Video: Big freeze turns Amsterdam's canals into impromptu ice rink Parts of Amsterdam's historic canal system have frozen, and the Dutch city's amateur ice-skaters have taken full advantage. It is the second time in three years that the waters have frozen over allowing residents to glide on the famous waterways after a similar wintry spell caused the canal to freeze over in 2010. The impromptu skate rink comes after the Dutch capital saw overnight temperatures dip as low as -10C. Rather than fighting the cold, the city's authorities actually closed the canals to motorised traffic at the beginning of February in order to allow the water to freeze.