Urban beaches in Amsterdam

Pllek

Just a short ferry hop over the IJ from Amsterdam Central station, this hip waterfront bar boasts its urban beach where locals and in-the-know visitors flock in summer months to enjoy great food, DJs and a vibrant atmosphere by day and night. Kick back on giant bean bags with a beer in hand and take in the views of Amsterdam across the water.

Pllek | TT Neveritaweg 59, NDSM

Kaap

''A haven of unbridled fun and sustainable enjoyment.'' That's how founder Stefano Richetta describes Kaap Amsterdam. This city beach is located on the Oostpunt Zeeburgereiland in the Eastern Docklands (Oostelijke Eilanden) neighbourhood. It offers an extensive vegetarian menu full of local products. Sun seekers can head there for their first coffee of the morning or their last dance steps in the sand.

Kaap  | IJdijk 10, Oostelijke Eilanden

StrandZuid

South of the city centre, StrandZuid is a chic inland beach complex surrounding a lake. It has a stylish restaurant, a large beer deck with a ping-pong table, and a sandy party beach with plenty of sunbathing spots connected by a series of boardwalks. The restaurant menu offers plenty of fish, meat, and vegetarian options, and for a summertime flavour boost, many dishes are prepared on the traditional charcoal grill.

StrandZuid | Europaplein 22, Zuid

Het Stenen Hoofd

Offering an unusual little oasis of greenery and sand between Amsterdam’s Westerdok and Central Station, Het Stenen Hoofd is not so much an urban beach as a pier jutting out into the IJ and covered in sand and grass. It regularly hosts various cultural events, the most famous of which is the Pluk de Nacht open-air film series.

Het Stenen Hoofd | Het Stenen Hoofd, West

Sloterplas Beach

This swimming lake in Amsterdam Nieuw-West is among the neighbourhood's best summer hotspots. The family-friendly urban beach boasts picnic tables, a wide-open space and a nifty beach shop where you can rent beach chairs, volleyball gear, mobile showers and other handy equipment.

Sloterplas Beach | President Allendelaan 1, Nieuw West

Strand IJburg

A lovely city beach in Amsterdam Oost, Strand IJburg is part of Strandeiland, the largest island of the IJburg archipelago. When the weather's good, head out from the city centre and discover a lesser-known part of Amsterdam for swimming, sports, and relaxing. Better yet, bring your picnic basket and your makeshift BBQ because you can barbecue here, too.

Strand IJBurg | Pampuslaan505, IJBurg

Diemerpark Beach

Almost entirely overlooked and forgotten about, the tiny beach at Diemerpark is all the more charming because of it. This Amsterdam nature reserve, which is twice as large as Vondelpark, was previously one of the Netherlands' largest waste dumps. It's now been cleaned up and developed into a rather lovely beach with clean water where you can bathe without any worry. So bring your bucket, spade, and a good book—this one's for those after some quiet.

Diemerpark Beach | Zeeburgereiland en Nieuwe Diep, IJburg

Gaasperplas Park

We owe the existence of Gaasperpark to the expansion of the Bijlmermeer. This recreational and nature reserve, which was created by sand extraction for the construction of the flats, covers around 166 hectares, meaning there is always a good spot where you can plop down with your beach towel and soak up some of those elusive rays. Plus with designated spots for barbecuing and water sports, there's plenty to do to keep everyone fed and entertained.

Gaasperplas Park | Gaasperplas Park, Zuidpost

Nieuwe Meer

Next to the Amsterdamse Bos, you'll find a large lake known as the Nieuwe Meer, home to several beaches and private bays along its banks, plus two official swimming areas. This spot is suitable for (small) children mainly because the sandy bottom slopes gradually, and the deep water is demarcated by floating lines with buoys. For animal lovers, Scottish Highland cattle graze here, while for those who prefer swimming au natural, there's also a nudist beach.

Nieuwe Meer | Park de Oeverlanden, Nieuw-West