Networking drinks · clients and entrepreneurs
Networking drinks on a boat in Zwolle
Networking drinks in a function room is a crowd glancing at the door. On a boat nobody can leave, and that turns out to be exactly the point.
- Group
- 15 to 25 guests
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Best time
- Late afternoon
- From
- € 32,50 p.p.
The problem with networking events is well known: the guests who already know each other stick together, the newcomers circle the bar, and after an hour half the room has gone. That doesn't happen on a sloop. The group is contained, everyone stays together for two hours and the surroundings supply the opening line.
That works up to about twenty-five guests. Beyond that, it becomes too many people to have actually spoken to everyone, and at networking drinks that is precisely the goal. Better two cruises with twenty-five contacts than one with fifty.
The format is usually a welcome drink, a short introduction by the host, and beyond that mostly leaving space. On board, the programme density is lower than on shore, and that is an advantage.
The setup that works best
Welcome on the quay. Have the host at the boarding point ten minutes before departure, with the drinks already set up on board. The conversation starts before the boat casts off and no time is lost waiting.
Introduction at departure. Two minutes, no more: who you are, why you invited everyone, and the announcement that there is no further programme. That last part takes the pressure off.
A moment halfway. If something needs announcing, do it halfway through while the boat lies still at the Sassenpoort. Attention is at its peak and the surroundings provide the picture.
Wrap up at mooring. Give brief thanks and let people know what happens next. Guests who want to carry on then walk into the city centre together.
Why a boat makes networking easier
There is no escape, and that sounds worse than it is. At networking drinks in a function room it takes someone five seconds to walk away from a conversation that isn't flowing. On a twelve-metre boat that isn't possible, so people invest longer in a conversation. In practice that produces more substantial conversations.
The surroundings give everyone an opening. Anyone stuck for words points at the Sassenpoort. It sounds trivial, but it saves the first awkward minute that exists at every networking event.
The group is visibly contained. Everyone can see at a glance who is there, instead of the party scattering across a room with corners.
And it is a reason to say yes to the invitation. Drinks in a meeting room generate cancellations; drinks on the canal, far fewer.
Practical
Name badges work better on a boat than on shore, because people sit closer together and the badge is actually readable. Put the organisation on it, not just the name.
Late afternoon is the best slot: guests come straight from work, the canal is quiet then, and by seven o'clock everyone is free again. In summer it is also the prettiest light.
Company flags or banners on board are allowed, as long as they are secured and leave the skipper's view clear.
There is no toilet on board. On a two-hour cruise with business contacts that is worth weighing up, especially if the drinks follow a working day: opt for an hour and a half, or agree a short stop in advance.
How to plan it
- Cap the guest list at twenty-five, so everyone can actually speak to everyone.
- Schedule the cruise for late afternoon, straight after work.
- Make sure the drinks are set up on board before people step on.
- Keep the introduction to two minutes and announce that there is no further programme.
- Request a custom quote so you can sign off the costs internally.
Book Networking drinks in Zwolle
Tell us what you have in mind and we'll think along about the duration, the boat and the programme. No obligation, and usually an answer within a day.
Request a tailored quoteWhatsApp +31 6 34274760Or email info@rondjegrachtzwolle.nl
Matching packages
- Drinks & Luxury Sharing Platter
From € 49,50 p.p.
At after-work drinks you want something to eat, and a platter also keeps people moving between conversations.
- Drinks Cruise
From € 32,50 p.p.
Unlimited drinks at a fixed price per guest, so the cost of the event is settled in advance.
- Business Morning Cruise
From € 30,00 p.p.
For a networking breakfast or a morning session with business contacts, alcohol-free.
Tailored quote
Calculate the price for networking drinks
Fill in your wishes below and receive a no-obligation tailored quote for your cruise on the canals of Zwolle.
Frequently asked questions about networking drinks in Zwolle
How many guests are networking drinks on the boat suited to?
Fifteen to twenty-five guests works best. The sloop seats thirty, but at networking drinks you want everyone to have spoken to everyone, and above twenty-five that no longer happens. Two cruises with a smaller group achieve more than one full one.
Is there room for a short pitch or introduction?
Yes. With the boat lying still and the music off, a speaker can be heard by the whole group. Keep it to two to five minutes. A presentation with slides doesn't work on board, because there is no screen and daylight makes a laptop unreadable.
Can we bring our own banner or flag?
Yes, company branding is allowed as long as everything is secured and the skipper's view stays clear.
Do we get a business quote?
Yes. For business groups we prepare a custom quote in advance and the invoice is issued in your company's name.
Is your question not listed? Check the general FAQ or get in touch.
