On the Canals

Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
When: May 5-9, 2017
With: Dave

The canals of Amsterdam are often considered a top world attraction. Causing the city to be nicknamed the "Venice of the North", the canals feel like they take up more space than the streets. And when coupled with beautiful Dutch architecture, it's a magical sight to see.

While the canals are an integral part of any trip to Amsterdam, it was the first day that we really got to see them the best way: on a boat! Dave booked us a tour just a couple hours after we landed, and it was a great way to kick off the trip and fend off the jetlag. 

We ended up cruising with Those Dam Boat Guys, taking a 90-minute tour of Amsterdam's canals and the city. 

The canals of Amsterdam are shaped like a dart board: smaller canals stick out from the center of the city like spokes on the wheel of a bike, while larger canals connect them in concentric circles radiating from the center. To begin the tour, we started at the bull's eye by the train station. Amsterdam Centraal sits on an island that was manmade right in the middle of the city's main harbor. The guide said to imagine lots of masts and sails, instead of this building, and then we'd have an idea of what the city looked like back in the day.

We headed down a "spoke" that took us to the eastern part of the city, past the Amsterdam Maritime History Museum. Lots of Dutch "Man of Wars" sat in the harbor, echoing the glory days of the country when the Dutch East India Trading Company brought in so much revenue that this period of time is referred to as the Dutch Golden Age. 

And while the Man of Wars were cool, we were also enjoying the smaller boats that line the canals of the city. Some were house boats, some were motor boats, but they were all unique and displayed what a different life style these Amsterdam residents experience.

The canals replace the streets in many aspects of Dutch life. First we were passed by several military vessels, heading towards the King of the Netherlands, who was at an Independence Day celebration downriver. Second, a happy newlywed couple was having their photos taken on the edge of a boat. 

Another interesting sight was a turn past the Amsterdam zoo, which not surprisingly lies along a canal. From the water, we saw a small pack of giraffes gnawing on some tree leaves.

The canals were dug out in the 17th century, starting from the western part of the city towards the east. They were each built with a different purpose, from defending the city to transporting goods. While the defense aspect may not be as important anymore, the canals do provide a decent amount of transportation and enjoyment nowadays.

Enjoying our tour. 

Traffic jam at one of the 1,500 bridges in Amsterdam. 

Many of the bridges have fun things written underneath them and some are so low, I'm shocked we made it under. Many of them are also adorned with empty beer bottles left by partying kids boating along the canals. 

After the canal cruise was done, our exploration of the canals was far from complete. Over the next few days in Amsterdam, we became increasingly familiar with these beautiful waterways, using them to navigate the city and enjoying the character they bring. 

The way the water reflected the crooked buildings of Amsterdam accentuated the beauty of this city.

At night, the canals add an extra element to the already magical city, with the gentle hum of boats passing by and the reflection of orange street lamps glittering in the water. 

Another fun thing we got to experience is a phenomenon called "spring snow". This is when the elm trees release their seeds and it basically it looks like snow falling throughout the city and gently landing in the canals and streets. It is so beautiful, though results in a lot of mess in the river. 

The canals of Amsterdam made an already stunning city more beautiful. The combo of water with 17th century buildings was simply magic. These waterways definitely deserve a place on everyone's must-see bucket list.