hostess. She is friendly, kind, considerate and makes us feel at ease. She had everything prepared in advance and gave us some tips on what's more to see in Amsterdam. We thank Jackie for asking us to join her and her friend for the canal cruise on her friend's boat, but it was a pity that we already planed to see some others and could make it.

Together with the good weather during our stay, we enjoy our time in Amsterdam and on Jackie's boat.

Best wishes!
Yin-Zu and Fang-Yuh

The boat was great, very well presented and much more homely than you'd think!
The boat was located in a lovely area and within walking distance of everything you may need and everywhere you would need to go!

really enjoyed our stay and will deffinately be going back!

Dear Ilonk,

I would like to complement your company on the excellent service we have had not only during the booking stages (which were simple and hassle free) but during the time we spent in Holland.
We stayed on houseboat BK18 for 4 nights. From the first day we were there our hostess Jackie made us feel very welcome and nothing was too much trouble. The boat is full of charm and charachter and I could have spent all day waving at the other boats going up and down Prinsengracht from our balcony.
I'm sure Amsterdam would have been great where ever we would have stayed, but staying on the boat in it's fantastic location really put the "icing on the cake!!"
Thankyou to all involved, we will definately be returning.

Yours Faithfully,

Andrew & Nicky Owens

I'm not sure what I expected from my planned stay on a house boat but the realitiy was a pure joy.. Jackie was the perfect host.. She was on hand and welcoming when we needed her and left us to our own devices for the remainder of our stay. the House boat was clean and tidy and couldn't have been a better location in Amsterdam. surrounded by restaurants , caffe bars and little nick nack shops. its also close to a super market and a local market on Mondays. The Dam rack isn't too far away either. We were there for Gay pride and the parade passes right by the boat and the party was amazing. after Jackie's friend Fritz took us in his boat and we followed the prade.. I would totally recomend house boat BK18. it was fun, friendly and made for a great week end break Thanks Jackie

Cheers
Paul

We had a very wonderful and romantic stay on Jackie's boat. Everything was perfect. Location is great.
We will be back

We visited Amsterdam in july and we found our staying in this houseboat one of the most charmingl things of our holiday. We enjoyed it particularly during a rainy evening, when its pitoresque and confortable sofa was the only place were we wonted to be. We recommend it to everyone who wants to be a little more than a simple tourist and expecrience the atmosphere of this unique place in an originally way.

Dear Ilonk,

It was wonderful vacation for us. We had a good weather, we saw a lot of things in Amsterdam and outside of Amsterdam. In the boat was also wonderfull. We made fotos and films and on Saturday night we shown these film to our friends. All of them want to come in Amsterdam and sleep in a boat as we slept. Jackie is a nice women. It was a pleasure to meet her. Thank you very much for everything one more time.

Lili&Dimo

Jackie’s houseboat is on the Prinsengracht and situated in one of the most magic, and central, corners of Amsterdam from where you can reach everything either walking or by bike. The houseboat reflects the very nice owner’s creativity and style and is perfectly suited for all those who like it a little bit “particular” and are not really fond of impersonal hotel rooms. And which better choice in Amsterdam than living on water. To speak with the words of Laura Gilpin: “A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.”

The other reviews just say everything you need to know if you want to spend some time in a dreamlike cosy houseboat! For me the Prinsengracht and the Jordaan are the most genuine and charming quarters of Amsterdam, with a free-and-easy atmosphere... and when you are inside the boat, you feel like you're slackening in a friend's home, without any wish of going outside in the snow! And, above all, you'll have a good time with the marvellous Jackie. So don't wait any longer!

Hallo Ilonk

Du erhälst mein feedback betreffend mein Aufenthalt vom 6.12 - 8.12 2003 auf dem Hausboot BK 18 (J. Wijnacker): - Das Boot war sehr sauber und ordentlich aufgeräumt.
- Die Heizung funktionierte einwandfrei.
- Das WC und die Badewanne waren sauber.
- Der Standort des Bootes ist schön, ruhig, nicht gefährlich, und nahe des
Zentrums.

Ich bin sehr zufrieden und es war ein schöner Aufenthalt.

Verbesserungsvorschläge:
- Unbedingt eine genauere Routenbeschreibung ab Bahnhof/Flughafen zu den
Booten. (Tram/Bus Haltestellen)
- Touristen Stadtplan und Pass bereits im Boot vorhanden.
- Wichtige Telefon Nr. (Polizei, Feuerwehr, Notfall - Spital/Arzt, Houseboathotel etc.)
unbedingt im Boot vorhanden.


