Canal Life
Experience Amsterdam's canal life from a swan's eye view. Book a stay on a houseboat. Join a boat tour or pedal a canal bike. Drink on a terrace overlooking the water or dine on a floating restaurant and party like a local at one of the canal-orientated festivals. Amsterdam life is intertwined, both literally and metaphorically with the water. Some might say it’s the water's divine calming nature that makes Amsterdam such a relaxed city. Mother Nature might have a hand, but it's also Amsterdam's advantageous nature, to make the most of a good thing. Enjoy this famous city.
Canal tours
See the city at village pace, by boat. Plenty of options exist to explore Amsterdam's canals; from a private boat rental, a guided tour on the canal bus. Get into the swing of things with the Live@thecanals on-board jazz shows.
Do as the Dutch do and hop on your bike with a pedal boat or canal bike. Lean and green, they're an environmentally friendly option and might just also dispense some exercise while on your holidays.
Canal-side cafes
We say 'exercise' but that's to coincide with 'indulgence' - nearly everyone's favourite holiday pastime. Spotted along the canals are summer-sun drenched terraces inviting a lazy afternoon drink and snack. Like on the wide-open, cobblestone De Torensluis bridge, where a statue of Dutch writer, Multatuli stands, cafes Villa Zeezicht and Café van Zuylen spill across with maximum sunlight onto their tables.
Nestled in the Jordaan, and regularly busy with young locals is Tabac while De Admiraal Brown – a proeflokaal or tasting house – has canal-side patio to sample the liquors of Van Wees, the last of Amsterdam's independent distilleries. Sound Garden on the other hand, is a hip, grungy rock bar with a decent beer garden overlooking the Singelgracht.
Floating restaurants
The Amstelhaven offers a large, floating terrace just inches from the water. Dock your boat, canoe or pedal boat to enjoy a drink and a meal. Set just beyond the Westerpark complex, on the docks by Houthaven is Pont 13. Out of the way from the tourist's eye but just a short taxi ride, you'll find this floating gem upon the River IJ.
Beyond Amsterdam Central Station in the opposite direction, Sea Palace is a multistorey Chinese restaurant with views of the city. Further east is the trendy Odessa a Ukrainian fishing boat with dining on deck in the summer nights and DJs spinning from 10pm weekends.
Waterbed and breakfast
A fun alternative to a hotel and iconic to Amsterdam, why not rent a houseboat? Stay within in the heart of the city. Don't worry landlubbers, you won't leave feeling like a crusty ol' sea-dog - these pads have all the mod-cons.
Festival fun
If it's not obvious already, Amsterdam celebrates their canals year 'round, but do it most loudly and proudly during the warmer months.
The biggest celebrations of the year in honour of the Queen's birthday, (Queen's Day, 30 April) sees thousands of Amsterdammers and visitors alike, to the tune of DJs and bands, dress in orange and take to the canals or party by the banks.
The Gay Pride Festival & Parade (1 - 7 August) – a celebration of both sexual acceptance and, in turn Dutch liberalism – draws a 'whatever floats your boat' mentality with participants and audience arriving all around the world. In this parade the floats actually float and are lavishly decked out in costumed themes – a great day.
The canals are alive with the sound of music during the Grachtenfestival (14 - 22 August). Exposing young classical talent, it's held in unique locations around Amsterdam: on floating stages, canal-side terraces or the banks of the River IJ. The festival marks the opening of the classical season.
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