Renewed Bosbaan Aims for 2007 Worlds

The oldest manmade rowing course – the Amsterdam Bosbaan – was officially re-opened by the mayor of Amsterdam – Job Cohen – for the 26^th edition of the Randstad Regatta, which was held on 20 and 21 April in Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

The course was built in 1936 as part of an employment project and originally counted five lanes. It was widened to six bigger lanes in 1964 when Amsterdam hosted the European Championships, the first international event where women were allowed to participate as elite rowers. Today the Bosbaan measures 118 metres and features 8 lanes.

The Amsterdam rowing track has some big advantages that make rowing here more than just another boat race. The venue is part of the Amsterdam city woods, between the south part of the Dutch capital and it’s airport. It is situated close to the historic centre, where countless canals and innumerable old warehouses still stand from the Golden Age, providing a unique atmosphere. 

“We have been asked to organise the FISU worlds here in 2005, the junior worlds in 2006 and we will bid for the 2007 World Championships,” says president of the Royal Dutch Rowing Federation Carel van den Driest.