Six paddlers, one canoe, one rhythm. Polynesian va'a on the water of De Nieuwe Meer. No experience needed. Equipment provided.
An outrigger canoe (a va'a, wa'a or waka ama) is a long, narrow hull steadied by a float — the ama — out to one side.
These vessels were the first true ocean-going ships and an important part of maritime heritage. They carried the Austronesian expansion from Taiwan out across the islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans from around 3000 BC.
Six paddlers sit in line, switch sides on a single call, and move the boat as one. It's the heart of Polynesian ocean culture, and one of the most addictive ways to get on the water.
See Hawaiian Red Bull Wa'a promo video
Each seat has a job — from the stroke setting the pace up front to the steerer at the back. You'll never paddle alone, and the boat only moves well when the whole crew is in time.
Every dozen or so strokes the caller shouts "hut," the crew answers "ho," and everyone switches sides together. Find the rhythm and the canoe seems to glide itself.
It's an endurance sport and a genuinely social one. All ages and fitness levels are welcome — the technique is what carries the boat, not raw strength.
Aloha. We're a group of Dutch and international outrigger enthusiasts. We gained our paddling experience all around the world — from the waters of Panama to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Now we want to share that experience and grow the sport here in Amsterdam.
We're a young club, so we put crews together first and build the schedule around them. Here's the path from curious to paddling.
Send us a quick note — your name, rough availability and whether you've paddled anything before. That's the whole sign-up.
Come and try the sport and the club to decide if you like it with no commitment yet. We provide equipment and coaching.
We group paddlers into crews by availability and level. As soon as a crew is complete, you'll hear from us.
Your crew's sessions get scheduled and you start paddling from De Schinkel. Canoe, paddle and a coach to get you going are all provided.
We're the outrigger crew and part of Watersportvereniging De Schinkel — an established Amsterdam watersports club tucked on De Nieuwe Meer, just off the Zuidas. It means we start with a nice harbour, a clubhouse and bar, and a great community of sailors, rowers and paddlers around us.
A long-running watersports association on the water in Amsterdam-Zuid. Our paddlers share its home, its slipway and its hospitality.
Visit wvdeschinkel.nl →We welcome guests and new paddlers. Try with no commitment. Reach out to hello@outrigger.amsterdam.
Amsterdam