Full article: Ice skating on the canals of Amsterdam

Every few years the weather in Amsterdam gets cold enough to allow people to ice skate the canals.

Here's video to prove it.

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: Amsterdam canals: 51 drownings over the past three years

Over the past three years 51 people have drowned in the canals of Amsterdam. Only one of those casualties occurred as the result of a crime.

Most of the victims were drunks who fell in while trying to relieve themselves.

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: Water in Amsterdam’s canals quite salty

It's not recommended, but if you were daring enough to take a few sips of water you'll notice a marked difference: the water in the IJ -- the river behind Amsterdam Central Station -- is considerably saltier than the water in, say, the Leidsegracht, a canal in the center of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: Amplified music taboo on Amsterdam’s canals

Starting in the summer of 2012 boats sailing through Amsterdam's downtown canals may no longer carry amplified music.

It is an effort to curtail noise nuisance. Plus: will there be one-way traffic in Prinsengracht?

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: Amsterdam’s historic Canal Belt placed on Unesco’s World Heritage Sites list

Amsterdam's historic grachtengordel (literally, belt of canals) around the city's center has been added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Many Amsterdammers view the listing as a mixed blessing. On the one hand they hope that strict Unesco rules will prevent the city council from further damaging the city. On the other hand they fear those same rules could turn Amsterdam in a 'sleepy village.'

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: Amsterdam’s canals to be added to UNESCO World Heritage List

Amsterdam's historic grachtengordel (literally, belt of canals) around the city's center will be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July, a spokesman for the organization has said.

But not everyone is pleased with the decision.

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: No ice skating on Amsterdam’s canals for now

Effective this thursday, the city of Amsterdam wil cancel a recent ban on sailing through some of its canals.

The ban was meant to allow a network of canals to freeze over -- turning a large section of the city into a giant ice skating rink. But the weather isn't playing along...

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: Amsterdam prepares canals for ice skating fun

The city of Amsterdam has banned boats from using a number of canals in the hope that they will freeze over, turning the historic water ways into a giant ice skating rink.

We'll show you which canals are affected.

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: Amsterdam craze: tossing Smart cars into the canals

Amsterdam police is deeply concerned about a new craze in which vandals toss parked cars from the Smart brand into the city's canals.

It is not clear how many Smart cars have been vandalized this way, but an employee of Smart Center Amsterdam confirmed the company has recently been confronted with it 'a number of times.'

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: What lurks beneath the water of Amsterdam’s canals?

Radio Netherlands reports that rubbish is dredged from Amsterdam's waterways at the rate of 18,000 cubic metres per year, including beds, couches, small boats, stethoscopes, guns and even a dead body. Not to mention hundreds of discarded bicycles.

Ashleigh Elson goes out on patrol with Waternet's dredging team. [video]

Amsterdam Tourist Information