AMSTERDAM (AP) — While Parisians have recently rediscovered the pleasure of swimming in the Seine , Amsterdammers have been enjoying a cooling dip in the Dutch capital's Ij waterway for years.
In a country dominated by waterways, canals , rivers and below-sea-level pastures, wild swimming is on the rise in the Netherlands as climate change increases temperatures and extends the summer season.
Amsterdam had just one official open-water swimming location in 2023. This summer, the city has 13 legal options for taking the plunge in a canal, pond or river, though residents frequently avail themselves of dozens of unofficial spots.
Tucked off of the Ij, a short walk from Amsterdam’s central train station, the Marineterrein, a former base used by the navy since the 1600s, is one of the n