Canal boat holidays in Netherlands / Germany / France etc.?

[JustAnotherManicUsername]

Can anyone recommend companies for hiring boats for inland waters? It could be lakes or rivers, I guess but nothing too nautically challenging! I'm envisaging like a UK canal boat holiday but Abroad. Somewhere we can drive to with one or maybe two stopovers, so not southern Europe.

Le Boat is such a good company to go with. They have dozens of bases all over Western Europe and a large choice of boats.
If you are doing a oneway cruise, they can transfer your car from the start base to the end base so that it is waiting for you when you return, or they can arrange taxi transfers.
You can order a grocery pack in advance and they will be delivered to your boat on your departure day. You will need to download the provisioning list and send it back to the base at least two weeks prior to departure.
None of the boats have Wifi but if you are cruising in France, you could rent a WIFI device for the duration of your cruise. They also have a range of bikes, children's bikes, trailer bikes and children's bike seats for hire. Bike locks are included.
Their website gives you some good inspiration for planning a route.

Also would recommend Le Boat - Aquitaine (Canal du Midi/River Lot).

We had a few mishaps - stuck between two locks on a Sunday - but it was one of our best holidays ...

Great, thanks. It may be too pricey for us for next year but maybe one to save up for. Especially good to hear there are ways to get WiFi!

We did the Carmargue once with LeBoat. Very easy going as there are hardly any locks - 2 I think. I remember stopping for meals in the middle of nowhere and watching the Flamingos and wild horses. A bit further along the canal runs parallel to the coast so you can tie up and go to the beach. We had a marvellous time.