Amsterdam-Noord lies across the north side of the Noordzeekanaal. Historically, it is almost as old as Amsterdam itself, but has a much more relaxed lifestyle, without the constraints of population pressure that exist across the water, and has become popular for citizens looking for more space.

Amsterdam is an old city, and has always been a port city. As ships grew in size over the centuries, the shallow water of the bays made it impossible for ships to reach Amsterdam without the aid of such contraptions as ship camels. A longer term solution was the Noordhollandsch Kanaal, which was dug 200 years ago to provide deep water access for ships to Amsterdam. Ships could be towed along the canal by horses. This canal cuts through the middle of Amsterdam-Noord. We walked along the canal, and inspected the lock gates that keep the sea water out of the lower level canal, which is today just a back water. The lock acts as a sieve, trapping much rubbish on the higher Noordzeekanaal side of the gates. Europe’s biggest pump is required to keep the water out of the region along this canal to the north of Amsterdam, which is mostly lower than sea level.

But this Noordhollandsch canal soon proved to be too narrow and too long, and was still a constraint to shipping, so the shorter and wider Noordzeekanaal was built. This Noordzeekanaal is the body of water that separates Amsterdam from Noord today.

Free public transport ferries run constantly back and forth across the canal, carrying pedestrians and dogs, bicycles, mopeds, and these tiny electric cars that are so common in Amsterdam. The extensive railway station lines along the south bank of canal on the south side, while high rise apartments line the north side, on e of which has huge swings on the top level, where visitors seeking a view can get a thrill by swinging out over the side of the building.