Weddings · private sloop with skipper
Wedding boat hire in Zwolle
The most beautiful way to get anywhere on your wedding day is by water. No traffic, no hunting for parking, and the Sassenpoort glides past along the way.
- Party size
- 2 to 30 people
- Duration
- 1 to 5 hours
- Use
- Transfer, photo shoot or reception
- From
- € 250,- per boat
The boat is rarely the whole wedding day, and it doesn't need to be. In practice, the sloop replaces one transfer or fills one block in the schedule: the couple arriving at the venue by water, the guests sailing from the ceremony to the party venue, the photo shoot in between, or the reception afterwards. Precisely because it's one clearly defined part of the day, it's the part people remember.
The sloop is yours alone. No one else comes on board, there's no fixed route you have to follow, and you set the pace together with the skipper. Parties of up to thirty fit on the main boat; if your group is larger, extra guests sail alongside in small electric boats around the sloop.
Because we sail fully electric, there's no engine roar and no exhaust fumes. That sounds like a detail, until the moment someone gives a speech or a photographer records sound.
Where the boat fits into your wedding day
Sailing to the ceremony venue
Arriving by water instead of by car. This works when the venue sits on or close to the canal and there's a usable mooring spot. Tell us the address when you enquire and we'll let you know in advance whether it's feasible and how much time to allow.
Taking guests from the ceremony to the party
Instead of thirty guests in a convoy of cars through the city centre, they sail to the next venue together. Both points need a mooring spot. Allow more time than by road: boarding and disembarking with a large group takes ten minutes at each end.
The photo shoot in between
The ninety-minute gap between the vows and the reception is the trickiest block of the day for many couples. On the canal, your photographer gets the Sassenpoort, the Eekwal, the Plantagekerk and the Watertoren as backdrops in a single cruise, without you having to pose in front of a crowd.
The reception or drinks afterwards
No function room with a seating plan, but a sloop where everyone naturally mingles. That works well when your guest list is made up of several groups who don't know each other yet. An hour and a half to two hours is the usual length here.
Can you get married on a boat in Zwolle?
Not the official vows. In the Netherlands, a marriage or civil partnership must be performed at a location designated by the municipality, and our sloop isn't one. If you'd like to know which locations in Zwolle are designated, the municipality is the right place to ask.
What you can do on board is hold a moment of your own: personal vows, a ring moment or a few words from a friend or family member, after the official part has been completed elsewhere. It's not a ceremony in the legal sense, but for guests it's often the moment that stays with them.
In practice, most couples choose the boat not for the vows but for the journey around them. And that's where the sloop is at its best: taking thirty guests across the water to the next venue at once, while the city glides by.
Practical: what to think about in advance
Weather. The sloop sails in cloudy weather and light rain, but a wedding dress and a driving downpour don't mix. We agree a moment in advance to make the call together, usually on the morning itself. In thunderstorms or strong wind we don't sail.
Boarding. You board from the quayside. With a long train or high heels that's doable, but allow a few unhurried minutes and let the photographer board first so the moment is captured.
Speeches. The main boat is open, so a speaker needs a strong voice or the group needs to sit close. For a short speech that's fine. For a long programme with several speakers, a function room is a better fit.
Decorations. Your own flowers, ribbons and styling are welcome. We only ask for materials that can't end up in the water: no loose confetti, no rice, no balloons that can come free.
What the sloop passes on your wedding day
The route along the Zwolle city canal passes the Eekwal, the medieval Sassenpoort, the Plantagekerk, the old Watertoren and Theater de Spiegel. That's the classic loop and it takes about an hour. With an hour and a half or two hours, there's room to lie still somewhere longer, for the group photo or a few words from one of the guests, for example.
The skipper knows the canal and knows at what times the water is quiet. If you'd like the Sassenpoort in your photos without other boats in the frame, mention it when you book.
How to plan it
- Decide which block of the day takes place on the water and when that block starts and ends.
- Tell us where the ceremony venue and the party venue are, so we can check whether sailing between the two is feasible.
- Book well in advance. Saturdays from May to September fill up first.
- Confirm the final times, guest numbers and decorations two weeks beforehand.
- On the day itself, agree with the skipper about the weather and the boarding moment.
Book Wedding day 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
- Prosecco Boat
From € 39,50 p.p.
Unlimited prosecco suits the toast after the vows, and there's no settling up by the glass.
- Drinks & Luxury Sharing Platter
From € 49,50 p.p.
If the reception has to bridge the gap to dinner, the sharing platter keeps guests from drinking on an empty stomach.
- Private Boat Rental
From € 250,- per boat
For a photo shoot or guest transfer you pay per boat instead of per person, which makes a real difference with smaller parties.
Tailored quote
Calculate the price for wedding day
Fill in your wishes below and receive a no-obligation tailored quote for your cruise on the canals of Zwolle.
Frequently asked questions about wedding day in Zwolle
Can you pick us or our guests up at the wedding venue?
Often yes, but it depends on the location. The address needs to be on or close to the water with a usable mooring spot. Tell us the addresses when you enquire and we'll let you know in advance whether it's possible and how long the cruise takes.
Can we get officially married on the boat?
Not the official vows: a marriage must be performed at a location designated by the municipality, and our sloop isn't one. Contact the municipality for the designated wedding venues in Zwolle. On board you can hold your own moment with personal vows or a ring moment, after the official part has been completed elsewhere.
How long does sailing between two venues take?
That depends on the distance by water, but always allow more time than by road. The full loop along the city canal takes about an hour. Add roughly ten minutes at each end for thirty guests to board and disembark, and keep half an hour of slack in your schedule.
How many guests can come along?
The Sloep Rondje Gracht Zwolle takes thirty people. If your party is larger, small electric boats sail alongside the main boat, one for every five extra guests, so the group stays together. With a package, the price per person stays the same.
What happens if the weather is bad on our wedding day?
In cloudy weather and light rain we sail as normal. In thunderstorms, strong wind or an orange weather warning we don't sail, and we look together for an alternative moment or a solution within the day. We usually make the call on the morning itself, so you keep your options open as long as possible.
Can we decorate the boat?
Please do. Flowers, ribbons, garlands and personal styling are all welcome. We only ask you not to use loose confetti, rice or loose balloons, because they end up in the canal.
Is your question not listed? Check the general FAQ or get in touch.
