The Coolest Outdoor Ice Rinks In Amsterdam This Winter

When the weather starts to drop in Amsterdam, several outdoor ice rinks open up around the city, allowing Amsterdammers to strap on a pair of skates and test out their skills. To discover the best places to skate in the city, check out the following list of superb ice rinks.

Jaap Eden Ijsbaans

This massive ice rink is named after the famous Dutch athlete Jaap Eden, who was renowned for his speed skating proficiency and excellent sportsmanship. The rink’s outdoor skating facilities cover 400 meters of ice, making it the largest public winter sports arena in Amsterdam. Jaap Eden also offers daily skating lessons and frequently hosts seasonal sporting events including curling and ice hockey.

📍 Jaap Eden Ijsbaan, Radioweg 64, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, +31 900 72 42 287

Ice*Amsterdam

From mid-November until the beginning of February, Amsterdam’s Museumplein will feature a large ice rink that backs onto some of the city’s most iconic buildings and structures. This frosty wonderland is ridiculously photogenic and is framed by the I amsterdam letters and the Rijksmuseum. Apart from this outstanding backdrop, Ice* is also known for its winter-themed games and events, such as Human Ice bowling and Dutch toboggan racing.

📍 Museumplein, Museumpromenade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, + 31 20 7521 751.

Ijsbaan Leidseplein

This smaller rink is surrounded by a number of stalls that sell Christmassy Dutch treats such as oliebollen, mulled wine, and bokbier, meaning that eager skaters can quickly warm up after showing off their moves on the ice. The rink is located on Leidseplein and is exceptionally close to many famous landmarks and popular neighborhoods.

📍 Ijsbaan Leidseplein, Leidseplein, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, +31 035 5480500

Canals

Although it doesn’t happen every year, during colder winters, Amsterdam’s iconic waterways will occasionally freeze over creating beautiful, winding ice rinks that flow through the city’s main thoroughfares. For this to happen, the temperature has to remain below -4 degrees Celsius four nights in a row, after which the municipality closes off certain central canals and lets them freeze. Dutch people are generally well prepared for this rare occasion, and many Amsterdammers possess their own ice skates. Fortunately, secondhand skates are readily available from many of Amsterdam’s daily markets and can also be found in most Dutch sports stores.