Active Pursuits

Should a steady diet of Indonesian rijsttafels, brown-cafe beers and jenevers, and exotic smokes in "coffeeshops" begin to take its toll, don't despair. Amsterdam has ways of making you work up some healthy sweat -- or at least of watching other people sweat.

Bicycling

South of the city is Amsterdamse Bos, where you can rent bikes (tel. 020/644-5473; bus: 170 or 172) for touring the woodland's paths. Of course, you can always do as Amsterdammers do and explore all those city bridges and canals by bicycle.

Bungee-Jumping

Up for a plunge into the cold gray waters of Het IJ? Bungy Jump, Westerdoksdijk 44 (tel. 020/419-6005; bus: 18, 21, or 22), accommodates, with an 80m (262-ft.) freefall from their jump point west of Centraal Station. Jump times (weather permitting) are May to June and September, weekends from noon to 8pm; and July and August, Wednesday to Sunday from noon to midnight. A jump costs 50€ ($63).

Fishing

Anglers should try the Bosbaan artificial lake (it's actually an Olympic rowing course) in Amsterdamse Bos (bus: 170 or 172), south of the city. You can get a license there at Nikolaswetsantraat 10 (tel. 020/626-4988), open Tuesday to Friday, or at any local fishing supply store.

Fitness Centers

If you don't want to neglect your exercise routine, there are several available centers, including Fitness Aerobic Center Jansen, Rokin 109-111 (tel. 020/626-9366; tram: 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, or 25); Garden Gym, Jodenbreestraat 158 (tel. 020/626-8772; tram: 9 or 14); and A Bigger Splash, Looiersgracht 26-30 (tel. 020/624-8404; tram: 7, 10, or 17).

Golf

There are public golf courses in or near Amsterdam at the Golf Center Amstelborgh, Borchlandweg 6 (tel. 020/697-5000); Sloten, Sloterweg 1045 (tel. 020/614-2402); Waterland Golf Course, Buikslotermeerdijk 141 (tel. 020/636-1010); and Spaarnwoude Golf Course, Het Hogeland 2, Spaarnwoude (tel. 020/538-5599). Call ahead for greens fees and tee times.

Horseback Riding

Amsterdamse Manege, Nieuwe Kalfjeslaan 25 (tel. 020/643-1342), offers riding, both indoor and outdoor. Only indoor riding is available at Nieuw Amstelland Manege, Jan Tooropplantsoen 17 (tel. 020/643-2468). You can rent a horse at De Ruif Manege, Sloterweg 675 (tel. 020/615-6667), then ride it in Amsterdamse Bos.

From the comfort of its upper-floor cafe, watch horses being put through their paces in a sawdust-strewn arena at the regal Hollandsche Manege (Dutch Riding School), Vondelstraat 140 (tel. 020/618-0942; tram: 1). Opened in 1882, this fusion of plaster, marble, and gilded mirrors was designed by Concertgebouw architect A. L. van Gendt and inspired by Vienna's Spanish Riding School. In addition to being a spectator, you can also ride.

Ice Skating

All those Dutch paintings of people skating and sledding -- not to mention the story of Hans Brinker and his silver skates -- will surely get you thinking about skating on Amsterdam's ponds and canals. However, doing this won't be easy unless you're willing to shell out for a new pair of skates, since very few places rent them. One that does is Jaap Edenbaan, Radioweg 64 (tel. 020/694-9652; tram: 9), from November to February, and they even allow you to take skates out of their marvelous outdoor rink, which is popular in wintertime. Unless you're highly competent, watch out for the long lines of speed skaters practicing for the next Eleven Cities Race in Friesland.

