Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Top 10 Spectator
Sports
Football
See Ajax at their remark-
able 50,000-seater stadium.
d Amsterdam ArenA, Bijlmer •
Aug-Dec, Feb-May
Cycling
The RAI Derny Race is
Amsterdam's only criterium
(road circuit). d Amsterdam
RAI, Europaplein • mid-May
Prinsengrachtconcert, Grachtenfestival
Grachtengordel (see p11) . The
highlight is a free piano recital
given on a barge on Prinsengracht
opposite the Pulitzer Hotel. d 020
421 4542 www.grachtenfestival.nl
2nd or 3rd Wed-Sun in Aug
Basketball
The top local team is
Ricoh Astronauts . d Sport-
hallen Zuid • Sep-mid-May
Korfbal
A cross between netball
and basketball. Blauw Wit is
the club to watch. d Sportpark
Joos Banckersweg • Sep-Jun
Jordaan Festival
This picturesque district (see
p92) makes an ideal setting for a
low-key early-autumn festival.
The local talent comes out of the
woodwork for contests on
Westermarkt, and there are
concerts, street parties and fairs
- like the one devoted to food in
Noordermarkt. d 020 626 5587
www.jordaanfestival.nl mid-Sep
Hockey
Amsterdamsche Hockey &
Bandy Club are the ones to
watch. d Wagener Stadium,
Amstelveen • Sep-May
Ice Hockey
The city supports the
popular Boretti Tigers.
d Sporthal Jaap Edenhal,
Radioweg 64 • Oct-late Mar
Sinterklaas' Parade
The Christmas festivities
start here. St Nicholas - the
Dutch Santa Claus - arrives near
St Nicholaas Kerk by boat with
his mischievous elves, Zwarte
Pieten (Black Peters). Together,
they distribute sweets and gifts
to the children of Amsterdam. d
Second or third Sat in Nov
American Football
If you can't get tickets to
watch Ajax, the Amsterdam
Admirals also play at the
ArenA (see above) . d Mar-Jun
Running
The Amsterdam Marathon
began in 1976 and is now an
annual event. d Olympisch
Stadion Stadionplein • Oct
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve starts slowly
and explodes into life at midnight
with firework displays (there's an
organized one over the Amstel)
and wild street-partying centred
on Nieuwmarkt and Dam Square.
As with all events of this sort,
things can sometimes get out of
hand. d 31 Dec
Rowing
Popular among the
numerous competitions is the
Head of the Amstel River
race. d Last week Mar
Show-jumping
Jumping Amsterdam is a
series of international indoor
competitions. d Amsterdam
RAI, Europaplein • Jan-Feb
71
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