Amsterdam is home to numerous channels.
Here, you can cruise through the city and discover exceptional places.
Today, I'm going to tell you all about the canals that give Amsterdam an air of Venice.
Amsterdam canals: article summary
Amsterdam's canals: in a nutshell!
There are 165 canals in Amsterdam. The total length of the local waterways is 75 km! Enough to spend many an afternoon strolling along the canals. However, if you don't want to take a boat, you can go from one bank to the other. via the city's various bridges.
A total of 1,281 bridges cross the city's canals. One of the most famous, and a local favorite, is the Magere Brug.
The oldest canal is Oudezijds Voorburgwal, built in 1385!
Many accidents around the canals
Dredging is a common sight in central Amsterdam. On average, approximately 10,000 bicycles come out of the canals every year! Unfortunately, some parking spaces are a little close to the edge.
As a result, many users have accidents in this area. If you forget to put on the handbrake, the car falls overboard. This has already happened on numerous occasions in Amsterdam.
Mixed water, not very clean
The canals contain both saltwater and freshwater. Salt water enters the city's canals via the Noordzeekanaal, which links Amsterdam to IJmuiden. Freshwater flows from the Rhine, via the Amsterdam-Rhine canal.
If you want to swim, I'd advise against it. The canal water is not the most hygienic of pools! You'll see a few splashes in the hottest summer months. In general, people tend to stick to one of the city's many cleaner, more beautiful bathing spots!
However, there is an annual swimming event that takes place in the Amsterdam canals called : the Amsterdam City Swim.
Amsterdam canals: how deep are they?
The average depth of the canals is 2.5 m, with the lowest point 4.5 m below sea level. This depth does not allow the canals to freeze completely.
Although it's certainly very cold during the winter months in Amsterdamcanals that freeze completely every year are a thing of the past. The last time this happened was in 2021, and before that in 2012.
When this happens, the Dutch take advantage of the frozen canals for skating and ice hockey. Sometimes, events are also organized around the city's frozen canals.
Constant dredging of the canals
Many objects are found in the canals every year. While, as mentioned above, most of the time it's bicycles and other vehicles that emerge from the waters, other more valuable objects have been discovered. The canals have sometimes revealed artifacts dating from 4200 to 2000 BC.
In 2003, two large canals were dug for the construction of its new metro line. The Under the Surface project has catalogued some 700,000 objects covering 800 years of accidental falls into the canals! You can discover all the objects found on their website.
Amsterdam canals: shores filled with barges
There are about 2500 barges along the canals. Privately owned, they are a real home away from home for some Dutch people. The converted barges offer their occupants every comfort. As in Paris, some even serve as floating restaurants or bars. Enough to spend an exceptional evening on the Amsterdam canals.
Amsterdam's canals hold many secrets. A place to live, a place to discover, it's a must-see when you're in town. You'll be able to discover the full splendor of this Dutch city.
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