Journal

Shooting in NL6 min read

Yes, you can film on the Amsterdam canals. You need a permit from the municipality, a plan for parking and, if you want to shoot from the water, a boat with a licensed skipper. Plan for at least 10 working days. Below is what we tell every producer who calls us about the canals.

A mother and her children cycle past canal houses in Amsterdam, from the Nivea Crème commercial

Why everyone wants the canals

Narrow houses, bridges, bikes and water in one frame tell the viewer exactly where they are, without a single word.

The canal ring is one of the most recognisable city views in the world. That is why it shows up in so many commercials, and why we shot Nivea's Crème there for Black Pearl Film.

It is also why you will not be alone. The canals are busy with tourists, cyclists, boats and people who simply live there.

A mother rubs Nivea cream into her hands beside an Amsterdam canal while her child watches
A red haired girl on a bike seat gets cream on her cheek, canal houses and flowers behind her

What you need to know

01

The permit

Filming in public space in Amsterdam needs permission from the municipality. A small crew on the pavement needs less than a shoot that closes a bridge or a street, but both need a permit. For a standard permit, plan for at least 10 working days. Road closures, drones and shoots on the water take longer.

We apply for the permit, talk to the district and answer the questions that come back. It helps a lot to know in advance which bridge, which side of the canal and which hours you want.

02

Shooting from the water

Want that shot gliding along the houses? Then you need a boat, a licensed skipper and extra permission for filming on the water. Camera boats are small, so plan your crew and equipment carefully. Rigs on the outside of a boat need to be safe and approved.

03

Bridges and passers by

Bridges are the most popular spots, and also the busiest. You cannot fully close most of them, so plan for passers by and cyclists in the frame, or work with extras who blend in. A few crew members to guide people politely past the set make a big difference.

04

Parking and base camp

Parking in the centre is scarce. Trucks and crew vans need parking permits or reserved spaces, which we request with the film permit. Where we can, we keep the base camp just outside the canal ring and bring in only what is needed on set.

05

Drones

Almost all of Amsterdam is controlled airspace because of Schiphol. Drone shots over the canals are possible, but they need a licensed pilot, extra clearance and more preparation time. We have done it many times; just tell us early.

06

Neighbours

For bigger shoots, residents get a letter in advance. It is often a condition of the permit, and it always helps on the day. Most people in Amsterdam are used to film crews. They are a lot friendlier when they know what is going on.

Our tips

  1. 01

    Shoot early. Between sunrise and about 9 am the canals are at their quietest and the light is beautiful.

  2. 02

    Look beyond the main canals. The Jordaan and the smaller canals give you the same look with fewer people.

  3. 03

    Consider Haarlem, Leiden or Utrecht. Same canal houses, simpler logistics. For Nivea we combined the Amsterdam canals with an interior in Haarlem.

  4. 04

    Keep a weather cover. An interior close to your canal location saves the day if it pours.

Interior in Haarlem, Nivea: Crème

A mother and her daughter in a hanging wicker chair by a window, from the Nivea Crème commercial

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