Along the canals

The Rijksmuseum

After our visit around the Rijksmuseum, we decided to have a sit down on a canal cruise. The boat was departing soon after our arrival. Before anyone else was boarded, they got me on. They had a lift that rose from the boat, on which I could then roll, to be lowered down onto the deck into the cabin. It was great! I’ve never seen such a lift before but it made getting on with a wheelchair effortless.

The trip took 90 minutes. We gently passed along the various canals. I was struck by the variation of style of essentially the same narrow-fronted building. We passed Santa-laden houseboats, the Westerkerk & the Anne Frank Huis, out into wider Het Ij & the dock & ferry area behind the railway station, before turning inland once more to head back to where we started from, passing NEMO (science & technology centre) the Montlebaanstoren & the Magere Brug on the way. It was a very pleasant relaxing trip & a good way to see many of the sights of Amsterdam.

A houseboat with Santa

NEMO, the roof is terraced for sitting on in summer

The Montelbaanstoren

When we were in Amsterdam the Light Festival was on. This involved various art sculptures being placed on the canals which lit up as night fell. Unfortunately when we went on the canal trip it was still light so you only saw the framework of the sculptures. However, after the canal cruise we walked back to the hotel, half-looking for an accessible restaurant for dinner. In the process we passed several of the structures we’d seen on the boat trip now lit up as well as a few others.  Quite magical!

 

Magere Bru, all lit up

In white & blue

In blue & red