Rederij Lampedusa

What Rederij Lampedusa does

Rederij Lampedusa is a Dutch social enterprise founded in 2015 by artist Teun Castelein, operating under the nonprofit foundation Stichting de Gelukszoekers (ANBI-registered). The company runs 90-minute storytelling canal tours through Amsterdam's eastern canals, hidden waterways, and historic harbor areas aboard two wooden former refugee boats: Mr. Friday (Alhadj Djumaa, which crossed the Mediterranean from Egypt to Italy in 2013 carrying 282 people) and Hedir (which crossed from Tunis to Italy in 2014 carrying 76 people, retrofitted with an electric engine). Tours are led by captains and storytellers with lived migration experience, whose personal narratives are the core product differentiator.

The business combines a DTC canal tour operation with a B2B private events book (corporate team outings, school excursions, private celebrations) and a seasonal cultural programming series called The Floating Stage, which runs July-October on Mr. Friday and features music, comedy, theater, and storytelling performances. Distribution is through a FareHarbor booking embed on the website, email and phone inquiries for private/corporate bookings, and on-site sales at the Art Centre Mediamatic harborage at Dijksgracht 6, Amsterdam. The organization is supported by a network of institutional and cultural partners including Rabo Foundation, TUI Care Foundation, Gemeente Amsterdam, Art Centre Mediamatic, Amsterdam Fringe Festival, and Mezrab Storytelling School (which co-runs free storytelling training courses for newcomers that feed into the storyteller talent pipeline). Revenue is supplemented by tax-deductible donations enabled by ANBI status; pricing for tours is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Rederij Lampedusa

Legal name

Stichting de Gelukszoekers

Website

https://rederijlampedusa.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rederij Lampedusa is an Amsterdam-based social enterprise operating two former Mediterranean refugee boats as 90-minute storytelling canal tours led by guides with lived migration experience, serving tourists, corporate groups, schools, and cultural audiences in partnership with Dutch foundations and cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Tourism Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Inland Water Passenger Transportation (483212), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural Heritage & Historic District Tours (THAJAAAB)

Keywords

• Canal boat tours
• Refugee storytelling tours
• Cultural tourism services
• Social enterprise tours
• Amsterdam canal cruises

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Canal Tours: 90-minute storytelling canal tours through Amsterdam's eastern canals, historic harbor areas, and hidden waterways. Standard public tours available for individual booking.
2. Private Tours: Private experiences for companies, schools, groups, and gatherings aboard Mr. Friday or Hedir. Corporate team outings, school excursions, birthday celebrations, and private group tours.
3. Floating Stage Events: Cultural programming featuring music, comedy, theater, storytelling, and performances. Summer season (July-October) with emerging and established artists.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations through Stichting de Gelukszoekers foundation (ANBI status). Supports fair payment for storytellers, boat maintenance, cultural programming, and educational programs.
5. Add-on Services: Tailored add-ons including food aboard, live music/intimate concerts, and special discounts for groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rederij Lampedusa operates canal tours in Amsterdam aboard two former refugee boats (Mr. Friday / Alhadj Djumaa and Hedir), guided by storytellers with personal refugee backgrounds. The organization complements its core tour offering with cultural programming (The Floating Stage events) and free storytelling courses, functioning as a social enterprise operated under the non-profit foundation Stichting de Gelukszoekers.

Product overview

Rederij Lampedusa is a social enterprise operating two historic former refugee boats—Mr. Friday (Alhadj Djumaa) and Hedir—as floating platforms for storytelling canal tours, cultural programming, and community gatherings. The core offerings include 90-minute Canal Tours and Private Tours aboard these boats, supplemented by The Floating Stage (seasonal cultural performances from July-October) and Storytelling Courses (free courses in partnership with Mezrab Storytelling School for newcomers).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Floating Stage: A cultural venue on the water featuring music, comedy, theater, storytelling, and performances by emerging and established artists. Hosts various performances and collaborations including Aminata Cairo, Sahand Sahebdivani, Glenn Helberg, Amsterdam Fringe Festival, and Mezrab.

