Posts tagged ‘Canals’
Falling through the ice
This lady wanted to join her friend on the ice, but she should have done so buy way of the boat. The ice at the very edge near the stairs just wasn’t strong enough.
Oddly enough, after she got out she acted like she wasn’t even cold. She and her friend walked off at a normal pace…
If that had happened to me, I would have gone straight to Cafe Papeneiland — which is at the same corner (Brouwersgracht/Prinsengracht — one of Amsterdam’s most picturesque spots).
In fact, after taking this picture I went there myself, and enjoyed a cup of good-quality coffee along with a huge piece of fresh-baked apple pie which — to my surprise — came with a very generous dollop of freshly-whipped cream.
Ice Skating on Prinsengracht
It’s been freezing in Amsterdam — a lot. We haven’t seen this kind of weather in years. It’s been nearly a decade since people were able to skate the canals.
This is a view of Prinsengracht.
The Canals of Amsterdam
Originally the canals of Amsterdam had several functions:
• they allowed for goods to be delivered from the harbor (and the markets at Dam square and Nieuwmarkt) to storage facilities and stores throughout thecity.
• they were used as defence moats
• they served to guide the water of the Amstel River through its former delta.
Nowadays its most popular use is recreation.
Taking a canal tour is one of Amsterdam’s top tourist attractions.
Swimming in the canals is discouraged — if not outright prohibited. People do fall in, though. Those who live to tell about it are always taken to a hospital for a tetanus shot.
Note that many of the houseboats lining the canals are not yet hooked up to the city’s sewer system.
Christmas lights on Amsterdam’s canals
Every city in the Netherlands has a traditional Christmas tree, but this year Amsterdam has decorated 40 of its streets, bridges and canals with thousands of lights.
The event has been dubbed ‘Winter Magic Amsterdam’. And the best way to see all those magical Christmas lights is by taking an old fashioned canal tour.