Amsterdam, on and along the water
If you're interested in the water culture in this beautiful city, you're at the right place. We collect local stories aboard our tiny boat De Parel (The Pearl), and by talking to other locals. You don't want to miss this boat!
Hi, I'm Isabelle.
I was born in Amsterdam, studied here, and spent years working as a tour guide on the canals. That's where I realized I really like being on and around water.
After repeating the same canal route hundreds of times, my attention shifted from the stories I already knew and towards the people living on and along the water.
The skippers who know exactly which canal crossing will cause chaos on a Friday afternoon, the boat builders, bridge operators, and all the systems and habits that keep this floating city functioning.
The more time I spent there, the more I realized Amsterdam makes a lot more sense once you start looking at it through water. And - be warned - once you put on the blue glasses, you can't unsee it!
So this is my way of sharing that world: slower, personal, and from the inside out.
Notes about water.
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You probably know a canal character I don't.
The man who decorates old bikes to cheer up his wife. The woman who got a boat just to fish plastic out of the canals. Send them my way, I'll go find them.
8:34pm, golden hour, no other boats. Life is good.
“Ask a houseboat resident what it's like to live on a houseboat!” - Luca
Just realized my whole career as a canal tour guide, I’d been saying RnB instead of Airbnb...
Drinks along the water: Neef van Fred.