december-2012

the fl owBoats on
Prinsengracht.
Next year marks
the 400th
anniversary
of Amsterdam’s
canal district
TRAVEL AMSTERDAM
Being on the water
changes everything. Passing boaty types
acknowledge your presence with a nod
indicating that yes, you’re now part of the
clan. Jealous looks descend from
bystanders on arched bridges, and best of
all, you can sneak some decent peeks into
the living rooms of houseboats. But that’s
not what we’re here for now…
“Are you ready to stand up?” says
Morene Dekker.
Th is is a kind prod, meaning that it’s
time to forego all fears of falling into the
Amstel River, grab the paddle and follow.
Morene teaches a new sport that is not,
unfortunately, called Sit Down and
Paddle. It’s called SUP and it’s the S and
U part of the acronym that are proving
diffi cult now.
Standing up, tall and relaxed on her
surfb oard, her strokes are strong and
steady as she makes her way across the
rippled surface. She is the reigning Dutch
champion and seems to be happiest on or
near the water.
“I live along a canal and can step
straight from my bedroom onto my
board and paddle off ,” she says. She does
that three times a week, for stretches of
ten kilometres. She is a keen advocate of
the sport, which is a relatively recent
Holland Herald 29