Canals / Amstel River / Harbour, Amsterdam

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The Amstel is a beautifull river in amsterdam. It is very nice to have a walk on the riverside. At daytime or in the evening (when bridges are lighted with a lot of little lamps).
You will see a lot of canals, little bridges, houseboats, beautifull old homes and buildings, and little boats on the river.

- You can start at the Muntplein (Flowermarket) and walk a few minutes to the east. This is the Waterlooplein (the Fleemarket is a few min. further).
- Follow the Amstel to the south.
- You will see the Blauwbrug, and the Magere Brug (a famous little bridge).
- A little further to the south is Theatre Carré and the Amstelhotel (both on the eastside of the river). This is the most expensive hotel in Amsterdam (maybe even in Holland). It has a big terras on the riverside. Easy to recognise.
- After you passed the Amstelhotel, walk over the next bridge to the Eastside of the river.
- Walk back on the Eastside to the Muntplein (you have to go round the Amstelhotel).

You can do this walk within 1 hour. There are a lot of canals you have to cross over. Everytime you have to climb a little bridge.

* Never forget to look up! The most beautifull part of Amsterdam is the roofs of the houses!

The Muntplein is at the end of the Kalverstraat (the long shoppingstreet).
The Muntplein (centre) is easy to reach with a lot of trams, and less than half a hour walking from almost every place in Amsterdam-centre. The metro is close to the Amstel, just a few streets to the east.

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Amsterdam is a city that beckons visitors to look around corners and into shops, streets, and alleys. Everything changes wherever one looks. Not only is Amsterdam a beautiful city to visit, it is a wonderful city to explore. Here are just a few self-explanatory examples. I wish I could put in the photographs I took on a short one hour walk going from Centraal Station along Damrak Straat to the main square. There are endless possibilities in every direction.

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Go to places where a normal tourist doesn't go! Explore the world behind the facades of canal houses. Find unique Dutch private interiors with antique or surprising modern furniture. See the year round interesting gardens, coach, summer or alms houses. More info and pictures on uhgt.nl.

For those of us who prefer not to feel like tourists while visiting other countries, those big, commercial canal boat cruises on the Damrak and throughout Amsterdam just don't attract. But leaving Amsterdam without having cruised the canals seems wrong somehow. During my first visit to Amsterdam my host Marcel (of Marcel's Creative Exchange Bed & Breakfast fame) suggested that I go to Boom Chicago on the Leidseplein and take their boat cruise. Wow, what a nice alternative.

The pilot asked us where we'd like to go; big canals or little canals. The ride cost around 10 euro and we, all ten of us, were encouraged to smoke and drink whatever our hearts desired. Of the ten people who filled our little boat there were Spaniards, Danes, Americans, and Norweigians represented. Contributions to the good time included Heineken, joints, and interesting conversation. Some of the best photos of my vacation were taken on that ride.

Of course, this is for warmer weather because the boat is not glass covered. But I highly recommend this ride.

Our houseboat was situated on the Singel Canal and we quickly discovered that this was the territory of a resident Heron who would frequently circle the area, sometimes actually landing on our roof but mostly preferring to watch the world and the other ducks go by from his little blue and white boat. To my surprise Herons are remarkably common in Nl, even in the centre of Amsterdam.

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While staying with my cousin in Amsterdam we made it to the Gay Pride Parade which wound through the canals of Amsterdam. Never in my life have I seen so many attractive men....none of who would give my girlfriend and I a second glance!

This is a cool ride to take, I was kind of hungover when I took it. The boat was real clean and the other passengers were friendly. I would recommend this little day tour to anyone. I can't remember how much it was but it was cheap. A good place to hop on the boat ride down the street from the train station. Pictures to come later.

You'll see these characteristic drawbridges anywhere in Amsterdam. And yep, they still open its bridge-doors to let boats pass through. Usually made of wood you'll find other materials, too. It is a readily painted area and famous painters (Vincent Van Gogh 1883) has immortalized these drawbridges ...