Amsterdam Water Sensations

Amsterdam and water are inextricably linked to each other. No less than a quarter of Amsterdam’s surface is made up out of water. No other city in Europe can beat that, except maybe Venice.

In 2010 Amsterdam revolves around water: ATCB presents the theme year Amsterdam Water Sensations. The theme year is organized in close collaboration with the tourist and cultural sector in Amsterdam.

During the theme year Amsterdam Water Sensations 2010 a large number of events will take place on and alongside the water. One of the many highlights is the spectacle SAIL 2010 - one of the largest maritime manifestations in the world - held from August 19th through August 23rd. The Giro d'Italia cycling event will start on May 8th in Amsterdam, naturally taking the first stage of the course alongside the many canals and other waterways. Other events include festivals on and alongside the water such as the Prinsengrachtconcert, Over 't IJ festival, IJazz (to be confirmed) and in December the Xmas Canal Parade 2010. Additional information on the theme year can be found on www.amsterdamwatersensations.com 

To Zandvoort and IJmuiden by bus and boot

This year, for the first time ever, ATCB has involved the entire Amsterdam Metropolitan Area in the theme year. Understandably so, as foreign visitors find that Amsterdam exceeds the city borders. Special arrangements for the occasion of the theme year include a special Amsterdam Beach Bus to Zandvoort and an Amsterdam Beach Boat to IJmuiden. ATCB research shows that visiting to the beach is an extremely popular activity with visitors of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. Of the surveyed tourists and recreational visitors 27 percent say that they have visited the beach in Zandvoort or IJmuiden. 16 percent of the visitors who were interviewed in Amsterdam say that they had visited the beach.

Foreign visitors are also fascinated by the century-old struggle of the Dutch with water. Striking examples of this include the NAP in the passage of the Amsterdam city hall, polder areas such as the Beemster listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list and Flevoland, the The Defence Line of Amsterdam which has also been placed on the World Heritage list, and the dikes and dunes along the North Sea Coast.

Theme years

Since 2004 ATCB has annually organized a tourist theme year in collaboration with businesses and the cultural sector. Aim of the theme year is to create additional attention for the special aspects of Amsterdam, and obviously also to generate a larger number of visitors and increase the number of overnight stays. The theme years were successively Architecture + Design (2004), City on the Water (2005), Rembrandt 400 (2006), Feel the Rhythm - music & dance (2007), Amsterdam Hidden Treasures (2008) en Amsterdam Art City (2009). Each year, the theme years have generated a great deal of publicity and a rise in the number of visitors. The most successful theme year to date was Rembrandt 400 with over 250.000 additional visitors and 100 million additional turnover.

ATCB offers free images and video's of Amsterdam Water Sensations.