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10 Best Outdoor Swimming Locations in Amsterdam

10 Best Outdoor Swimming Locations in Amsterdam

Mirjam van de Ven
Solutions Manager
6
min read
August 11, 2020

What better way to enjoy sunshine than with a lake and a picnic? Luckily Amsterdam does not disappoint when it comes to the perfect spot for a dip!


Het Twiske


Het Twiske is both a recreational area & nature reserve rolled into one! Plans for the area started in the 1960s and since then it has grown to 650 hectares of coverage which consists of one-third water. The area is also known for dairy farming and you are likely to see a cow or two in the area. Located north of Amsterdam City Het Twiske is very accessible by bike, taking about 1 hour to reach with some fast pedalling. Due to the park being about a third water you can appreciate that it is very popular with people who are fond of swimming, sailing or diving. They have many beaches along with a water playground for kids, a diving platform, a farm and much more!



Sloterplas


This lake has a long history. Back in 1644, it was a natural lake that went by the name of Slootemeer before it was reclaimed using (yep you guessed it) windmills! The area remained solid ground for three centuries before once again becoming a lake when the surrounding area needed to be elevated for construction. Sloterpark is located in the neighbourhood of Nieuw West which is very accessible by public transport. Sloterplas is known as a place you can rent a sailboat or canoe and take to the waters to enjoy the day. The urban beach is very popular with families and for those preferring an actual swimming pool containing chlorine you can also access the Sloterparkbad in the area!


Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Forest)


Amsterdamse Bos is an incredible achievement! It all started back in the difficult times of the 1930s where all the trees were planted by hand to help boost employment during the financial crisis. Around 20,000 people were employed to help build the park which was eventually completed in 1970. The area spans around 1000 hectares making it one of the largest city parks in Europe! You will find this park located to the south of the city in the municipalities of Amstelveen and Amsterdam. Aside from enjoying the natural beauty of the park by walking or biking you can find many spots for a swim in the lakes and even rent out canoes. They also have two paddling pools for kids in the park!



Nieuwe Meer


Nieuw Meer was born during the 1950s when much of its sand was extracted for construction purposes within the city. The result of all the extracted sand was a lake with a depth of around 35m. The lake is located just North of Amsterdamse Bos and is accessible by public transport. Since its birth, Nieuw Meer has become a very popular spot for recreational sailing and fishing with two official sports for swimming.


Gaasperplas


The Dutch are known for their mastery of the land and water which the Gaasperplas highlights this perfectly. The Gaasperplas was constructed back in the 1980’s, using its sand for nearby construction, to host the International Horticulture Exhibition known as the Floriade. Over the years it has been turned into a public park offering its lake, preserved flower gardens and natural beauty to the busy neighbourhoods which surround it. You can find Gaasperplas in the Biljmer area and even has its own metro station making it very easy to get to. Aside from walking around the park and enjoying the flower gardens the area is also known for its watersports centre. You can, sail swim, canoe and windsurf to yours hearts content on the waters of the Gaasperplas that has a maximum depth of around 35m.



Westereinderplassen


These lakes and many in the surrounding area were born due to peat extraction many centuries ago. Fast forward to today however and you have the largest body of fresh water in the whole of North holland! You will find this lake near the Aalsmeer municipality which is reachable by a 15-minute drive from Amsterdam. The lake has around 50 marinas on its banks which are just begging to be explored which can be done by boating, sailing, water skiing or canoeing. For those who love the land then there are extensive biking paths to enjoy the lake as well!  


Beatrixpark


Beatripark is one of the oldest modern-parks to be created within Amsterdam. It came into life in the 1930s and nowadays is very popular amongst families. Initially created as a romantic park it was redesigned to be more functional after World War 2. Today is it very popular amongst families and is a great sport for a family day out! You will find Beatrixpark located behind the RAI congress centre in Amsterdam-Zuid. Beatrixpark made it onto the list because of its paddling pool for children which makes it the perfect place for families and their little ones!



Ouderkerkerplas


You may be starting to sense a theme with Dutch lakes near the city of Amsterdam, but the Ouderkerkerplas also came into being due to sand extraction which was needed for construction works occurring nearby in the 1960s. The result of all the sand extraction was a lake of a depth of 43m which turned into a public park in the 1990s. Today the park is a recreational area and nature reserve accessible to all! You can find Ouderkerkerplas on the border of Amsterdam-Zuidoost and Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. The area has a water sports centre offering sailing and surfing while the beach has a children’s playground making it a fun spot for families.



Diemerpark


This is an urban beach which, although you could never tell now, used to be a rubbish dump up until the 1970s, which has been completely redeveloped into a natural oasis. The area has been cleaned and the water quality is closely monitored to ensure the area is kept in pristine conditions for anyone wanting to enjoy the shores. You will find this spot located on the road to the town of Muiden in the Ijburg area. The area is beautiful to explore and the small urban beach can be enjoyed by all.



De Hoge Dijk


Constructed during the 1980s this nature reserve and recreational area now provides a fun spot for golf lovers as De Hoge Dijk’s primary function is a golf course, but the eastern section has a large lake with a beach. You will find De Hoge Dijk in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. It goes without saying that golf-lovers will be in their element in this particular park, but for those looking to cool off will want to head to the lake. The lake offers a designated swimming spot along with a paddling pool for kids.e



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