Amsterdam Sport and More
In the Netherlands as well as Amsterdam the national sport is football and with Amsterdam being home to one of the most successful clubs in Europe namely Ajax www.ajax.nl due to their recent success in the 2002/2003 UEFA Champions League. Another is PSV Eindhoven http://english.psv.nl other favourite sports with the Dutch are tennis, (ice)skating and hockey.
If your visiting Amsterdam and you like football you can take a tour of the amazing high-tech Amsterdam Arena with it’s opening and closing roof this is the stadium owned by Ajax and tours can be arranged as well as purchasing tickets to matches. Check web site or call (020) 311 1444.
There is also a museum called World of Ajax Phone (020) 311 1333), which tells the history of the club from their beginnings to where they are today. Admission is €3.50 if you wish to purchase tickets you must produce your passport.
The football association in the Netherlands is known as The Royal Dutch Football Association or KNVB for short and are in charge of organising the Football League which comprises two divisions the Eredivisie (Major league 2nd division) and Eerste Divisie (Premier league/ 1st division).
During your stay you might like to play some sport to work off any excesses you have indulged in while on holiday. You have many choices here in Amsterdam and below is a list of the top ten sports which covers 95% of people.
If you fancy a work out during your stay in Amsterdam (as many of our guests do) you can attend one of many gym’s to work out in and all offer daily or weekly rates to visitors..
The most central ones are Fitness First (If your a member of any of their branches around UK , Ireland or elsewhere you are welcome here without charge). others must pay.
For body builders Fit for Less http://www.fitforless.nl is now properly the best in Amsterdam as it has a huge free weights section. Fit For Free http://www.fitforfree.nl/ , the cheapest gym at just Euro 9.99 a month which is located at several locations around the city, the biggest at Lijbaansgracht 350, phone 020 626 1036. This branch (other locations not so much) does have a great collection of free weights which were left by the previous owner “Barry’s Gym” the biggest and best gym at the time.
For tourists visiting Amsterdam and need a Gym to work out at, visit the fit for free location at Lijbaansgracht 350, phone 020 626 1036 as they offer a Euro 10 daily rate so is ideal for visitors looking to keep fit during their time in Amsterdam.
Squash / Tennis
If you fancy a game of squash check out Squash city www.squashcity.nl. Squash city also is a Gym and bar but squash is the main business with 13 courts.
Anyone for Tennis ? The Frans Otten Stadium
http://www.fransottenstadion.nl/english/default.php
located at Stadionstraat 10, Phone (020) 662 8767; has tennis courts. It is open Monday to Friday 7am to 1am and weekends10am to 6pm.
You can hire a court from around €20.00 per hour. as well as tennis it also offers the following facilities Squash, Fitness, Aerobics, Fencing, Poekoelan, Pilates, Salsa Aerobics, Dance ballet, Salsa Dance and Fisiotherapie. You can enjoy a nice meal and a cold drink in their Bar/Restaurant which makes it a nice place to combine a work out and a bit of relaxing afterwards.
Everyone is welcome.
For a full listing of other places offering tennis court facilities check the Goulden Gids , Amsterdam’s yellow/golden pages and let your fingers do some walking to Tennisparken en -hallen’.. where you will find listings for both indoor and outdoor courts.
Table Tennis
Tafeltennis Centrum Amsterdam
Keizersgracgt 209 – Telephone (020) 624 57 80
GOLF
If you fancy a round of golf during your stay here are a few courses in or close to Amsterdam.Amstelborgh/Borchland www.borchland.nl this 9 hole course is very easy to reach for Amsterdam centre and is about 10-15 min by car heading towards Utrecht, you can also reach it by public transport. Prices are quite reasonable with the driving range costing nothing.and balls are cheap.
There are several smallish chipping and pitching greens. Weekdays are best if you wish to avoid crowds. They also offer bowling, badminton, tennis and squash.
