Ijmuiden to Amsterdam - Day 7

Thursday 9th August 2012 - Ijmuiden to Amsterdam - Day 7

We spent the morning washing down, watering and replenishing fuel on the yacht.  We made use of the laundry facilities ashore with all clothing washed and dried, shopped in the nearby supermarket and had lunch in a very nice cafe.

Kleinesluis lock

We left the seaport marina at 13.00 into the main channel and proceeded to the first lock at Kleinesluis.  At 13.45 we moved out into the North Sea canal.  This 13 mile canal is the main shipping thoroughfare to Amsterdam and was opened in 1876 in response to the silting of the Zuiderzee.  Yachts must keep close to the starboard side of the canal and although sailing is permitted, tacking is not.  However, the canal is over 175 metres wide and shipping does not present a problem as the water is 3 metres deep, 10 metres from the bank.  We motored all the way along the canal passing all kinds of vessels working in the numerous havens until arriving in the centre of Amsterdam.

Sixhaven

It is very busy passing the Central Station with many ferries crossing and large barges moving in this narrowest part of the canal.  We moved across to the north side and berthed next to a large motor cruiser at 17.00  The harbour master at Sixhaven was amazing as the photo shows, he packed in as many boats as possible.  The facilities here were good and we were made most welcome.

Old Sailor Pub

At 21.00 we went ashore and using the free ferry went  to the Central Station and walked up to Dam Square looking for a restaurant which had been recommended but we could not find it.  So, went to a small restaurant before making our way down to Canal Street.  Amsterdam is the principle city in the Netherlands and a natural mecca to all visitors to Holland.  They all come to see all the night life and in the middle of it is the lovely Old Sailor pub.  We visited a few other pubs on our way back but kept out of the numerous coffee shops who were turfing out the young ones after indulging in happy baccy and fruit cake.  I have been to Amsterdam many times but this is most people I have seen with most places packed to overflowing.  We arrived back at Sixhaven at 02.00 and it had been a very eventful day.