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Canals / Amstel River / Harbour, Amsterdam
See all Amsterdam Off the Beaten Path
Multatuli bust - Amsterdam
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Off the Beaten Path in Amsterdam: Canals / Amstel River / Harbour tips and photos posted by real travelers and Amsterdam locals.
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Canals / Amstel River / Harbour: Ferry ride - Free & fun
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  • Something fun and free!

    Most people arrive at Central station and go out the front doors. If you want to do something fun and free go out the back. There you will find three small ferries. Each one will take you to a different location. The trips are only 5 to 10 minutes each, but give you a great chance to see things from a different angle. Also you can get some great pictures of different types of boats and ships.

    The first one was my favorite, I had no idea that I would have the opportunity to see a real Russian Submarine.

    The second one goes straight across, and while the shortest trip it has a great little place to grab a cup of hot coffee. I'm sure they serve other drinks and food, but the day I was there was cold, all I wanted was something hot to drink.

    The third one, goes to the right. If the cruise ship is in, you will have a great chance to grab a picture.

    While I would not suggest doing in place of a cannel ride, it does complement it.

    For people traveling with kids, it should rate a 10! Shutter bugs will love it too.

    While these boats don't carry cars, they do take bikes, cycles, mini cars, dogs...

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    Canals / Amstel River / Harbour: Rrrrrrreeiiigggerrrrrrrrrrr :))
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  • 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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    Canals / Amstel River / Harbour: Brouwersgracht (Brewery canal)
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  • This canal owns it name because of the many breweries which were situated here in the 17th and 18th century. The old warehouses where coffee, sugar and spices were stored in the same period, are now (most of them) very expensive apartments with picturesque view on houseboats and bridges.

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  • Other Contact: Jordan district

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    Canals / Amstel River / Harbour: Windmill De Rieker
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  • Rent a bike and follow the Amstel out of town. In just a short while you'll leave the city proper and find yourself in the 'countryside' where you'll find the 'Windmill De Rieker'.
    Built in 1636, it was designed to drain the polders (reclaimed low lying land). This windmill now serves as a family home.

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    Canals / Amstel River / Harbour: Ferryboat
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  • This ferryboat connects northern part of Amsterdam with the rest of the city. As it is prohibited for bikes and pedestrians to use the two tunnels (IJ-tunnel and the Coen-tunnel) and the ring road and if you don’t like to take a bus, you can use this ferry service (free of charge). Every few minutes there goes a ferryboat. When you are on the north side of the city there is a nice view over the River IJ.

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    Canals / Amstel River / Harbour: locks
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  • As the water in Amsterdam used to be in connection with the sea you will find some locks throughout the city.

    Most of them are used to clean the waters in Amsterdam at night. Between 22.00 and 05.00 14 locks are closed. At the east side of the city near the Amsterdam Rijnkanaal a pump is switched on. 600.000 cubic meter water from the IJsselmeer is pumped into the Amsterdam canals. At the westside two locks remain open and the water leaves through them into the IJ and passes through the Noordzeekanaal to the Northsea. This process is done 2 to 4 times a week, except when it is freezing. Just to get some ice on the canals for skating the work is stopped for a few days untill the ice is thick enough.

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    Canals / Amstel River / Harbour: WEEPING TOWER
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  • This tower,Schreierstoren in Dutch, was a defensive tower and part of the cities walls. It believed to date from the 1480s. How it got its name is debatable. Some say it was because the tower was positioned on a sharp 90 degree turn in the city walls. Others hold the more romanticised notion that it was named after the weeping women who gathered there to wave their men off to sea!

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    Canals / Amstel River / Harbour: The Brouwerij t' IJ is a...
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  • The Brouwerij t' IJ is a brewery producing Trapisten style beers in an old windmill. It's on Funenkade 7 and is out of the centre, but you can use tram numbers 6 or 10. Opening hours are limited (guidebooks say Wednesday to Sunday 3-8pm) so it's worth phoning them first on 6228325. In good weather you can sit outside by the canal. We went in a thunderstorm but with beer at strengths of up to around 9% by volume it didn't take long to feel cosy and welcome. Take it steady if you plan to do much afterwards!.

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    Canals / Amstel River / Harbour: ENTREPOTDOK
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  • This used to be VOC warehouses and was the greatest warehouse complex in Europe. Its been renovated and now contains housing, offices (many architects and designers) cafes and restaurants. Its apparently very lively in summer with sidewalk cafes and such but it was pretty quiet when were here in October!

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    Canals / Amstel River / Harbour: Excellent A'Dam travel journals at Noe Hill
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  • Great ADam travel journals from Louis and Noe Hill - Amsterdam
    Great ADam travel journals
    from Louis and Noe Hill
    by davequ
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    One of the best travel journal websites I have found is Noe Hill.

    The writing is flawless and extremely interesting and informative as they share their experiences in Amsterdam, Paris/Loire, their home town of San Francisco.. etc. These well-written travelogue "essays" are accompanied by some great photos. Check this site out. I love Noe Hill.

    One journal there I recommend is entitled "Dutch in 3 weeks" by Louis H. Bryan, one hell of a writer. (ahendley used to login at VT and has excellent Venezia pages and photographs at Noe).

    UPDATE: 8/19/04:
    Just received a letter and this new photo from Louis himself.

    This made my day and I am looking forward to seeing more from Louis and the boys at Noe Hill.

    UPDATE: 1/31/05: Had a fabulous lunch of dimsum in San Francisco this weekend with Louis. Finally met him, and he is even more fun in person.

    Louis is now updating his new journal "Amsterdam by Segway" here:
    Amsterdam by Segway by Louis

    Louis (in mijn slecht, sh#&ty Nederlands):
    "Mijn vriendelijke groeten en ik wens u 100 jaar van gezondheid en geluk.."

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  • Website: %crhttp://www.noehill.com/travel/default.asp%c*

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