Boating in Amsterdam

In my last post, I mentioned that having a boat in Amsterdam is comparable to owning a summer cottage. It’s where all your friends will group in the nice weather, ready to relax and cruise  – enjoying the sun and each other’s company. We usually only get a week or two of warm weather in Amsterdam, but this past month has been incredible. Everyday the temperature outside is 70° or warmer, and the sun seems to be making an appearance more often than not. This past weekend was no exception. Oddly, the skies were white and overcast, but the air was humid and warm, a perfect day to cruise the canals and gently nurse a hangover!

We started on the outskirts of the city, where the architecture is a hodgepodge of brick, stone, and greenery. The canals are wider than in the center, optimal for cruising. We past rusty boats and groovy bridges from the 70’s. Along the canals you will find house boats, swans, and swan boats! We hit the wide waters of the Amstel and agreed to adventure out of the city, down the river, flowing along with the current. As we drifted away from town, the scenery got greener, and the house boats got stranger!We docked for a bit to give captain B a rest, and found a little pet.Who was quite content to eat right out of our hands! We continued our journey into the countryside, beyond the manmade canals and bridges.  After a few hours chatting, snacking, and drifting along, we turned the boat around and headed back towards the city. A relaxing afternoon and the perfect hangover cure! I highly recommend a boat trip in Amsterdam – it offers some refreshing views of the city, and unique way to duck out-of-town for a couple of hours. Check out my Amsterdam attractions post for more info on how to go about renting your own boat in Amsterdam! xx