Blades on Ice -- In winter, Amsterdammers watch the falling thermometer readings with the same focus as people in Aspen and Chamonix. When the temperature drops low enough for long enough, the canals become sparkling highways through the city. Skating on the canals of Amsterdam to the strains of classical music is a memorable experience. Little kiosks are set up on the ice to dispense heart-warming liqueurs. Go cautiously when skating under bridges, where the ice is usually thinner, and don't go anywhere the Dutch don't. Few sounds can generate more adrenaline than a sudden crackling of ice below, but the Dutch seem to know instinctively if crepitation is cause for palpitation, just the natural rhythm of things, or time to light the afterburners and be gone.

In-Line Skating

Rent A Skate has a rent shop for in-line skates in Vondelpark, at the Amstelveenseweg entrance (tel. 020/664-5091; tram: 2).

Get Your Skates On -- Why not strap on in-line skates for the regular Friday Night Skate? In summer, this attracts 3,000 skaters. It begins at 8pm from Vondelpark's Filmmuseum and takes a 15km (9-mile) route through the city.

Jogging

The two main jogging areas are Vondelpark in the Center and Amsterdamse Bos on the city's southern edge. You can also run along the Amstel River. If you choose to run along the canals, as many do, watch out for uneven cobbles, loose paving stones, and dog poop.

Sailing & Boating

Sailboats can be rented at Duikelaars on the Sloterplas Lake, Sloterpark, Noordzijde 41 (tel. 020/613-8855; tram: 1 or 17). From March 15 to October 15, you can go to Loosdrecht, outside Amsterdam, to rent sailing equipment at Ottenhome (tel. 035/582-3331). Yacht Haven Robinson, Dorpstraat 3, Landsmeer (tel. 020/482-1346), rents rowing equipment. Canoes can be rented in Amsterdamse Bos, south of the city, for use in the park only.

Squash

Squash courts are at Squash City, Ketelmakerstraat 6 (near Centraal Station; tel. 020/626-7883; bus: 18, 21 or 22).

Swimming

Amsterdam's state-of-the-art swimming facility is Het Marnix, Marnixplein 1 (tel. 020/524-6000; tram: 3 or 10). It opened in 2006 and has two heated pools along with a fitness center and spa, and a cafe-restaurant. De Mirandabad, De Mirandalaan 9 (tel. 020/546-4444; tram: 25), features an indoor pool with wave machines, slides, and other amusements, and an outdoor pool that's open May to September. The circa-1911 Zuiderbad, Hobbemastraat 26 (tel. 020/679-2217; tram: 2 or 5), a handsome, refurbished place near the Rijksmuseum, sets time aside for those who like to swim in their birthday suit. Other public pools are the Floralparkbad, Sneeuwbalweg 5 (tel. 020/636-8121; bus: 38), in Amsterdam-Noord, and the Sloterparkbad, Slotermeerlaan 2 (tel. 020/611-4565; tram: 14).

Table-Tennis

Ping-pong to your heart's content at Tafeltennis Centrum Amsterdam, Keizersgracht 209 (tel. 020/624-5780; tram: 13, 14, or 17).

Tennis

Find indoor courts at Frans Otten Stadion, Stadionstraat 10 (tel. 020/662-8767; tram: 16). For indoor and outdoor courts, try Gold Star, Karel Lotsylaan 20 (tel. 020/644-5483; tram: 5), or Tenniscentrum Amstelpark, Koenenkade 8, Amsterdamse Bos (tel. 020/301-0700; bus: 170 or 172), which has 36 courts.

Passive Pursuits

Salons -- The Body Tuning Clinic, Jan Luijkenstraat 40 (tel. 020/662-0909; tram: 2 or 5), and Vitalitae, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 301 (tel. 020/624-4441; tram: 1, 2, or 5), will both take excellent care of the outer you.

Sauna & Massage -- At Sauna Deco, Herengracht 115 (tel. 020/627-1773; tram: 1, 2, 5, 13, or 17), in Dutch style, you get down to the altogether in mixed facilities. At Koan Float, Herengracht 321 (tel. 020/625-4970; tram: 1, 2, or 5), sooth away a hard day's stress while floating in warm saline water in a soundproof fiberglass capsule with light switches, ambient music, and a two-way intercom. By appointment only.