Liebe Grüsse

Walter Lisci

We wanted to stay a few days in Amsterdam and I found out that all the hotels were expensive and had no charm. So I decided to reserve 3 nights at the BK18, Guestroom. And it was a very special and romantic experience. The decorations are wonderfull. The boat is in the middle of Amsterdam, perfect location. The hostess is very friendly. I advise to try out this house-boat.
It has everything you need.

In a city as unique and beautiful as Amsterdam, you'd be doing yourself a disservice to stay at any regular hotel. Jackie, hostess of the Josja, provides an air of cultural authenticity to her A'dam guest room, one of the most quentessentially Amsterdam. Warm and welcoming, in the idylic Jordaan, with the ever-chiming Westertoren soaring over centuries-old canal house neighbors, and contented Dutch day-trippers gliding (Amsterdam-paced) by on the Prinsegracht, within two days, you'll feel the canal waters surging through your veins. The most fulfillingly Dutch way to experience Amsterdam.

We stayed only for 3 nights of 1 week,( Yes! students have to be carefully with money) but this boat was so cute with an very artistic decoration and a really artistic Lady ( Thank you for all Jackie!!) We hope to return it ones again !

Dear Ilonk,
We had a pleasant stay and Jackie is a nice hostess.We have never rented such a beautiful and personal designed place. Jackie invested a lot of work and creative ideasin every little thing (floors, bathroom...). She also was a good help in finding nice local places (restaurants, shows). We can highly recommend a couple of days on a houseboat. We enjoyed the different atmosphere and waking up right next to the water.
Only one suggestion to make things better: No reparing of anything on the boat during the guests stay !
We found the price not expensive neither cheap, but fair.
And yes we are thinking of coming back.
Greetings
Katja and Erich from Vienna/Austria

Fantastic housboat, wonderfully decorated; great location; super hostess. would return in a minute if we could.

We loved our 5 days on this houseboat. It is perfectly located to easily walk around Amsterdam or use public transportation. It's also near the Jordann, with all of it's happening music, arts, etc. Jackie is a teriffic artist and wonderful hostess. The houseboat is incredibly charming & quite possibly the classiest one around. We enjoyed sitting on the balcony outside by the canal and pretending we were locals! Thanks for a great stay in Amsterdam!

The guestroom was charming, may be a little hard to access from the kitchen ... But Jackie was very nice and the landscape is incredible ...
I advice people to try the trip !!

We had a brilliant time in Amsterdam and it was made very special by our stay on house boat BK18. We were celebrating a 30th birthday and the host was very lovely and accomodating.
The boat is in one of the prettiest parts of Amsterdam and it was just good to come back and have the balcony to sit on a watch canal life go by.
It is quite small but ideal if you want use it as a base rather than somewhere you will spend most of your time. The boat has been renovated/decorated by the host herself and it is very obvious a lot time and love has been spent on it over the years.
I reckon you would be very pleased if you chose this boat and would have a wonderful time in the heart of Amsterdam.
Enjoy it xx

What can I say, we had a fantastic long weekend in Amsterdam, made even better by great accomadation. If you are looking for something a little less ordinary then I would recommend staying on a houseboat. BK18 really is a beautiful vessel, and its not hard to see that a lot of effort has been made to keep it that way. The owner has contributed tasteful artistic flair herself. It is in a very convenient position for access to all the best parts of Amsterdam, as well as being secluded enough to get away from the hustle bustle. Sitting on the deck watching the tourist boats go by, as well as locals pleasure cruising on thier boats is infectious, but not the best place to be with a hangover! I would recommend this place to anyone......

"We very much enjoyed our 4 night stay on this lovely house-boat. We very much appreciated Jackies (hostess)friendly hospitality. With the help of her proposals we experienced a lot of nice things in Amsterdam. Her house-boat lies in one of the most interesting and beautiful areas in Amsterdam. Good bars and restaurants around. A lot of shops were you can get very nice things for your money:-)If you prefer to enjoy cultural live...no problem...you find everything more or less around the corner.". Melanie and Gunnar.

Six nights on one of the most beautiful houseboats on the Prinsengracht gave my daughter and I the perfect base to enjoy Amsterdam. I have nothing but superlatives for the guestroom on BK18. The boat is in the most fantastic location - for the museum area, the Jordaan and for those want it, the city centre too. But best of all, it's at the heart of Amsterdam's canal life - there is no better way to start the day than with a cup of tea on the canalside porch of BK18 and watch the city wake up. Later in the day, with a drink in hand, you can take to the balcony again, as I did, and watch the world sail by. Of course you have to wave like royalty, and are likely to be captured on the cameras and videos of tourists from around the world. I felt a real local and would gladly have stayed there forever! Highly recommended for an insider's view of another world as well as for a wonderfully relaxing holiday.