Located at Borchlandweg 6 12, 1099CT. Phone +31 (0) 20 5633333Check web site for details. (Site in English and Dutch)
The Amsterdamse Golf Club
Located at Zwarte Laantje 4
Phone 020 694 3650
Golfbaan Sloten
Located at Sloterweg 1045
Phone 020 614 2402
Again for a full list of Amsterdam golf clubs check out the Goulden Gids , Amsterdam’s yellow/golden pages.
Bowling: Amsterdam has two bowling alleys.
Amstelborgh/Borchland. (As above)
The other is Pim’s Bowling http://www.pimsbowling.nl. (Dutch only site) Located at Buikslotermeerplein 4, Phone +31 (0) 20 6340030
Jogging
Vondel park as well as Amsterdamse Bos and the Amstelpark have jogging tracks and a lot of joggers as well.
Swimming
Amsterdam has several pools open to the public.
Mirandabad
Located at De Mirandalaan 9,
Phone +31 (0) 20 5464444
Zuiderbad Zwembad (No web site)
Located at Hobbemastraat 26, 1071ZC
Phone +31 (0) 20 6781390
Horse Riding
There are a few places offering horse riding in Amsterdam.
Horseback Riding Amstelveen
Located at Noorddammerweg 50, Amstelveen.
Amsterdamse Manege
Offers indoor and outdoor riding.
Located at Nieuwe Kalfjeslaan 25
Phone 020 643 1342
http://www.amsterdamse-manege.com
Amsterdam Association Horseback Riding for Disabled
Located at Loosdrechtdreef 9
Amsterdam Sailing / Boat Rental / Boat Tours / Group Canal Tours.
Fancy a little boating. Below is a list of several boat rental companies operating in Amsterdam along with a bit of information on each as well as web sites for all who have one.
Aemstelland
This is the company which Amsterdam Escape use when we get boat tour / dinner requests.
Erik is the owner and really looks after his guests. Dinner or snacks can be arranged or just brought aboard as well as smoking soft drugs and drinking are allowed.
http://www.aemstelland.nl ( Dutch and English)
Rederij Vlaun
Boat located at Prinsengracht 31
Phone 020-4236365
http://www.rederijvlaun.com (Dutch only site)
Amsterdam en Water
Located at Anslijn 75
Phone +31 (0)1813993
For groups of 20 people up. with or without Dinner
Many languages spoken, for example in German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch,.http://www.amsterdamenwater.n (English and Dutch)
Berend Botje Yachting
Located at Dijksgracht 24.
+31 (0) 20 4190700
http://www.berendbotje.com (Dutch Only)
Classic Canal Charters
Lijndenstraat 36, 1018PZ
+31 (0) 20 4210825
They offer canal cruises in Amsterdam and beyond. Authentic, comfortable ships and a relaxed atmosphere on board., A Canal Cruise makes a stylish and colorful alternative for your dinner, company outing, your wedding or any other event.
http://www.classiccanalcharters.com (English / Dutch )
Feestboot Neeltje
Located at Amstel 134
Phone (020) 6277001
http://www.feestbootneeltje.nl (Dutch Only Site)
maximum 50 people and rates from Euro 195 an hour.
Langszij Zeilcharters
Located at Transvaalstraat 89 HS, 1092HE
Phone +31 (0) 20 6684690
Can accommodate up to twenty guests and offers day time, night time and overnight cruises 14 beds are available. Whilst on board you can cook for yourself making full use of the galley or we can organize a partial or full catering service for you.
http://www.langszijzeilcharters.com (English, Dutch and German)
Waterlelie Rondvaart
Located at Prinseneiland 83.
Phone +31 (0) 20 6235674
Boat can accommodate 12 to 30 persons for tours around Amsterdam. You can have catering arranged for you as well as drinks.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~waterlel (Dutch site only)
Water Taxi
http://www.water-taxi.nl (Dutch site only)
A great way to get to your destination as long as you are not in a hurry.
