Canal cruise on the IJ Amsterdam

The IJ explained the city

The IJ is the wide stretch of water that cuts the city in two. On the south side, in the south, is the center with CS, on the north side is the north side with the EYE Filmmuseum and the A’DAM Tower. Below is an overview of what exactly the IJ is, how it was created and why it is so important for Amsterdam.

Where is the IJ?

The IJ is located directly behind the city of CS, on the north side of the city center. It forms a wide water arm that flows from west to east. It is part of the larger Dutch water system. To the West, in a westerly direction, is the North Sea canal which opens onto the North Sea via IJmuiden. To the east, beyond the Oranjesluizen, begins the Buiten-IJ, which connects to the binnenzee. The total length of the IJ within the city is about 11 kilometers. The water level is regulated by locks and it averages 10 to 15 meters deep.

The name IJ and where it comes from

The name IJ comes from Old Dutch and Means “water”. The name is related to the Old Frisian word “ie” for river or water stream. This name can also be found in place names such as binnenzee, IJmuiden and IJsselstein. The name IJ is therefore actually an old word for“the water ”, which means that the full name“the IJ ” comes down to“the water & #8221;. Originally, the IJ was part of a natural marshland that was mined and buried in the Middle Ages.

From Zuiderzee to closed IJ

The IJ was originally a tributary of the Zuiderzee, a large inland waterway that formed the connection to the North Sea. Through the Zuiderzee, ports such as Amsterdam, Hoorn and Enkhuizen were accessible to sea vessels from all over Europe. In 1932 the Zuiderzee was closed off by the Afsluitdijk. The salty water surface slowly sweetened and the Zuiderzee became the Inland Sea. The IJ was also closed off from the open sea, hence the name “closed IJ” for the part between the Oranjesluizen and the locks at IJmuiden. The closed IJ has since become a fresh inland waterway, as a river and inland sea at the same time.

Inner IJ, closed IJ and outer IJ

Today, the IJ is divided into three parts. The Binnen-IJ is the stretch directly in front of the City Central, between the city and the City North. The closed IJ is the western part towards the ports and IJmuiden, sheltered by locks on both sides. The Buiten-IJ is located in the East; the Buiten IJ is located beyond the Oranjesluizen, where you reach the IJsselmeer from the IJ. This area is mainly used for recreational boating and large shipping. During a tour of Event on the Water you sail on one or more of these parts depending on the route.

Navigating the IJ as a busy waterway

The IJ is getting busy. Every day there are ferries of the GVB between the city of CS and the city of Noord, free for pedestrians and cyclists, the ferry connects the city. In addition, there are water taxis, cruise ships that dock at The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam, barges towards the port, and the passenger boats and event ships of Event op het Water. Where it is located outside the IJ, it is extensive; despite the crowds, there is enough space: the IJ is in some places more than 500 meters wide. There is a lot to find and see here for those who look closely. The ships adhere to strict sailing rules, with the rest of the traffic giving priority to the large commercial shipping.

The bridges and ferries across the IJ

There is no car bridge over the IJ: if you want to go from south to North by car, go through the IJtunnel or the Coentunnel. For pedestrians and cyclists there are several ferries that sail free of charge between the City Central and the City North. The ferries sail well into the night. In the future, there are plans for a pedestrian bridge over the IJ, but in practice they have been delayed for years. During the cruise you cross the ferries several times, always a nice picture on board.

Amsterdam north across the street

Across the IJ is the city of Noord, the north of the city. A neighborhood that has changed enormously in recent years: from industrial area to hip new-build neighborhood with hotspots such as the EYE Film Museum, a’DAM Tower, Tolhuistuin, NDSM-werf and the Pllek. the city of Noord also has many hotels, restaurants and homes overlooking the IJ. From the ship you can see these hotspots passing by. On the side of the center are the warehouses, The Passenger Terminal and CS itself.