Strand IJburg

This is a summer-only thing. I need to say that upfront because every winter someone reads about Strand IJburg and shows up in February to find a windswept stretch of sand and closed beach bars. From roughly May through September though, this place transforms into one of the best spots in Amsterdam. The second it hits 22 degrees, half the city migrates here. My roommate starts checking the weather forecast in April specifically for this reason.

Amsterdam has a beach. Most Americans do not believe me when I tell them this. They picture canals and rain and bikes, not sand and swimming and beach bars. But Strand IJburg exists, and on a hot summer day it is absolutely glorious. It sits on the edge of the IJmeer, a large freshwater lake on the east side of the city, and it has that Dutch talent for turning a random piece of waterfront into a full beach experience.

Getting there: take tram 26 from Centraal Station. It takes about 25 minutes and the tram stops right at IJburg. From there it is a short walk to the beach. My roommate says the tram ride is part of the experience because you leave the old city center, cross a bridge over the water, and suddenly you are on this modern island neighborhood that most tourists never see.

The beach itself has several sections. Blijburg aan Zee is the main beach bar and has been the heart of IJburg beach culture for years. It has a festival vibe — think wooden structures, DJ booth, hammocks, food trucks, and a crowd that ranges from families with kids in the morning to twenty-somethings with bluetooth speakers in the afternoon. My roommate prefers the slightly quieter stretches of sand to the left of Blijburg where you can lay out a towel without being on top of strangers.

Swimming is allowed and the water quality is generally good. The IJmeer is freshwater, not seawater, so no salt and no waves. It is calm swimming, which is great for kids and people who do not love ocean currents. My roommate swims here regularly in summer and says the water temperature is "refreshing" which I have learned is Dutch code for "cold but you get used to it."

What to bring: sunscreen (the Dutch sun is deceptively strong), a towel, cash for the beach bars, and realistic expectations. This is not the Amalfi Coast. It is an urban beach in northern Europe. But on a 28-degree day with a cold beer from the beach bar and the sun on your face, it genuinely feels like vacation. My roommate brought her visiting sister from Florida and even she admitted it was "actually really nice," which from a Floridian is basically a standing ovation.

Food options at the beach bars are decent — burgers, salads, snacks. Nothing fancy but perfectly fine for a beach day. Prices are beach-bar prices, meaning slightly more than you would pay in the city. Bring your own snacks if you want to save money.

The vibe changes throughout the day. Mornings are calm — joggers, people with dogs, the occasional yoga class on the sand. Afternoons get lively as more people arrive. Evenings are when the beach bars come alive with DJs, drinks, and sunsets over the water that my roommate photographs approximately ten thousand times per summer.

One thing to note: the wind. IJburg is exposed and when the wind picks up, the beach can go from pleasant to sand-in-your-face very quickly. Check the weather. If it says 25 degrees but 30 kilometer per hour winds, maybe choose a different plan. My roommate has learned this the hard way more than once.

The season runs roughly from May to September, with the peak being July and August. Beach bars might open earlier or close later depending on the weather. Do not plan around it in April or October — too unreliable.

My roommate says Strand IJburg is her favorite thing about Amsterdam in summer. She spent three years living here before she discovered it, which she considers a personal failing. Do not make her mistake. If you are in Amsterdam when it is warm, take tram 26 and go to the beach. It is one of those things that makes this city surprising.