Skip to main content

From Portland to Amsterdam, Live the Life Aquatic on the World’s Best Houseboats

Summer is just around the corner and, for many of us, that means long days spent on the water. But what if you didn’t have to pack up and head back to land at the end of the day? These stunning houseboats let you be on the water full-time. And really, isn’t that the dream?

Fennel Residence

Portland, Oregon

From the front, it looks like wooden waves; from the back, it’s like a giant wooden nautilus shell floating in the harbor. Fennel Residence stands out as the most unique houseboat on the list. The brainchild of architect Robert Harvey Oshatz, this private residence has it all. Spacious open floor plan, plenty of natural light, high ceilings, a full kitchen, and a large deck for soaking up those water views.

Recommended Videos

Amstel River Houseboat

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Want to try out living in a houseboat for a few nights to see if life on the water is right for you? Why not do it in one of the world’s most picturesque cities? This AirBnB houseboat rental in Amsterdam is ideal for getting a feel of boat life. This split-level home features a large entry deck, spacious living area, a fully stocked kitchen, a dining space, and a lower level master suite complete with large soaking tub in the bathroom.

Modern Houseboat

Berlin, Germany

Don’t let the shipping-container-style exterior fool you, Modern Houseboat is a seriously stylish floating pad. Situated on Lake Rummelsburg, the quiet location lets you kick back and relax in luxury. With Mid-Century Modern furnishings, a wall of windows, a trendy all-white kitchen, and a spa-like bathroom, Modern Houseboat is the ultimate vacation rental.

Beecliffe

London, England

Bright, airy, and full of contemporary style, Beecliffe is the perfect houseboat for Millennials. With tiny living all the rage right now and a housing crisis in London, many have taken to the water in converted barges, narrowboats, and other forms of floating abodes. Beecliffe is spacious, featuring a living area, dining area, kitchenette, bathroom, and bedroom. It also has quirky nautical features like porthole windows and a barrel vaulted ceiling, making the small space feel larger than it is. There’s even a 1920’s wood burning stove for those chilly London nights.

Pendle Narrowboats

England

Ready to take the plunge (get it?) and get a houseboat of your very own? Look no further than the narrowboat builders scattered throughout England. They’ve been honing their skills for centuries and are able to pack maximum livability into the smallest of spaces. Pendle Narrowboats are experts are designing bright, modern floating homes. Their Alchemy Dutch-style barge has all of the modern amenities you would expect in a luxury home. From cozy contemporary furnishings to a spa-like bathroom they can help turn your dream of living on the water a reality.

If you’ve got a few million to burn, however, you can always upgrade from houseboat to luxury yacht and not a single soul would blame you.

Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
Topics
Nobody 2: Everything we know so far
Bob Odenkirk is back for another action adventure
Bob Odenkirk in Nobody 2

Before Bob Odenkirk turned in a seminal performance of TV's prestige era playing Jimmy McGill and Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, he was most known for his comedy chops. People were surprised to see him step out of his comfort zone in the world of drama television, but it helped usher in a new reputation for the veteran, everyman star.

Odenkirk got to play an action hero in 2021's Nobody, and the sequel is finally on the way. Nobody 2 might just be one of the best movies of the summer. Here is everything we know about it so far, from the cast to the trailer and the release date.
Is there a trailer for Nobody 2?
Nobody 2 | Official Trailer

Read more
9 shows to watch if you love The Walking Dead
AMC's zombie show was a phenomenon. These shows will help you revisit that thrill
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.

The Walking Dead started as a niche zombie series in the early 2010s, but it built up steam and transformed into a runaway hit just a few seasons after its inception. By the middle of the decade, Robert Kirkman's post-apocalyptic series was the most popular program on basic cable TV. It revolutionized long-form storytelling and created a rabid fandom that allowed it to run for over a decade and spawn many spinoffs.

Undead monsters aren't the only thing that made The Walking Dead such a fascinating and addictive watch, though. The depth of the characters and the survivalist strategies of the entire group made for thrilling, adrenaline-filled episodes that other shows had a hard time matching. We have the best shows like The Walking Dead to watch next if you love the binge-worthiness of world-ending drama in this comic book adaptation.

Read more
Ryan Reynolds pitched an R-rated Star Wars movie, but not for him to star in
Star Wars has never released an R-rated movie.
star wars qui-gon jinn

Ryan Reynolds has been more than willing to push the envelope at major studios. His Deadpool & Wolverine was a major success for Marvel Studios even though it was also their first R-rated movie, and now, he's revealed that he's interested in doing something similar for Star Wars.

In a recent interview on the “The Box Office” podcast with host Scott Mendelson, Reynolds revealed that he had pitched the studio on its first R-rated film in a galaxy far, far away.

Read more