Amsterdam Canal Crawl

Not your most obvious way of getting around, paddleboarding is the latest water sport phenomenon to take over Amsterdam

‘I love to get up early and paddle round the city as it sparks to life,’ says Rosa van Gorcum of Sup Tropisch, who first took to the water during Covid. Since then the sport has surged in popularity around Amsterdam. Why? ‘It’s super relaxing and feels healthy but it’s more than a sport – it’s an experience,’ muses Rosa. ‘You are paddling through history and see the city from a brand new perspective.’ The right perspective for a city shaped over 750 years by its relationship with water. The lively de Pijp neighbourhood is perfectly placed to pick up a board. ‘Beginners can head west for a quiet route among nature and villas of Amsterdam-South,’ says Rosa. ‘But for those with just a little experience, the city centre is within easy reach.’ Find your sea legs as you SUP towards the gothic Rijksmuseum towering above the canal. Described at the time as ‘too medieval, too Catholic and not Dutch enough’ it was opened in 1885 and is now one of Amsterdam’s most famous buildings, containing 8000 objects, a myriad of stories and secrets, and some of the world’s most famous paintings.