Amsterdam Is The Land Of Weird Motorcycles And Clog-Shaped Boats

Starting off strong with this ’80s Chevrolet Caprice wagon that was picking someone up at the airport. I’m dying to know this car’s backstory.

Basically every canal has at least a few EV charging stations, and I saw everything from small electric hatchbacks to large luxury sedans plugged in and charging. Those little Jeep Avengers are so cute!

Speaking of EVs, this first-gen Tesla Roadster 2.0 was easily the coolest one I saw on my trip, and I spotted the exact same car on a vacation two years ago in pretty much the same location. These Roadsters are super cool, and it’s hard to think of a better car for this city.

Actually, I can think of a better car for Amsterdam. I love the silly little niche that is the crossover convertible — especially the Range Rover Evoque — and they make a lot of sense in a city like Amsterdam.

One of the coolest vehicles to ever be produced is the Carver, and there are tons of them in Amsterdam (it is a Dutch company, after all). Launched in the late ‘90s, these three-wheeled trikes had a tandem two-seat layout and a body that tilts into turns like a motorcycle would, moving independently from the rear axle that contains the engine and set of rear wheels that always maintain contact with the ground.

Early models used a turbocharged Daihatsu kei car engine, but new Carvers are available with a fully electric powertrain that offers an 80-mile range. I just think these things look so freakin’ cool, especially in motion when you see the body leaning around.

The many boats gliding through the canals are of all different shapes, sizes and types, but my favorites are these long bois that look like something out of James Bond.

Not the name I would’ve chosen...

Shockingly, this was not a weed-induced hallucination.

This isn’t a hallucination either. It’s an Amphicruiser, a Toyota Land Cruiser–inspired amphibious vehicle that’s made in Holland and is fully road legal. It comes in SUV, pickup and convertible body styles, and you can get it with a gas V8, a diesel inline-6 or a fully electric powertrain. Starting price is around $180,000.

Speaking of things that are cars I guess but not really exactly, Amsterdam is littered with the Opel Rocks-e, a rebadged version of the Citroën Ami. These ultra-cute quadricycles can be driven by people as young as 15, and I saw ones that were privately owned, used by ride-share companies and owned by businesses. I saw a bunch of hot couples driving around in these looking impossibly chic, and I need one.

To be drinking an Aperol Spritz while sitting next to a Citroën DS wagon parked on a canal... This woman is living the life. Citroën is one of my favorite brands ever (and the DS is my favorite car), and there are plenty of good ones in Amsterdam.

The close-knit parking spots result in some really fun two-car solutions. Which pairing are you taking? For me it’s the i3 and Phaeton.

In terms of sports cars and performance-oriented luxury brands, Porsche seems to be the most common. There are lots of Taycans and plug-in-hybrid Cayennes and Panameras, but still more than enough 911s and other classic Porsches to keep enthusiasts entertained.

Despite the tight and narrow cobblestone streets, there are plenty of large vehicles driving around, from big SUVs to large luxury sedans. I even saw a handful of American pickup trucks! Old Land Rover Defenders and new Range Rovers are an obvious Dutch favorites, as is the Mercedes G-wagen, but I was surprised to see that old Grand Cherokee. The “AIRBAG” badge is pretty funny.

There are plenty of little cars too, like these super cute Fiat 500s.

The Smart Roadster, and more specifically the Roadster Coupe, is one of my favorite designs of the early 2000s, especially in Brabus form like this one. These are almost old enough to import to the U.S., and I think they’d be amazing with a modern EV powertrain swap.

I know y’all are gonna go crazy for this one. I did too.