Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race Dinner

I visited Amsterdam's Bosbaan on October 11, 2008. Two different relatives suggested the club's dining room as a place to have lunch (with them) on a weekend, so it's a successful public amenity as well as the world's oldest specially made rowing course. It was built in 1936 as a Depression-era jobs project and had five lanes for the Holland Beker of 1937. The European Rowing Championships of 1937, 1964 and 1965 were held here as well as the 1977 World Championships.

In 1964 the Bosbaan course was widened to six larger lanes so that Amsterdam's course would be up to hosting  the European Championships. This was the first international event where women were allowed to participate in the top races. The Dutch rowing regatta has been held at the Bosbaan every year, with frequent improvements to the finish-line area for both rowers and spectators.

The Bosbaan is now the venue for world-class rowing at the Koninklijke-Holland Beker World Cup Regatta, which was in 2003 and 2004 the first of a series of international top rowing events that became the World Cup in 2007. The World Rowing "under 23" Championships in 2005 and the World Junior Championships in 2006 took place on the Bosbaan. In 2001, the Bosbaan was further widened to eight lanes to comply with standards of FISA, the international rowing federation.

Other improvements include dressing rooms, a new entrance area, a new restaurant (the "Grand Cafe") and visitors centerm a new finish-line tower and On the spot where the grandstand used to be, a new building with many multipurpose rooms. Bosbaan is ten minutes from both Amsterdam City Center and Schiphol Airport, served by rapid and frequent transportation. A taxi from the  center of Amsterdam costs 10-15 euros. It is near to affordable and adequate hotel accommodation and provides a compact, convenient and friendly venue. Photos here and at www.boissevain.us include crews that are training for international events.