Private tour of the Eastern Docklands in Amsterdam | With Lex and the City

This page is about a maritime tour of Amsterdam’s Eastern Docklands (“Oostelijk Havengebied” in Dutch). For a (small) group or as part of a company outing. (a biking-, footbiking-, walking- or skating “Lexperience”.)

It takes place in an area we also recommend touring when it is (too) busy in the city center. (Like on a Saturday afternoon) In the Docklands in Amsterdam East there is still space & it is diverse.

In Dutch (rondleiding Oostelijk Havengebied)

(The Eastern Docklands are often mixed up with the Eastern Islands. The private tour of the latter you’ll find here.)

Twenty themes and highlights in the Eastern Docklands area during that maritime private bike tour.

Before we carry on with that biking “Lexperience”: we offer a walking tour as well in a part of the Eastern Docklands. It takes place on (cool) Cruquius Island. (Ask us.)

1. History of the Eastern port area in Amsterdam. What was before. Why it was created in the first place, what has happened during its peak period, and why it does not have its original function anymore.
2. Converted warehouses. Like on Cruquius Island (The cool buildings “Monday to Sunday”) and on Veem quai.
3. Another example of recycling of a building: a crane converted into a mini-hotel on KNSM island.
4. A last “reuse” one: former wine silo’s being put on the roof of a former wine terminal, and used as luxurious apartments now. videoclip.

   

    

5. The Eastern Docklands is the heart of the number 1 sailing event SAIL. (August 2025)
6. The start of the now so trending self-build plots. The possibility of creating your own house, being your own architect and builder, has started in the Eastern Docklands by the end of the last century.
7. Demographics: the aim of Borneo island being the place for families. And the majority of houses being apartments though.
8. Living: the high costs of housing. (630.000 Euro on average in 2023.)
9. Working: where are innovative companies located? And where’s the breading ground with creatives?
10. The latest developments: like the total remake of Cruquius Island. With cars being underground. (Sooo 2025)
11. The former head quarter of the Eastern Docklands area in Amsterdam. The former so-called “Shipping house”.  (Not to be found in the district itself, however nearby. On demand and in case of enough time.)
12. We’ll make a comparison with other areas in Amsterdam: like “Noord“.
13. The nicknames. Amsterdammers like creating nicknames and in the Eastern Docklands it seems it is even higher than average. (Like “the “rotting molar”)
14. The 7 different parts of this tempting district in Amsterdam East.
15. Music venues!
16. Modern Architecture, like the Python Bridge. Or the 17th century remake on the Java Island. (from local architect Sjoerd Soeters.)

    

17. The space and peace while touring. Although the Eastern port area is pretty centrally located, it is virtually always quiet.
18. Sustainable items. A lot of owners of house boats are getting off gas and into water pumps. It is urgent. This is subsidized by the government. And the Jakarta Hotel is an Eco item as well.  And the floating gardens (rafts with trees) in Entrepot port. And we have already mentioned the recycling of buildings, which is sustainable as well.
19. We see other local trends popping up here; like a local brewery and “pétanque” (balls) at a bar.
20. Water is to be seen and found continuously during the private bike tour. (Chk the cycle map beneath.)

Pricing of the Eastern Docklands of Amsterdam private tour

Rates are to be found on our private tour guide Amsterdam page.

The only exception are the Lex and the City private tours in this area during SAIL Amsterdam 2025. Not because we charge more for the same, but because things will be different those days. The Eastern Docklands Amsterdam are in the heart of the area where SAIL takes place.

Therefore requests during SAIL 2025 are tailor-made.

Lex showing a journalist from the UK “het Oostelijk Havengebied”.

(chk out the 1st paragraph)

Amsterdam’s resurgent Dockland’s neighbourhood without the tourist crowds

In the east of the city, a makeover is luring hip hotel brands and creative restaurants

Cruquius Island top-7,5

Come and see this unique and evolving corner of Amsterdam Eastern Docklands!

1. 1. Floating Islands
   2. Former wine silo’s, now serving as cool apartments on the roof of Harbour Club. ( a former wine terminal) Chk the Youtube clip before you go see it offline.
   3. The smallest museum in the World (at least, that is what “they” say…)
   4. Former cattle market
   5. The converted warehouses Monday to Sunday (now rebuilt to apartments) Including a view on the harbor and Borneo Island
   6. View from Cruquius Wharf on Amsterdam Rhine Canal and the pumping station Zeeburg
   7. Former Insulinde House, now pétanque and brewery hotspot with terrace
   8. Modern architecture, circular housing solutions and car free living as from 2023.

Lex and the City track Cruquius Island on Komoot. (This is an external website with our walking route on it.)

Venue Finder in the Eastern Docklands in Amsterdam

For results in your business meetups choose for an inspirational location.
This one a frequented yesterday. On Cruquius Island in the Eastern Docklands.
Name: NIU.

Full track of the Eastern port area tour in Amsterdam by Lex and the City: water, water, water!

The storyteller of East Amsterdam is ready to help hotels in the Eastern Docklands with a cool description of the area around their place.