Skip to main content
Netherlands News in English

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Young seal swimming in Utrecht canal, 8 September 2025
Young seal swimming in Utrecht canal, 8 September 2025 - Credit: Gemeente Utrecht / Instagram - License: All Rights Reserved
Tech
Nature
Seal
Amsterdam
Amstel
Utrecht
Merwede canal
Pieterburen
Saturday, 20 September 2025 - 07:15

Share this article:

Utrecht seal now chilling in Amsterdam canals

The seal that previously spent several days in Utrecht has swum to Amsterdam’s inland waterways. The animal was first spotted there on Thursday, but it was still unclear at the time whether it was the same seal.

Researchers from the Pieterburen Seal Center have now confirmed that it is indeed “one and the same animal,” the organization reported. As before, Pieterburen asked people to give the animal space, “especially given the beautiful weather.”

Hm.. een van mijn dochters filmde vanmiddag een zeehond aan de Amstel: pic.twitter.com/JcXUbt7bPw

— ReinBijlsma (@ReinBijlsma) September 18, 2025

When the seal was swimming in Utrecht’s Merwede Canal, also coming near a houseboat, experts and the municipality also urged people to keep their distance from it.

Seals are inherently shy and won’t readily approach people, biologist Sander van Dijk explained earlier. As long as distances are maintained, the animal can enjoy its time in Amsterdam’s waterways for as long as it feels like it.

AT5 and other local media reported on Thursday that the seal had been seen in the morning on a jetty on the Amstel River, near a rowing club at Somerlust.

More like this

Image
Young seal swimming in Utrecht canal, 8 September 2025
Seal continues its tour of Netherlands; Now spotted in Aalsmeer
Image
Young seal swimming in Utrecht canal, 8 September 2025
Lost young seal spotted swimming around Utrecht canal
Image
A police officer with an ambulance in the background
Tractor driver collides with Amsterdam bicyclist, killing her instantly
Image
A notice warning passengers not to board a train at Amsterdam Centraal Station. 5 September 2024
Major train disruption hits Dutch cities after fire in Woerden; 1,300 stuck in NS cars
Make NL Times your top Google source

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Suspected drunk driver arrested after injuring two police officers at Tiel crash scene
  • Belgian police: 71-Year-old Dutch man missing in Ardennen needs urgent medical care
  • Netherlands saw 188,000 lightning discharges this weekend; KNMI calls it exceptional
  • Police officer shoots and wounds person in Middelburg city center
  • Pinkpop attendees multitask, simultaneously watch live performances and World Cup

Top stories

  • Video: Explosion damages Amsterdam-Oost apartment building; Two teens on fatbike sought
  • KNMI ends code orange overnight, warns of storms and 27–32°C heat Sunday and Monday
  • Royals congratulate Oranje as Netherlands strengthens World Cup position after 5-1 win
  • Oranje thrash Sweden 5-1 to move to brink of World Cup knockout stage
  • Amsterdam-Oost neighborhood rocked by loud explosion Saturday afternoon

© 2012-2026, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Change Privacy Settings
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Partner Content