Summer is up and cities across the globe have planted palm trees and trucked in tons of sand to urban riverfronts to create the feeling of a lazy day at the shore. Urban beaches are a hit and Momondo guides you to our favourites.

Amsterdam’s Urban Beach Escapes: bringing sunshine to this cloudy city

Blijburg Ann Zee Photo: Marco Buddingh

Amsterdam is anything but traditional, and the same goes for its ‘beaches’. From atypical to boho to lay-back-and-relax, Amsterdam beachgoers have all the man-made hot spots they need to get their cherished annual ration of sun. Located right within the sun-craving city borders are the beaches of Blijburg aan Zee, Amsterdam Plage, Strandzuid, Strand West and BovenNEMO.

All those miserable days of pedaling through rain and wind must have really motivated the Dutch to perfect the art of urban beaching. Fake handbags are a no-no, but Amsterdam’s artificial beaches - let’s go!