Boats on Amsterdam's Canals

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With more than a hundred canals spanned by 1000 bridges, we had great vantage points to watch the unofficial floating parade. The battery for the camera was low, so I missed photographing some classic old boats.
Boat owners were cruising around in the spring-like weather. They had their drinks and snacks, nice little table settings on board for their guests.
The big house boats are in all kinds of conditions. Some haven't seen anyone on board in years, and some had folks puttering around, tending to potted plants and having coffee on the decks of their floating homes.
Just ten feet deep the canals are flushed out regularly through a series of locks. When temperatures drop below freezing in winter, few boats will cruise, so the ice that forms in the canals will be smooth for skating. I don't think this winter has seen any skaters.

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Photos

police
patrolling Amsterdam