Canadian-Owned Vacation Homes On the Water (That You Can Rent)

For Canadians, buying a home beyond our borders means we can be proud custodians of charming dwellings abroad. And with the rise of the gig economy, working remotely and a growing community of snowbirds eager to escape winter, more and more of us are keen to own a slice of international real estate. If you pick the right property in the right area, they can even help pay for themselves through short-term rentals.

This is the story of three Canadian friends who packed up life and hauled off to milder destinations. Two chose Europe, while I had a great opportunity in southern Florida. Coincidentally, we all chose properties by the water and opted to list them as vacation rentals when we weren't there ourselves—and quite often, they're rented by other Canadians.

Here, we look at these three unique, Canadian-owned vacation homes around the world that you can rent from a fellow citizen.

Humble ocean canal abode

It may be in Florida, but make no mistake; I've put my Canadian stamp on the place wherever I can. In addition to the flag waving proudly, the house is full of Canadiana-inspired artwork and the comforts of home, including a Tim Horton’s fine grind for the coffee maker. Beyond that, it's an all-Florida experience close to the beach, near shopping, boating and wonderful nature reserves. 

Canadian ‘embassy' in Amsterdam

In the Netherlands, you'll also find Canadians renting their homes. Many European nations have generous vacation policies and the Netherlands offers six weeks to start. During those weeks, Dejan Kamenski offers up his waterfront home in downtown Amsterdam. Dejan and his wife own a four-story walk-up built in the 1600s on the canals near the Anne Frank house. He opens up his doors to travelers while he comes home to stay at his Muskoka, Ontario cottage. Dejan is a family man with two kids and offers his property on Kid & Coe. 

The Can-Dutch floating mansion

Paige and his spouse have built an Airbnb empire renting out their famous luxury waterfront floating home. Featured on travel documentaries hosted by National Geographic, YouTube and BBC, they've put their proud stamp on the place with Canadian art on the walls and interior elements sourced from Canadian designers. This floating home is partially submerged in an area of Amsterdam called IJberg, which is connected to the Amsterdam's canal system. Residents can rent boats to tour the maze of waterways and even dock near a local pub.

Aside from their waterfront locations, one thing we all have in common with our international homes is we love catering to Canadians seeking sun and fun.

Looking for a vacation home abroad? Work with a Canadian REALTOR® for a referral to an international real estate professional.