A soft walk in the snow, starting at Oosterpark, passing through Sarphatipark, crossing the Rijksmuseum area, and slowly reaching the Canal Belt.

This was not a planned photo walk. It was one of those days when the route became longer than expected, the snow fell harder, and the focus naturally shifted from capturing everything to simply being present.

As the snow picked up, the walk became about working with what was possible. Some moments invited the camera out. Others didn’t. Visibility changed constantly, and the wet snow made it risky to keep the camera exposed for too long. So I listened to the conditions instead of pushing against them.

This is something winter in Amsterdam teaches very well. Not every walk needs to be productive in the usual sense. Sometimes the value is in awareness, in noticing how light changes when snow thickens, how sound softens, and how the city slows down almost without asking.

The camera stayed in my bag more than usual. When it came out, it was for short, intentional moments. When it didn’t, the walk continued anyway. Snow-covered paths, quieter streets, and the feeling that the city was briefly holding its breath.

All the photographs from this walk were taken between 1:00 and 3:00 pm, during a time of day that usually feels transitional. In winter, even midday light feels fragile. Add snowfall to that, and everything becomes softer, more muted, and harder to predict.

This kind of walk reminds me why I value slow photography so much. Not every day is about results. Some days are about rhythm, movement, and learning when to stop pressing the shutter.

Amsterdam in the snow does not ask to be documented constantly. It asks to be walked.

Enjoy the snow days in Amsterdam, be safe, walk carefully, and see you soon.

Joanna

Your Vacation Photographer in Amsterdam