paroolOct 26, 2026, 13:56

Water main break on Damrak affects 40 connections: restaurants, museum, and canal boats without drinking water

A water pipe burst near Damrak in Amsterdam has cut off drinking water to roughly 40 businesses, including a museum and several canal cruise boats. Waternet has secured the area and expects to complete repairs by Monday to restore normal service.

A water main rupture at Damrak 12 in Amsterdam near the Central Station has interrupted service for approximately 40 connections. Waternet, the local utility company, identified the leak in a 250-millimeter pipe around midday and has cordoned off the area as a safety precaution. While the situation is described as manageable with no major flooding, the burst has forced businesses, a local museum, and several canal cruise boats to operate without a reliable drinking water supply.

The service interruption has notably affected the daily operations of nearby establishments, including the Sexmuseum, where facilities such as toilets are currently unavailable to visitors. Waternet technicians are investigating the site to determine the cause of the failure, which is currently suspected to be a spontaneous pipe break. The utility provider is working to repair the damage and expects to restore full water service by Monday. Further assessment is underway to identify all impacted entities along the busy commercial stretch.

Culture Lifestyle Amsterdam Netherlands

Read original ↗

Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

7 places to go ice skating in Amsterdam this winter

With natural ice skating not currently possible due to mild weather, Amsterdam residents can turn to several local artificial ice rinks for their winter sports fix. These venues offer varying pricing and facilities to provide a reliable skating experience throughout the season.

Amsterdam Dance Event matches record with 600,000 visitors

The Amsterdam Dance Event recently attracted 600,000 attendees, matching its record-breaking attendance numbers. Between October 21 and 25, the festival hosted 4,000 artists, featuring successful collaborative performances like Swan Lake Remixed.

Amsterdam Dance Event matches record this year with 600,000 visitors

The Amsterdam Dance Event celebrated its thirtieth anniversary this year by attracting a record-equalling 600,000 visitors. The five-day festival featured 4,000 artists performing at venues across Amsterdam and the surrounding region.

Growing reliance on a small group of volunteers makes amateur football clubs increasingly vulnerable

Amateur football clubs in Amsterdam are facing operational difficulties due to an acute shortage of volunteers for administrative positions. This heavy reliance on a small group of people creates instability, as membership fees are almost entirely consumed by fixed costs like rent and utilities rather than administrative compensation.

Mamdani hype also catching on among Amsterdam youth: "He is my mayor"

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become an unlikely social media icon among young people in Amsterdam, who admire his authentic online presence. Local experts suggest that Amsterdam politicians could learn from his ability to engage youth, as many young residents currently feel disconnected from the city's own leadership.