Water Sports in Amsterdam

Thrill seekers will love water sports in Amsterdam, where everything from jet skiing to parasailing is on offer. Beaches and coastal hubs around the city make it easy to try something new, whether you’re a beginner or already experienced. MakeMyTrip offers 1876 water sports activities in Amsterdam for 2025, designed for different skill levels. You can race across the waves, soar high above the water or explore calmer options like kayaking and paddleboarding. Trained guides and safety gear ensure you can focus on fun while staying secure. With Amsterdam water sports prices starting from INR 266, adventure on the water is more accessible than ever. Add some excitement to your trip this December by booking with MakeMyTrip.

Canals and Adventure: Water Sports in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is built on water, and you feel it everywhere. The canals weave like veins through the city, boats hum past, and the air always carries a hint of damp stone and river breeze. It’s no surprise that water sports in Amsterdam take on a flavour unlike anywhere else. Instead of wild oceans or crashing waves, you find calm canals, open lakes, and even nearby rivers that invite you to explore.

What makes it special is how mixed it all feels. One morning, you might be stand-up paddleboarding past rows of crooked canal houses, the next kayaking across the open expanse of IJmeer. In summer, locals take to the water in droves, making water sports in Amsterdam part of daily life rather than just a tourist activity. The rhythm is slower than the coast, but no less engaging.

Of course, travellers often wonder about costs. A kayak rental might start from around INR 1,200, paddleboarding about INR 1,800, while windsurfing sessions on the outskirts of the city can climb higher. For anyone curious about the water sports Amsterdam price, it’s generally affordable compared with coastal hubs, and the views of old bridges, gabled houses, city skylines make the ride worth every rupee.

And the beauty of it is that these aren’t just sports. They’re part of the city’s identity. Trying different water activities in Amsterdam feels like stepping inside its rhythm, paddling past cyclists, hearing laughter spill from canal-side cafés, drifting under bridges lit softly in the evening. These simple activities blur the line between sightseeing and sport, making them one of the best ways to experience the city.

By the time you climb back onto the quay, boards dripping or paddles dripping onto cobblestones, you’ll know why people say water sports in Amsterdam are about more than just movement. They’re about feeling the city from a new angle, eye-level with the canals that shaped it.

Quick Overview by Activity

Activity	Ideal for	Popular Locations
Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) / Kayaking	Couples, solo travellers, anyone wanting to see the city slowly	City canals, IJmeer Lake
Canoeing / Rowing	Families, groups, slower-paced days	Amstel River, Oudekerk aan de Amstel
Windsurfing / Sailing	Adrenaline chasers, active explorers	IJburg, Sloterplas Lake
Swimming (summer only)	Locals, travellers chasing a refreshing dip	Nieuwe Meer, urban swimming spots near canals
Unique Adventures (Canal rafting, dragon boating)	Groups and travellers chasing something different	Wide canals outside the city centre, community water events

Popular Water Sports in Amsterdam

For Calm Explorers

Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP)

Balancing on a board, gliding past gabled houses and under stone bridges, is one of the most peaceful water sports in Amsterdam. The city feels different when you’re eye-level with the canals, your paddle dipping quietly into the water. Locals join in at sunset, when the light makes the water shimmer gold. SUP has become one of the gentler but memorable water sports in Amsterdam, perfect for travellers who want calm with a bit of rhythm.

Kayaking

Kayaking gives you a chance to explore narrow canals that tourists often miss. The splash of your paddle echoes under bridges, and sometimes the smell of coffee or baked bread drifts down from a café above. It’s among the simplest water sports in Amsterdam, but it reveals corners of the city most don’t see.

For Groups & Families

Canoeing

With more space than kayaks, canoes are good for families or friends who want to chat as they float. On the Amstel River, the water opens up, and rowing slowly past old villages feels like stepping back in time. This slower rhythm makes canoeing one of the most authentic water sports in Amsterdam.

Rowing Adventures

Rowing clubs are part of the city’s culture. Joining a session, even just for a taste, makes you realise how much water shapes life here. For groups, it’s a mix of exercise and sightseeing, and another side of water sports in Amsterdam that many visitors don’t expect.

For Wind & Open Water Lovers

Windsurfing

Step outside the centre to lakes like IJburg, and you’ll find a livelier scene. Windsurfing is one of the more energetic water sports in Amsterdam, where the breeze pulls you fast across open water. It’s not the sea, but the thrill is still there, and the backdrop of city and sky makes it unique.

