Europe has a small number of serious houseboat builders, from Poland and the Czech Republic to Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. They differ more than the photos suggest: steel or aluminium, an outboard or an inboard engine, a floating home that stays at the pier or a boat built to cruise, a price with or without VAT and propulsion. This guide compares them on the points that matter when you buy, using only what each manufacturer publishes itself.
What to compare
- •Construction: steel, stainless steel or aluminium frame; HDPE, aluminium or concrete floats.
- •Propulsion: outboard, inboard or electric – and whether it is included or the base version is stationary.
- •CE design category: D for sheltered inland waters, C for larger lakes and coastal waters.
- •Year-round use: insulation, heating, frost protection and ice.
- •Sauna: a real sauna room, or not offered.
- •Price basis: with or without VAT, ex works or delivered, with or without an engine.
- •Try before you buy: can you rent the same type of boat for a holiday first?
Comparison table (as published, October 2026)
| Manufacturer | Country / production | Construction | Propulsion | Sauna | Published starting price | Try before buying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nordic Season | Finland (design) / Mažeikiai, Lithuania | Aluminium platform on HDPE floats (ECO, Sea Line); insulated fibreglass-composite module (Sabre) | Outboard (Sabre up to 2 × 60 hp) or electric | Yes – 2.4 m² room, wood or electric Harvia stove (option) | 70 690 € excl. VAT (Nordic 32 Eco 18, ex works) | Yes – holiday rental in Heinola, Finland |
| La Mare | Poland, Bydgoszcz | Steel structure | Base version stationary; floating package at extra cost | Not stated in the configurator | 66 600 € excl. VAT (Apart XS, stationary) | Rentals offered |
| mBoat | Poland | Stainless-steel house and hull frame | Outboard (additional cost) | Not mentioned | 47 300 € (Tiny house) | Rental section on the website |
| Gielissen / MarinHome | Netherlands, Helmond | Aluminium pontoon | Engine packages | Not mentioned | On request | Not published |
| Barkmet | Czech Republic, Lhotka nad Labem | Steel, or aluminium catamaran | Outboard or electric (depending on model) | Not mentioned | On request | Not published |
| Nautilus Hausboote | Germany, Königs Wusterhausen | Not published | Not published | Not stated | “ab ca. 120.000 €” (VAT not stated) | Charter offered |
| Campi Boat | Poland, Bydgoszcz | Not published | Not published | Yes – Campi 360 Sauna model | Not published | Via charter operators |
Sizes are hard to compare one to one: some makers state the living module, others the whole floor area including the deck. Ask for the enclosed living area in m².
The manufacturers in brief
Nordic Season. Houseboats and floating homes of Finnish design, built by its production partner in Mažeikiai, Lithuania. The ECO line (Nordic 32, 36 and 40; CE D, the 40 optionally CE C), the Nordic Sabre series (39, 43 and 49, 12–15 m, CE C, outboard engines), the Nordic 47 Sea Line and Nordic Villas. Most models have a 2.4 m² room for a Finnish sauna.
La Mare. Bydgoszcz, Poland; more than 550 floating homes delivered across Europe. In the 2026 configurator the Apart XS (8.4 m, 14.5 m² house, CE D, steel structure) starts at 66 600 € net as a stationary floating home; a floating package costs extra.
mBoat. Poland. Models from the Tiny house to larger floating houses, with a stainless-steel house and hull frame; outboard engines are an additional cost.
Gielissen / MarinHome. Shipyard in Helmond, the Netherlands, building the MarinHome houseboats; delivery on average 4–6 months, prices on request.
Barkmet. Lhotka nad Labem, Czech Republic. Steel houseboats and aluminium catamaran houseboats; prices on request.
Nautilus Hausboote. Shipyard in Königs Wusterhausen near Berlin, Germany; simple models “from approx. 120 000 €” according to its website, with charter on offer.
Campi Boat. Bydgoszcz, Poland. The Campi series, including the Campi 360 Sauna.
Where Nordic Season fits
- •Sauna and winter: a Finnish sauna room on most models and insulated modules for year-round use.
- •Outboard engines: easy to service and replace; the base price is ex works, excluding VAT and delivery.
- •CE category: the small ECO models (CE D) are for inland waters; for larger lakes and coastal waters choose the Sabre or the 47 Sea Line (CE C), or the Nordic 40 with the CE C option.
- •Our approach: eco-oriented, sustainable solutions – recyclable aluminium and HDPE, Nordic spruce or optional thermowood exterior cladding, energy-saving insulated modules, solar and electric options – high-quality marine-grade materials, multi-level quality control during production and before handover, and after-sales service with a mobile service team.
- •Try first: spend a holiday on a Nordic Season houseboat in Finland before you order.
Questions to ask any manufacturer
- Is the price with or without VAT, engine and delivery?
- Which CE design category, and for how many people?
- What is the enclosed living area in m², without the deck?
- Steel or aluminium – and how are the floats protected against ice?
- Can I see or rent a boat of this type before I buy?
More: How to choose a houseboat manufacturer: 8 questions to ask before you order and How much does a houseboat cost?
Frequently asked questions
Which European houseboat manufacturers offer a sauna?
Nordic Season (a 2.4 m² sauna room as an option on most models) and Campi Boat (the Campi 360 Sauna) publish a sauna on their websites. Ask other builders directly – an option may exist even if it is not listed.
Are houseboat prices quoted with VAT?
Not always. Nordic Season and La Mare publish prices excluding VAT; others do not state it. Always ask whether VAT, the engine and delivery are included.
What is the difference between CE category C and D?
Category D is designed for sheltered inland waters with small waves; category C for larger lakes, bays and coastal waters. The category also sets the maximum number of people on board.
Can I test a houseboat before buying?
Several manufacturers offer rentals. Nordic Season houseboats can be rented for a holiday in Heinola, in the Finnish Lakeland, and boats available now can be viewed on the water in Svencelė, Lithuania.
Compare with a real offer
Tell us where and how you want to use your houseboat – we will suggest the model that suits you and confirm it in a personal offer.
Request an offerOctober 2026. Based on information published by the manufacturers on their own websites (checked 24–26 October 2026). Prices and specifications change; please check with each manufacturer. We reserve the right to change offers and terms.