Amsterdam's Best Urban Beaches

As summer approaches, several urban beaches around Amsterdam open for the season. Many of these sandy refuges are located inside the city’s centre and run alongside its famous canal rings, whereas others look onto the river IJ or other larger bodies, placing them slightly further afield, but yet still well within cycling distance from inner Amsterdam.

Roest

Although Roest is open all year round, it becomes particular popular during summertime, partly due to its canal side beach terrace. This awesome hangout is surrounded by old industrial buildings and includes an adult-sized jungle-gym. Besides these already impressive attractions, Roest is also among the few bars in Amsterdam that stocks Club Maté.
📍 Roest, Jacob Bontiusplaats 1, Amsterdam, +31 20 308 0283

Pllek

Blijburg aan Zee

As Amsterdam’s newest neighbourhood, Ijburg, is built on a string of artificial islands, it is completely surrounded by water. The northern coastline of this archipelago curves into a long, sandy peninsula called Blijburg aan Zee, which contains several summer-orientated amenities such as a chilled out beach bar and a surfing centre.
📍Blijburg Aan Zee, Amsterdam

Amsterdamse Bos

Although there are several large bodies of water in Amsterdamse Bos, Nieuwe Meer is likely the best spot inside the park for summer excursions. The southern banks of this huge lake are lined with sandy grassland and small dunes, making it perfect for quite afternoons in the sun. For more exciting or athletic waterside activities, visitors can head over to Amsterdamse Bos’ numerous boating centers.
📍 Het Amsterdamse Bos, Amstelveen

Gaasperplas

Gaasperplas was purposely designed by Amsterdam’s municipality to accommodate water-based sports and features several boating facilities. Although most of the lake is surrounded by grassy fields, there is a sheltered, public beach on its northern shore. Accessing the lake is exceptionally easy, thanks to a nearby metro station that bears the same name.
📍 Gaasperplas, Amsterdam

Het Stonen Hoofd

As Het Stonen Hoofd is around 600 meters away from Central Station, it is undoubtedly the most central urban beach in Amsterdam. This rocky peninsula juts into the River IJ and looks directly onto Amsterdam’s northern shoreline. Over the past few years the beach has become synonymous with Pluk de Nacht — a large outdoor film festival takes place on Het Stonen Hoofd every August.
📍 Het Stonen Hoofd, Westerdoksdijk 705-C, Amsterdam

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.