Amsterdam (Rough Guide) - Martin Dunford [166]
Fitness & Health Garden Jodenbreestrat 158 (Old Jewish Quarter and Eastern docklands) 020/320 3666, www.healthgarden.nl. This health club mainly offers classes (yoga, t’ai chi, Pilates and aerobics among others), as well as saunas, solarium and massage. Classes €9.50; sauna €11; class & sauna €13. Mon, Wed & Fri 9am–10.30pm, Tues & Thurs noon–10.30pm, Sat & Sun 9am–5.30pm.
Splash Looiersgracht 26 (Jordaan and Western docklands) 020/624 8404, www.splashhealthclubs.nl. Very popular hi-tech fitness centre with sauna, tanning salon, Turkish bath and a range of daily aerobic classes from €10 for non-members. Day pass €20; week pass also available. Mon–Fri 7am–midnight, Sat & Sun 7am–9pm.
Sports and activities |
Horseriding
Amsterdamse Manege Nieuwe Kalfjeslaan, Amstelveen (Nieuw Zuid) 020/643 1342, www.deamsterdamsemanege.nl. Superbly located in the Amsterdamse Bos, although unfortunately it’s not possible to go for a ride unless you are a regular customer. You can however book a lesson; an hour costs €20 for adults and €16 for under-16s. Mon–Thurs 8.30am–11pm, Fri 8.30am–10pm, Sat 8.30am–6pm, Sun 8.30am–5pm.
Hollandsche Manege Vondelstraat 140 (Museum Quarter and Vondelpark) 020/618 0942, www.dehollanschemanege.nl. Stables built in 1882 in neo-Renaissance style on the edge of the Vondelpark. You’ll need your own boots, though hats can be rented. A one-hour lesson costs €22.50 for adults, €19.50 for 11- to 17-year-olds, and €17.50 for under-11s. Group lessons also available.
Sports and activities |
Ice skating
One of the great events in Holland’s sporting calendar, when it happens, is the Elfstedentocht, a race across eleven towns and 200km of frozen waterways in Friesland, in the north of the Netherlands. If you’re around in January and the ice is good, you’ll hear talk of little else, but it’s been over ten years since the last big freeze allowed it to go ahead, so you’ll have to be very lucky to catch the race.
However, whenever the city’s canals and waterways freeze over (which does not happen every winter by any means), local skaters are spoiled for choice, with almost every stretch of water utilized, providing an exhilarating way to whizz round the city – much more fun than a rink. Surprisingly, canal cruises continue even when the waterways are frozen over, with the boats crunching their way up and down the Prinsengracht, but they leave the Keizersgracht well alone, to be occupied by bundled-up Amsterdammers who take to the ice in droves. Most locals have their own skates, and buying a pair from a department store will set you back over €100. Your best option is to visit one of Amsterdam’s ice rinks (see "In-line skating"), which rent out their own skates.
However, if you’re not a pro skater, the easiest and safest option is probably the Jaap Eden IJsbanen, Radioweg 64 (outdoor rink Oct to mid-March: Mon, Thurs, Fri: 8am–4pm & 9–11pm, Tues 9.20am–4pm & 9–11pm, Wed 8am–4pm, Sat noon–4.30pm, Sun 10.30am–5.30pm; indoor rink Mon–Fri 1–3.45pm, Sat & Sun noon–4pm; disco skating Sat 8.40–11.30pm; €5.80; 020/694 9652, www.jaapeden.nl; tram #9 from CS), a large ice-skating complex to the east of the city centre, with an indoor and an outdoor rink. You can rent skates for €5.50 from Waterman Sport next door (020/694 9884), but only if you use them at Jaap Eden, and you’re required to leave your passport or driving licence as a deposit.
If you do decide to try skating on the canals, take note of a few safety points before you venture out onto the ice:
• If no one’s on the ice, don’t try skating – locals have a better idea of its thickness.
• To gain confidence, start off on the smaller ponds in the Vondelpark.
• Be careful under bridges, where the ice takes longest to freeze.
• If the ice gives way