Products and services

• Public Canal Tours Scheduled canal cruises along Amsterdam's canals aboard the former refugee boats Mr. Friday (Alhadj Djumaa) and Hedir, led by guides with personal refugee experience. Targeted at individual tourists and visitors seeking an alternative cultural perspective on Amsterdam.
• Private Group Tours
• The Floating Stage
• Free Storytelling Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• 358 refugees transported across Mediterranean by two boats now operating tours
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Art Centre MediamaticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRederij Lampedusa is based at Art Centre Mediamatic, located at Dijksgracht 6, Amsterdam. The boats are harbored here and the office operates from this cultural center. Collaboration on cultural programming and events.
• Amsterdam Fringe FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on cultural programming and performances. Amsterdam Fringe Festival is a platform for experimental and independent arts in Amsterdam.
• MediamaticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner hosting Rederij Lampedusa operations. Collaboration on artistic programming and community events at the intersection of art, technology, and nature.
• GrachtenmuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on cultural programming related to Amsterdam's canal history and cultural heritage.
• Refugee CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner organization working with refugees, sharing similar mission of supporting refugee integration through cultural engagement.
• Female EconomyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural organization and partner in programming, focusing on economic empowerment and cultural initiatives.
• Mezrab Storytelling SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRederij Lampedusa collaborates with Mezrab to run free storytelling courses for newcomers. Participants develop their voices and can join the team as storytellers. Deep partnership in talent development and narrative programming.
• Aminata CairominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist and performer who has collaborated with Floating Stage programming, contributing to cultural events aboard the boats.
• Sahand SahebdivaniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist and performer who has performed at Floating Stage events, contributing to the cultural programming aboard the boats.
• Glenn HelbergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist who has collaborated with Floating Stage programming at Rederij Lampedusa.
• ContikiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism company that collaborated on film content showcasing Rederij Lampedusa's storytelling tours and mission.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• FareHarbor: Booking platform used by Rederij Lampedusa to power direct online reservations for tours and private bookings. Ecosystem/platform enabler rather than a competitor.

Direct peers

• Stromma: Major Amsterdam canal cruise brand offering various tour formats including hop-on-hop-off and evening cruises. Competes directly for tourist canal-tour demand in the same waterways.
• Lovers Canal Cruises: Amsterdam canal cruise operator with a fleet offering narrated sightseeing tours. Direct competitor for the same individual-tourist and group-booking segments.
• A' Dam Boat Tour: Amsterdam canal cruise operator covering similar canal routes including the eastern canals and harbor. Direct peer for standard sightseeing and private bookings.
• Those Damn Boat Guys: Amsterdam open-boat canal tour brand with a casual, host-led narrative experience. Comparable peer competing for tourists seeking storytelling-driven canal tours.
• Canal Company Amsterdam: Long-established Amsterdam canal cruise operator offering 1-hour city canal tours. Direct peer serving the same tourists along the same canal routes.
• Blue Boat Company: One of Amsterdam's largest canal cruise operators, running 1-hour narrated canal tours. Direct peer in the sightseeing canal cruise category, though Rederij Lampedusa differentiates on storytelling/narrative content and social mission.
• Captain Tom Amsterdam: Independent Amsterdam canal tour operator offering small-group and themed tours. Direct peer in the niche/cultural canal-tour segment Rederij Lampedusa also targets.
• Open Boat Tours: Amsterdam open-boat canal tour operator offering small-group guided tours with a focus on storytelling. Direct peer in the cultural/narrative canal-tour category.

Emerging players

• Plastic Whale: Amsterdam-based social enterprise running plastic-fishing canal boat tours. Comparable as a mission-driven boat tour operator using Amsterdam canals for impact-oriented experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/rederijlampedusa
• Instagraminstagram.com/rederijlampedusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rederij-lampedusa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rederij Lampedusa