Electric houseboat hire in the Netherlands, no licence needed: costs at Natural Yachts and Friesland Boating

You can hire a fully electric boat for a week in the Netherlands without a licence from €1,420, at Natural Yachts near the IJsselmeer. It is the only hire company with a fully electric fleet that we found. Friesland Boating in Koudum also advertises electric boats from €435, but both of its boats carry a diesel generator.

Natural Yachts and Friesland Boating compared

Sources: Natural Yachts Nexus Revo 870, Northman 1050, Northman 1200, Northman 1300, Natural Yachts FAQ, Friesland Boating Besla 1100, EV 1000, prices and deposit.

None of the prices says whether VAT is included. Both companies only show seasonal prices and weekend rates in their booking calendars.

Natural Yachts: the only fully electric fleet

Natural Yachts is based in Marknesse and Vollenhove, between Flevoland and Overijssel. From there you can cruise to the Frisian lakes, the Randmeren, the IJsselmeer, the Markermeer or the Weerribben-Wieden national park (Natural Yachts). The fleet ranges from the 8.70 m Nexus Revo 870 cabin cruiser to the 12.66 m Northman 1300 electric trawler with a solar roof. Both trawlers have CE category B, so they are also built for larger lakes.

Range depends heavily on speed: according to the hire company, the Northman 1300 covers 375 km at 6.5 km/h but only 140 km at 12 km/h. You charge from ordinary shore power in harbours and at municipal moorings; no special charging point is needed. Payment varies by location, often with coins (FAQ). Where you find shore power in the Netherlands is shown on our charging map Netherlands.

You need no licence for any of Natural Yachts' boats. The hotel service (€195 for the Nexus Revo 870, €295 for the trawlers) includes final cleaning, bed linen and a handover with a short test drive. If you have never steered a boat, you can add a two-hour lesson for €110. The minimum age is 18 (hire terms). The 2027 season can already be booked.

Friesland Boating: electric cruising, but with diesel on board

Friesland Boating hires out two boats with electric motors in Koudum, on the south-western edge of the Frisian lakes. The company advertises the Besla 1100 as "100% electric". According to the boat details, however, it has a diesel generator as a range extender, using about 2 litres of diesel while it runs. The company gives the four lithium batteries as "28 kW", which presumably means 28 kWh. With the generator, Friesland Boating calls the range at 9 km/h "unlimited". For the EV 1000 the fuel is listed as "electricity and HVO diesel" (Besla 1100, EV 1000).

For the Besla, Friesland Boating requires experience: you must have driven a motor boat of 11 m or more at least twice without damage. You can hire the EV 1000 without experience; a lesson is recommended. The minimum age is 18 or 21 depending on the boat (booking terms). The company describes the Besla's price as "all-in".

Do you need a licence in the Netherlands?

No. In the Netherlands you need no licence for boats under 15 m long that cannot go faster than 20 km/h (wetten.overheid.nl, CBR). Friesland Boating states these limits itself for all its boats. Natural Yachts gives no top speed, but says that none of its charter boats requires a licence. All six boats are shorter than 15 m. The rules with sources, and how they compare with Germany and the UK, are in Houseboat hire without a licence. Electric houseboats in Germany are compared in Electric houseboat hire.