Amsterdam seen from a refugee boat
Amsterdam’s canals have seen it all — trade, war, celebration, and exile. But what if the water could speak? In this chapter, Rederij Lampedusa invites you aboard a former refugee boat to navigate Amsterdam’s migration history from a perspective rarely heard. Guided by captains with lived migration experiences, we’ll trace the hidden currents of displacement and belonging that have shaped the city. From colonial trade routes to modern asylum policies, the journey reveals how migration is woven into the fabric of Amsterdam. Step aboard and see the city from a new, floating perspective.
About Rederij Lampedusa
In 2015 we pulled two former migrant boats from the Mediterranean to Amsterdam. To start the most inclusive, the most colourful and probably the most sympathetic canal cruise company of the city. You may decide whether we have succeeded in this. We — a crew with roots in Syria, Somalia, Eritrea, Egypt and the Netherlands — would love to sail and guide you through our beautiful Amsterdam.