The canals of Amsterdam
Distances: 1. Canal-route 7 km, 2.Red Light District-route 3.5 km, 3.Plantage-route 6 km. 4.Berlage-route 11 km. From the starting-point at the Amstel towards the city center 3.7 km.
No Kayak-rentals in Amsterdam.
Kolk
Kayaking the Amsterdam canals is a very special experience. It is a very relaxed way of seeing the city not being disturbed by masses of people and traffic. People on the side will envy you. Many tourists will take photo's when they spot you while others wave from the passing canal-buses.
Kayaking in Amsterdam in not without danger. The quays are rather high and the water is polluted, so you must be a confident enough paddler not to turn over. You also must have enough skill to manouvre quickly as canal-buses may appear unexpectedly from around a corner. And the golden rule is always to give way to canal-buses and clear the passage.
Starting point on the Amstel GPS: Lat. 52.331130, Lon 4.899600
Parking in Amsterdam is difficult and expensive. Finding a suitable place where to put the kayak into the water is even more difficult. So I can advise to paddle a few extra miles and start your trip on the edge of town near the Utrechtse Brug at the Amstel. There is plenty of free parking space, and it's very eay to put the kayak into the water here. Coming from Utrecht you go straight on towards the city centre (Centrum, S110) when you reach the belt-way. If you're on the belt-way, exit at S110 towards the city centre (Centrum). Then take the first exit off the highway (S110), and then turn left. The road makes a bend to the left, you go under a bridge, and then you turn right. A suitable starting-point is just underneath the 3 bridges of the beltway and railroad, it is very easy to take the kayak into the water. Parking at the bridge is prohibited (also on the grass!), but there is a parking place 50 meters further on.
From this point it is 3.5 km to the starting-point of the Canal-tour marked as 1. You paddle on the river Amstel towards the city centre. There's no current here, but it is rather big water, and on a sunny weekend many boats pass by. When entering the canals you must maneuver very carefully, especially when you go under a bridge. When turning left, make a wide bend so that you can see what comes from the other side. Water-buses pass by frequently and although they sail carefully, stay out of their way at all times. They have a schedule to make and they don't want any kayaks getting in their way! Don't go under a bridge if any motorized ship comes from the other side, even if it seems the passage is wide enough. According to regulations you must keep to the right, unless you stop at the side.
There are not many places where you can have a stop in the city center as the sides are rather high. You can go to the side on the eastern part of the Singelgracht. Another spot is on the Singel at the bridge near the Torenstraat. There are piers on both sides of the bridge. There is a statue of Multatuli on the bridge and there are benches. It is located near the Dam square.
A streetmap with streetname finder is available when clicking on this link. Also aerial photo's and some 360 degrees panorama-photos are to been seen on this site.
GPS: Lat. 52.331130, Lon 4.899600
Actual information on Vaarkaart Amsterdam.
Towards the city center: From here you go to the right under the bridge and follow the Amstel towards the city centre. The Amstel turns left at the big office buildings of Delta Lloyd. Further on there are locks. They are open during the day-time. Sailors of motorized ships must buy a permit here, but kayaks go for free! The Canal-route starts on your left at the Prinsengracht (bridge with three arches). You wont get lost as the routes are marked with hexagonal signs of the ANWB. This route is named "Grachtenroute" in Dutch. All bridges are numbered.
There are not many places in the city center where you can go to the side. But there is a kayak pier along the Singel at the bridge near the Torenstraat. The exact spot is marked on the map below. There are benches on the bridge and the Dam square is nearby.
Mapmyride:
1. Grachtenroute (7 km): Keep going straight on under bridges 76, 75, 71, 70, 87, 68, 93, 66, 65, 64, 63, 60, 60, 59. After 59 turn right and after passing 56 and 17 you take the second canal to the right. This is the Herengracht. You pass the bridges 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26. After 26 turn right and after passing 28 and 45 take the first canal to the left (Keizersgracht). You pass the bridges 43, 42, 41. After 41 turn left under 39 and 31, then turn right (Herengracht). After bridges 32, 34 and 35 you come at the Amstel. Turn left here towards the city center. After bridge 236 you turn right for the next route through the Red Light District ("Wallenroute" in Dutch)
 | Webcam on the Magere Brug |
2. Wallen-route (Red Light District Route)(3.5 km):
From the Amstel turn right under bridge 229. Go straight on until you reach the Oosterdok (harbor) passing bridges 229, 287, 286, 279. At the Oosterdok there may be some waves, turn left and go under bridge 294. Before the next bridge turn left under bridge 301 (Oudezijds Kolk). After the locks (they are open during the daytime) you come at the Oudezijds Voorburgwal. This is the Red Light District. Paddle straight on passing the bridges 209, 207, 206, 205, 204, 203, 105, 201.
