What a fantastic experience! Even though Derk was unable to meet us in person, he made sure that his neighbor, Shelley, met us on arrival, showed us around "our" canal boat, and answered all of our questions. Derk's boat was perfect for my wife and I and our college graduate daughter for our four night stay in Amsterdam. It was fun and comfortable, and all of our basic needs were covered: kitchen for coffee and breakfasts, beds for the three of us, a good shower w/ plenty of hot water, and a couple of places to write or sit and read, including the sunny deck at the front of the boat. And the location was perfect: one block from the main tram line along a safe and friendly street, and a short walk to the main Van Gogh and Rijks Museums, Vondel Park, and lots of unique neighborhoods and restaurants. We rented bikes for three days and from our canal boat "home" we could bike to anywhere in the central city in 10 or 15 minutes. Especially considering that we were in Amsterdam during Pride, with huge and fun crowds, stages, music, parades, and lots of partying, we were very fortunate to have our wonderful accommodations on Derk's canal boat. We'll be back!