About us

Since 2019, I, Brian Bouwens, have been working as an entrepreneur at Boattours Spaarndam, where I focus entirely on the world of boats. Just like my grandfather, the love for boats is in my blood! My entrepreneurial journey started with renovating small, old boats with the plan to rent them out. Our goal was to make a flying start during Sail 2020. However, we soon discovered that renovating these small, outdated boats that did not meet the requirements was not the right approach. That is why we sold these boats and invested in a tour boat, which we offered for booking online during King's Day and Sailing. The response was phenomenal, resulting in the purchase of a second tour boat.

In preparation for an expected influx of guests, we started strong and laid a solid foundation for our future success. Unfortunately, many of our promising plans were derailed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, in which Sail played a major role. We had to adapt to the new business conditions and saw opportunities in this time of crisis. This led to a focus on the second-hand boat trade, a market that was in high demand during the pandemic. While we were actively involved in the boat trade, we were steadily working behind the scenes to improve our existing tour boat. For example, we converted our tour boat and made it fully electric.

In 2020 we converted a Tjalk, an old cargo ship, into a luxury accommodation boat for 8 people, available for rent since June 2022. As we saw the end of the crisis approaching in 2022, we focused on building what is now a successful tour operator. Every year we grow, expand our fleet, and build a fantastic team.

At Haarlem City Tours, our journey reflects resilience, adaptability and determination to deliver unforgettable experiences. Come aboard and explore the waters with us as we create unforgettable memories.