The canal cruise boats and pedaloes make way for more than 1,600 brave swimmers on Sunday, 8 September 2013 as the Amsterdam City Swim comes to town.
Canal swim for charity
Held to raise funds for motor neurone disease (known as ALS in the Netherlands), the Amsterdam City Swim sees swimmers raise a minimum of 300 euros sponsorship before diving into the canals to swim the 2,013-metre course.
City Swim route
The swimmers begin at the Marine Establishment Amsterdam, braving the waters of the IJ and passing Het Scheepvaartmuseum before heading down the Nieuwe Herengracht. They then take a left up the River Amstel towards Royal Theatre Carré before doubling back and taking another left to the finish on the Keizersgracht (at the crossing with the Reguliersgracht). The event gets underway at 12:30 and swimmers are expected to finish from 13:00 onwards.
Support the swimmers!
Registration has closed for individual participants but you can still sign up as part of a business team. And if you aren't in for actually swimming in the event, head along and support the swimmers as they make their way along the Amsterdam canals!
For more information, check the Amsterdam City Swim website.