Founded by creative houseboat owner Vincent van Loon, the Houseboat Museum provides visitors with an unprecedented opportunity to experience life on board a real houseboat and is the only museum of its kind in the world. The museum is situated on the “Hendrika Maria” a former freight vessel built in 1914 that was originally intended for the transportation of sand, gravel and coal, until the 1960s. Thereafter, the vessel was converted into a houseboat and has been lived in for close to 20 years, although currently the houseboat only functions as a living museum. The interior showcases the skipper’s quarters, including the sleeping bunk, living room, kitchen and bathroom, and is as authentic as it is charming. The rustic, historic exterior of the houseboat has been well-maintained, and gives visitors the illusion that the owners have just popped out to do some shopping. Situated close to the Anne Frank House and the Westertoren, the Houseboat Museum’s unique location on the Prinsengracht canal makes it an interesting alternative for those weary of tourist crowds at bigger museums such as the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum.