I’m proud to share that I’ve been featured with the cover story of this week’s PS, the weekend magazine of the Amsterdam newspaper Het Parool. The article dives into the world of street fishing in Amsterdam — a style of fishing I really enjoy with my friends and my son. Check out the article and cover below.
The text below is a translation of the article, if you’re interested in what I have to say about street fishing in ‘Zanderdam’.
From the canals of Amsterdam
Juul Steyn (48) lives in Amsterdam East and works as a fishing guide. He loves fishing in the city center, on the IJ, and in the larger waters around Amsterdam.
“If you don’t like people, Amsterdam is not the place to fish. Everyone is curious about what you’re doing and wants to know how it all works. Even on a slow day without a single catch, you’ll still ‘catch’ plenty of good conversations. When I tell people that the canals are full of perch and zander, they often only half believe me. Yet Amsterdam isn’t called ‘Zanderdam’ among anglers for nothing — the city is teeming with zander. People from all over the world book trips with me here in Amsterdam specifically to catch them. Towards the IJ, they can easily grow up to 70 cm long.
One of the things that makes fishing in Amsterdam so ideal are the countless bridges. These are natural gathering spots for fish, and under almost every bridge you’ll find zander. The downside, unfortunately, is the amount of old bicycles, shopping carts, and other scrap metal lying around. Hooks often get stuck. As a guide, I know exactly which spots are worth fishing. Sometimes I even research a location in advance, so I know what lies on the bottom — just like I did while writing my book about fishing.
During that research, I discovered that Amsterdam was actually founded by fishermen. They built palisades along the Amstel while making a living from fishing. And here we are, 750 years later, still casting our lines in the same waters.
Many people think the water here is polluted because it looks murky. And while all the plastic floating around is indeed painful to see, the canal water itself is in pretty good condition — otherwise there wouldn’t be so many fish living here. Zander thrive in these waters because they are predators, well adapted to hunting in low visibility. They’re intelligent fish too, and you need to find ways to convince them to strike your lure.
That’s the art of fishing for me: the tension, and at the same time, the relaxation. In today’s fast-changing digital world, many people struggle to distinguish between what’s real and what’s not. But when you’re fishing, you connect with something undeniably real. Even when you’re standing in the middle of a modern city, you still have to follow the laws of nature.”
Note that I don’t offer street fishing trips for guests, but it’s a great way for me to stay connected with the city’s waters and experience the fun, urban side of fishing. Being part of this article is a real honor, and it shows how special Amsterdam’s fishing scene is — from the canals in the city center to the big open waters where I guide my clients.
If all this talk about fishing makes you want to get out on the water yourself, have a look at my guided trips here: Book your trip.
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