Not enough ice to ban boats on Amsterdam canals yet

There is not yet enough ice in the Amsterdam canals to close them to boating traffic, Waternet announced on Monday. The canal manager will check again on Tuesday whether measures can be taken to make sure that skaters can skate on the canals.

Waternet also checked every day over the weekend whether there was enough ice on the canals. On Sunday a spokesperson told the Telegraaf that "there is already ice here and there".

Once a layer of ice forms on the canals, Waternet will implement the so-called IJsnota, in which the pumping stations are stopped and locks are closed to give the water opportunity to freeze and boats are banned from sailing on the canals.

In the first phase, the boating ban only applies to a limited number of canals in the Jordaan. Phase two is implemented when at least five days of moderate to severe frost is expected. In phase two, more canals are closed to boating traffic. A full list of which canals are affected can be found here.