Jump in the Amsterdam Canals during the Amsterdam City Swim and help the fight against ALS
Jaap Boreel
Medical Doctor Infectious Disease Control Unit, Amsterdam Public Health Services
Dear people,
I would like to draw your attention to a great and very enjoyable sports event in A'dam, the "Amsterdam City Swim," in which I have been involved since its inception in 2012. Perhaps you will find this interesting from a sports, adventurous, and charitable perspective. Below is an explanation and further information.
Sponsoring the fight against ALS:
In 2011, a group of friends and I took the initiative to organize the Amsterdam City Swim. We were motivated by a shared friend, Weert-Jan Weerts, who was unfortunately diagnosed with the terrible incurable disease ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). That year (2011), the fourteen of us swam together in the Hellespont Swim, a swimming race in Turkey, between Europe and Asia, crossing the "Hellespont," the strait that connects the Sea of Marmara with the Mediterranean Sea, covering a distance of about 6.5 km. We combined that swimming adventure with a fundraising campaign to support the ALS Foundation and the fight against ALS. To our great surprise, we managed to raise €90,000 with our efforts. Due to the unexpected success of our fundraising campaign, we decided to organize a sponsored event ourselves to generate even more funds for the ALS Foundation. Thus, the "Amsterdam City Swim" was born. The first edition in 2012 was a resounding success, and that year, more than a thousand swimmers raised a total of €740,000. Princess Maxima also participated that year, which was a unique occurrence and generated significant media attention. The following year, there were over 2,000 participants, and we raised €2.4 million. Our friend Weert-Jan has since passed away, but over the next ten years, many millions of euros were raised, making significant contributions to the fight against ALS.
Swimming Event:
The swimming route is approximately 2,200 meters long, starting from the Keizersgracht, passing through the Amstel, under the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), along the Nieuwe Herengracht, and ending in the Inner IJ at the "Marine Kazerne Amsterdam" harbor on Kattenburg (next to the Scheepvaart Museum). Additionally, this year, there will be a shortened version of 700 meters and a "Junior Swim" of approximately 500 meters (see Amsterdam City Swim: Are you joining too? (mailchi.mp) for more information).
Participation Costs:
More detailed information about participants/visitors can be found on the Participation Options page (Together we can make a difference! (amsterdamcityswim.nl)).
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Event Schedule on Sunday, September 3:
Just Want to be a Spectator?
If you're not interested in participating, it might still be enjoyable to watch this exceptional event somewhere along the route. It's a delightful sight to see a colorful procession of swimmers in the Amsterdam canals. You'll witness Olympic swimming champions cutting through the water and well-meaning brave amateurs struggling past. It's an extraordinary spectacle in a festive and exuberant atmosphere, reminiscent of the Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour), but in this case, it's less cold and in the water instead of on the ice. And hey, you can always donate even if you're not swimming, as it is, of course, for a very good cause—the fight against the dreadful disease, ALS!
If you're interested or would like more information, please visit the website (Together we can make a difference! (amsterdamcityswim.nl)) or send me a private message. I'll be happy to assist further.
Kind regards,
Jaap Boreel