Can you swim in the canals in Amsterdam?

Answer 1

Swimming in the canals of Amsterdan is not recommended and prohibited. Although the Amsterdam Canal Tours  is one of Holland's favorite tourist attraction,  the canal water  was tested and found to be contaminated with campylobacter, salmonella, cryptosporidium, giardia, rotavirus, enterovirus, reovirus and norovirus. The contamination of the water in  the canal is brought about by washwater discharges from houseboats and, purified and non-purified sewage that enters the canal directly. Improvements on the cleanliness of the canal is being pursued by the government, but it is still very dirty and can cause health problems for people who dare swim in the canal.