Sailing

Sailing on the IJmeer feels almost like leaving the city behind. The skyline fades, the wind fills the sail, and suddenly you’re somewhere in between urban life and open water. This blend of city and quiet adventure keeps sailing on the list of must-try water sports in Amsterdam.

For Something Different

Urban Swimming

In summer, when the air is warm and locals spill onto the banks, swimming becomes a simple yet loved part of water sports in Amsterdam. Spots like Nieuwe Meer feel alive with laughter, the smell of sunscreen, and music from speakers set up on the grass.

Dragon Boating & Canal Rafting

Less common, but memorable. Festivals and events often bring out groups paddling in rhythm, laughter echoing down the canals. It’s one of those quirky water sports in Amsterdam you stumble across by chance.

Top Water Sports Locations in Amsterdam

The City Canals

This is where it all begins. Kayaking or paddleboarding through Amsterdam’s canals feels almost unreal, gliding past crooked houses, slipping under arched bridges, the sound of your paddle mixing with bicycle bells from above. It’s one of the most iconic places for water sports in Amsterdam, even if the rhythm is slow. Locals often treat these outings like everyday activities, but for travellers, it’s unforgettable.

IJmeer Lake

Just east of the city, the water opens up wide. Here, sailing and windsurfing come alive, with the skyline of Amsterdam faint in the distance. The lake is calmer than the sea but still windy enough to keep things exciting. For many, it’s a favourite spot to try different water sports in Amsterdam, especially when you want open space without leaving the city completely.

Nieuwe Meer

This lake is a summer hangout for locals. People swim, set up picnics, and launch SUP boards into the water. It feels relaxed, almost like a neighbourhood secret. If you’re curious about the water sports Amsterdam price, this is where you’ll often find affordable rentals that don’t cut into your budget.

Amstel River

South of the centre, the Amstel stretches out with a quieter mood. Canoeing here takes you past green banks and small villages, far from the city’s buzz. It’s one of the gentler settings for water sports in Amsterdam, where the scenery becomes part of the experience and you forget how close you are to the city.

Tips for Water Sports in Amsterdam

• Start early. The canals are calmer in the morning, and you’ll have the space to yourself before tour boats appear. Early hours make water sports in Amsterdam more peaceful, almost meditative.
• Carry a dry bag. Phones, wallets, even snacks, you’ll want them safe, especially when switching between different water activities in Amsterdam.
• Always check the weather. A breezy afternoon on IJmeer might be perfect for sailing, but it can turn tricky fast if you’re on a paddleboard.
• Ask about costs ahead of time. The water sports Amsterdam price varies depending on location and season, and it’s easier to agree before stepping on the board.
• Mix your days. A paddle through the canals in the morning, followed by swimming at Nieuwe Meer in the afternoon, balances calm and energy. That’s the beauty of water sports in Amsterdam, there’s no single way to do it right.
• Stay open to detours. Sometimes the best moments aren’t planned, like drifting into a quiet canal lined with willows or stumbling into a lakeside festival.

How to Book Water Sports in Amsterdam on MakeMyTrip

If you don’t want to spend half your day wandering along the canals asking about rentals, the easiest way is to book your water sports in Amsterdam ahead of time. MakeMyTrip keeps the whole thing simple, so you can focus on paddling instead of planning.

Here’s how it works. Head over to the ‘Tours & Attractions’ section and type in Amsterdam with your travel dates. A list opens up, kayaking along the Amstel, stand-up paddleboarding through the old canals, and even windsurfing on IJmeer. If you only want the water-based stuff, just filter to ‘Water Activities’. Suddenly, the list shrinks to exactly what you’re here for.

Each listing shows the basic timings, what’s included, and the water sports Amsterdam price. A kayak rental might hover around INR 1,200, paddleboarding closer to INR 1,800, and windsurfing or sailing sessions can climb higher. Comparing them on one page makes it easier than asking around in person.

Once you find something that clicks, the booking is quick. Choose your slot, confirm the number of people, fill in the details, and pay using card, UPI, or net banking. If you’ve got a discount code, now’s the time to use it. And if you’re looking to mix things up, some listings let you stack a couple of water activities in Amsterdam into one outing.

The best part? By the time you’re standing on the quay with a paddle in hand or a sail waiting to catch the wind, the admin is done. No back-and-forth, no stress. Just you, the water, and the day of water sports in Amsterdam ahead.