Skating on Amsterdam’s Canals

I loved walking around the iced-over canals, it was the first time in all the years I’ve lived here that we could do that. Unfortunately I don’t own skates, and anyway the last time I skated was decades ago. Now that the ice has melted… I found this wonderful video that gives you the feeling [...]

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Party on Ice

I went for a walk on the ice last night, and saw a group having a party. There were a lot of people skating or walking, kids with toboggans, and dogs. Really a great atmosphere. Almost worth suffering the cold weather.

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Cleaning the Canals

Stuff gets dumped in Amsterdam’s canals, so there is a great vehicle used to clear out canals on a regular basis. It’s a sort of floating bulldozer, which scoops up whatever is on the bottom of the canal. Once the water has drained out the rubbish is dumped in a barge, it was mostly bits [...]

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5 1/2 Things to do in Amsterdam for Free

Since the city is full of tourists, and the tourist industry is in full swing, here are five things that are free. 1) FerryTake a harbour cruise for free! You can cross the Ij to three destinations, NDSM Terrein, Buiksloterweg, and Ijplein. As an added bonus you can take a bike with you – also [...]

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Grachtenfestival

Every year there’s a festival of classical music centred on Amsterdam’s canals known as the Grachtenfestival. It starts today. Lots of the events are free, including the highlight event, when boats cram the canal outside the Pulitzer Hotel, and the canals are lined with music lovers for the Prinsengrachtconcert. The concert is free – but [...]

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“You don’t get that in Australia”

On the way to work this morning I saw a whole lot of police, a crane, and the calamity truck on a bridge over Prinsengracht. As I got closer I saw they were pulling an ecotoilet out of the canal. I started taking pictures and I overheard… “We don’t get that in Australia, do we [...]

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Canal Repair

Canals need regular maintenance and repair, and occasionally they need a major overhaul. The photo shows repairs currently taking place on Bloemgracht. First all the boats had to be moved somewhere else, and now a “dry” work area has been created so that the canal wall can be repaired. You can see the hose from [...]

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Christmas

One of the local canal boats has created a Christmas area outside – with decorations hung in the tree, seats outside and a decorated table. It looks very pretty – although chilly.

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Rowing races

Today there was a rowing race through the  canals of Amsterdam. Lots of shouting and grunting, and boats from all over the Netherlands. I haven’t figured out the exact route but I saw them first on Prinsengracht, then coming back on Keizergracht. Going under the bridges was tricky for the larger boats as the width [...]

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Please Stay

I walked under the Haringpakkersbrug in the weekend, and noticed this quote spelt out in individual letters along one wall. I’ve never noticed it before, perhaps it’s new. It means “to return is not the same as staying”, and as the bridge is very close to Central Station – if you’re walking under it there’s [...]

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