Sporty City

Cheer with the crowd

Plan your visit during an Ajax championship game and catch the city’s football fever. Amsterdam residents practically have the Ajax team logo – the head of the Greek hero – tattooed on their hearts. Football – that’s soccer to you yanks! - is a major uniting force in the city. If there’s no game on, football fanatics can head to ArenA stadium, home to Ajax and the club’s museum, with exhibits dedicated to Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, the club's two biggest past heroes. ArenA also offers stadium tours.

The Ajax Experience

What is the secret of Holland's most successful soccer club? Experience it yourself.
In just over an hour, visitors can experience how Ajax heroes are born. The Ajax Experience is a surprising and interactive experience that learns you the Ajax philosophy. Special attention is being given to the informal way to learn more about how Ajax is able to deliver so many world famous soccer heroes for over one hundred years.

Different Strokes

Sport lovers looking for a different spectator experience can check event listings for other popular sports, such as field hockey, cycling, ice hockey and swimming. Field hockey is popular in the Netherlands, and visitors can experience the excitement at Wagenerstadion in Amstelveen. Or why not get swept up in the speed and fury of track cycling at Velodrome? Ice hockey heads can satisfy their craving at Jaap Eden Ice Rink and swimming or water polo aficionados will find the latest competitions on at Sloterparkbad.

Get in the game

Take in an event, then keep the ball rolling by getting active in the city’s many parks, or taking part in a public event like Friday Night Skate or the Dam-to-Dam Run. Vondelpark is where many residents get physical and it's easily explored by rollerblading, jogging or cycling through. You can also play a set at the tennis courts or just kick a ball around. Experienced rollerbladers can join Friday Night Skate, a roller skating procession which departs weekly on Fridays in summer from the park’s film museum. The ever-changing route is a nice way to see the city. Skate rental stands are located near the park's entrances.

If you’re visiting in September, you might want to consider signing up for the annual Dam-to-Dam Run, a 10-mile event starting at Amsterdam’s Dam Square and finishing off in Zaandam city centre. Or why not see the city from the back of a bike? Cruising Amsterdam on a bicycle will leave you feeling like a local in no time, but you can also kick it up a gear and head to the city’s forested park, Amsterdamse Bos for a more sporty cycling experience. Bike rental options are available throughout the city.

Get into adventure

 But Amsterdam has so much more to offer athletes, adventure-lovers and thrill seekers. See our listing of activities below, or read more in our article Amsterdam for the Adventurous.