(Ice) Skating, Amsterdam

The Vondelpark has good bicyclepaths, where you can rollerskate.

When the weather is good enough, you can enjoy watching very good skaters at the eastside of the park. They often meet each other after work, and in the weekends.

Equipment: You can rent the rollerskates at the westside of the park, close to the gate at the Amstelveenseweg.

If you feel like ice skating around during those cool winter months you can check out The JAAP EDEN COMPLEX. Mostly just locals go there for lessons or to skate around the outdoor rink. You can easily reach the complex by tran (9?) and walking a few blocks. There are lockers, bathrooms, a window to get cocoa and snacks, as well as a restaraunt/bar. There is also a small area for kids and not so great skaters, but it is sometimes full of groups taking classes. You can call or check the website(in dutch) for hours/times.

Equipment: Bring your own or rent there!

every friday (i think you need good weather)
at 20.00. - 20.30 a group of skaters leave from the round bench across the filmmuseum in the Vondelpark.
april - oktober
the tour is about 10 miles.

Equipment: youre skates of course. protection (officiel also on your head but not much people have it)
i think some light will be neede too. because it is also in the dark.
experience needed because they skated through Amsterdam.
be carefull you slip easy at the tram tracks.

on the site of the filmmuseum is a map
http://www.filmmuseum.nl/index_eng.html

Every Fridaynight there is a skating trip from 15 - 25 KM.

Start between 20.15 and 20.30hour. Near the round sit in front of Cafe Vertigo - Film museum in the Vondelpark.

FOR FREE

Equipment: Skates also possible to rent see website. Finish is also in the Vondeltuin.

Beursplein
Red asphalt, a bit bumpy. Not really large, but large enough. No obstacles except for one little stair, but that isn't really worth mentioning. In summer, people will bring a jump-ramp which is pretty cool. In the heart of amsterdam, so when the weather is nice, there's a lot of viewers. Excellent junk-food joints nearby.
How do i get there :
From the Central Station (Train), you may walk/skate straight to the Dam, across the Damrak.
On your left hand, just before the Dam, you will see a big (huge) shop, the Bijenkorf. Just before you reach the Bijenkorf, there is a small square with asphalt (red). Thats the Beursplein
When :
In summer, sunday 1:00 is a standard.
When the weather is good, you'll find skaters at night too.

Museumplein
One small halfpipe, about 1.80 meters high.
Next to it, a Vert-ramp. 4.5 meters high. In summer a lot of spectators. Also a lot of skate-boarders, especially on the mini.
How do I get there :
Museumplein can be reached with trams 2 and 5, starting at Central Station. Get off at RijksMuseum, and go the same direction as the tram is going you just got off. You'll see the 2 half-pipes there.
When : Whenever the weather is good.
VondelPark
Big public park, just like you'd find in any large city. Asphalt is variable. Sometimes it's extremely bad, sometimes excellent.
In summer very nice, lots of people.
How do I get there :
Take tram 2,5 or any other that goes to the Leidseplein. Get off at Leidseplein, ask the way to the Lido from some innocent bystander. At the Lido, or even at the Leidseplein you can ask your way into the Vondelpark. Isn't that difficult.
When :Nice summer afternoons.

In winter you can surely think about skating on Amsterdam's ponds and canals. However, doing this won't be easy unless you're willing to shell out for a new pair of skates, since very few places rent them. One that does is Jaap Eden Baan, Radioweg 64 (tel. 020/694-9894), where you can rent skates from November to February, and they even allow you to take them out of the rink. The Jaap Eden Baan's marvelous outdoor rink is popular in wintertime, but unless you're highly competent, watch out for the long lines of speed skaters practicing for the next Eleven Cities Race in Friesland.

In winter, Amsterdammers watch the falling thermometer readings with the same focus as people in Aspen and Chamonix. When the temperature drops low enough for long enough, the canals become sparkling highways through the city. Skating on the canals of Amsterdam to the strains of classical music is a memorable experience. Little kiosks are set up on the ice to dispense heart-warming liqueurs. Go cautiously when skating under bridges, where the ice is usually thinner, and in general don't go anywhere the Dutch themselves don't.