Sport
Amsterdammers consider sport to be a major part of life. As such, sporting organisations are well funded and utilised. Dutch sports people also compete at the highest level in sports such as hockey, tennis, squash, ice hockey, basketball, swimming, cycling and football. With the latter, Ajax, are of course the local icons. This club is inextricably linked with the city and its people.
Watching sport
Ajax are the occupants of the largest stadium in the Netherlands. Their ArenA was a revolutionary design and is recognised across the world. From near and far, Ajax fans travel to the club's own museum, which boasts replicas of European and world trophies the club has won in the past. There are also separate exhibits dedicated to Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, the club's two biggest past heroes. It's also possible to tour the stadium.
The Velodrome is one of two covered cycling tracks in the Netherlands. It confirms the city's commitment to the sport, dating back to the 'Six Days' racing events of the Fifties and Sixties.
On the boundary between Amsterdam and Amstelveen lies the Wagenerstadion, the home of hockey club Amsterdam. This is the biggest hockey stadium in the country, and as such, is typically the ground where the Dutch national team also play.
Other important stadiums include: Jaap Eden Ice Rink (skating/ice hockey), Sporthal Zuid (basketball) and Sloterparkbad (swimming/water polo).
Participation
Of course, it's also possible to participate in sport during your visit to Amsterdam. The biggest sports complex is actually Vondelpark, since there you can play football, basketball and tennis - as well as lounging in the park. It's also a favourite haunt for skaters, joggers and cyclists. Skates can be rented from stalls near the exits. If you're a confident skater, it's also possible to take part in the Friday Night Skate. Each Friday night during summer, a large procession of skaters departs from Filmmuseum, in the north of the park, and tours through Amsterdam. The route changes each week but is always partly through the centre.
Prefer using the soles of your feet to wheels? If you're serious about jogging, the general population can participate in the Dam-to-Dam run. This takes place in September, is 10 English miles long (16.1 km), and stretches from Dam Square, in the centre, to Zaandam, north-west of the city.
And there's still cycling, too. Not just a means of getting around Amsterdam, you can make the most of the city's flat terrain, either biking to take in the cultural terrain, or as a full-on sport, at locations such as Amsterdamse Bos in the south. Bike rental is possible at shops throughout the city.
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