After the Oudezijds Kolk you can also turn left and follow the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. At the end of the canal you get back on the official route. This canal is prettier as there are trees on both sides. Also there's more prostitution here. You can see the ladies at the windows as you pass by. Maybe this is why the official route doesn't go here. Note: canal is closed in 2005 because of building activities.
At the end of the Oudezijds Voorburgwal turn right. Be careful as it becomes very narrow, and canal-buses may come from the other side. They go very slowly here, as maneuvering is difficult for them here. After bridge 202 follow the canal to the left. This is a starting point for canal-trips, and canal-buses need a lot of space to make turns here. Now you're on the Binnen-Amstel. Go straight on and pass bridges 220 and 221. Now you're back at the starting-point. Go straight on and pass bridges 236, 242 (Magere Brug) , the locks and bridge 246. If you want to see it all, this is where the Plantage-route starts.
3. Plantage-route (6 km):
Turn left under bridge 255 (Singelgracht). Keep going straight on until you see a big windmill on your left. You pass bridges 263, 187, 131, 265 and 354. At the windmill make two left turns and pass bridges 78 and 253. You pass shipyards here. After bridges 277 and 274 you come at the Oosterdok near the IJ-tunnel. You must turn left here, but it is worthwhile to paddle towards the Ships-museum and see the replica of the VOC-ship "Amsterdam". Then pass bridges 487 and 276. Then turn left again. Pass bridge 1907 and on the right you see the zoo "Artis". Go straight on and follow the bend to the right under bridge ??? (sorry, I forgot to write down the number) and 264. Turn left and pass bridges 169, 260, 257, 253. Turn left under 250 and here you return to the Amstel. Turn left and pass the locks again. From here it is 3.5 km back to Poseidon.
4. Berlage-route (11 km) Amstelkanaal, Schinkel, Kostverlorenvaart, Jacob van Lennepkanaal, Singelgracht, Amstel :
Off the beaten tracks you can see some nice canals in a newer part of Amsterdam. It is a lot more quiet here, and you can see some nice Berlage architecture. From the starting point you go under the Utrechtse Brug, pass the big office buildings (see photo below), and then take the first canal on your left. This is the Amstelkanaal. At the next junction 5 canals come together. You take the second from the left and follow the sign directing towards Nieuwe Meer. This is the Zuider Amstelkanaal. You pass the Olympic stadium, then turn left and at the T-junction you turn right. If you would turn left here, you'd go to the Nieuwe Meer, from where you could go towards the city Haarlem on the Ringvaart.You head north on the Schinkel. this canal is named Kostverlorenvaart further on. Take the first canal to the right. This is the Jacob van Lennepkanaal. At the end you come at the Singelgracht. You turn right, pass the Rijksmuseum and the Heineken breweries and you'll see the Amstel ahead. You can turn right here towards the starting point, or turn left towards the city center.
Kayak Club Sloterplas organizes an evening trip of 22 km through the canals every year in early September. I did this trip in 2004. 350 kayaks were present and we had the most fabulous weather you can imagine. It was a wonderful experience kayaking the canals in the dark in such a big group.
Luxury appartments along the Amstel.
The Amstel
The Amstel Hotel.
Hogesluis, bridge across the Amstel (Sarpatistraat).
Along the Singelgracht.
Groenburgwal.
Westertoren.
The bridge at the Torenstraat where you can go to the side. In the summer Café van Zuylen has a terrace on the bridge.
Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
Grimburgwal.
Montelbaanstoren.
Hoogte Kadijk.
Work in progress at the new north-south subway line near the Central Station.
Lozingskanaal along the Zeeburgerdijk.
I was fined for parking on the side of the road. I brought it to court and I won. But you can save yourself a lot of trouble if you park your car on the parking place about 100 yards further to the left.