Amsterdam: Activities

• snow sports

  If the winter is cold enough, locals skate on frozen canals and the Museumplein pond; if nature doesn't comply, try the Jaap Edenbaan indoor and outdoor rinks instead.

• track and field

  The Vondelpark is an exquisite place for a stroll or a jog, particularly in Spring; if you want more of a serious leg-stretch, the sprawling Amsterdamse Bos is the place to head.

• cycling

  To say that Amsterdammers are avid cyclists is a bit of an understatement. There are some 400km (248mi) of bike paths in the city alone, and nowhere is the humble pushy so revered - cars and pedestrians come a poor second. If you want a local's perspective on the city, hire a bike as fast as you can.

• team sports

  Dutch national pride is pretty low-key except when it comes to football. The national team competes in virtually every World Cup, and passions for the game run so high it's almost scary. Amsterdam's famous team, Ajax (say 'ah-yahks'), plays in the hi-tech Amsterdam ArenA. Hooliganism is not unheard of, but the ArenA has a modern, hi-tech police force, and if you're sitting in the seats (as opposed to standing in the standing sections) you're unlikely to notice crowd trouble.

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