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# 037 - Amsterdam Walks, Fishing, and the Point of Doing Nothing
- URL: https://www.luisnatera.photo/037-amsterdam-walks-fishing-and-the-point-of-doing-nothing/
- Published: 2026-06-15T19:54:25.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-15T19:54:25.000Z
- Description: Short walks after work, long walks on weekends. Fishing in the canals, paper planes at a conference. What happens when you stop looking for something and just notice what's there.
- Author: Luis Natera
- Tags: newsletter, street photography, amsterdam

Since we came back from [walking in the Dolomites](https://www.luisnatera.photo/033-the-dolomites-off-season-and-the-cost-of-overtourism/), and as the weather in Amsterdam has been improving, we have been doing some more walking around the city. Short after work walks, and long weekend walks.

![Three kids hanging out by the entrance of a playground in Amsterdam, one sitting on the ground, the others leaning against a metal gate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/19/ae/19ae7b7e-3267-4ec9-a3d4-d56fe8dd66fb/content/images/2026/06/DSCF7407-1.jpg)

[Walking and photographing](https://www.luisnatera.photo/029-walking-and-seeing/) is a bit different than going for a photo walk. Here, the primary purpose is to walk, to experience the city physically, rather than looking for a photo. It doesn’t mean that I don’t carry my camera, it is just about being present, and taking the time to be. I carry the camera with me, and I shoot when I find interesting scenes.

![Person in a hat sitting on a bench by an Amsterdam canal, seen from behind, looking at trees and apartment buildings across the water](https://storage.ghost.io/c/19/ae/19ae7b7e-3267-4ec9-a3d4-d56fe8dd66fb/content/images/2026/06/DSCF7272-1.jpg)

Today I wanted to share more about those scenes. Things I’ve noticed while not looking for something. I would say it is a bit of a photography random walk. No objective, just noticing.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/19/ae/19ae7b7e-3267-4ec9-a3d4-d56fe8dd66fb/content/images/2026/06/DSCF7056.jpg) 

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One activity I’ve started to notice more and more is fishing. Fishing in the middle of Amsterdam is a bit strange I would say. I doubt there are too many fish in the IJ, nor in the canals. However, it’s an activity I somehow get. The activity is an excuse to be out, to enjoy a bit of the good weather, and, in some cases, be social. Maybe that’s just the grown-ups’ version of playing in the streets. I enjoy noticing the different ways people find to occupy public space. [A bench](https://www.luisnatera.photo/017-how-outdoor-benches-blur-public-and-private-space-in-amsterdam/), a fishing rod, a camera.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/19/ae/19ae7b7e-3267-4ec9-a3d4-d56fe8dd66fb/content/images/2026/06/DSCF7254.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/19/ae/19ae7b7e-3267-4ec9-a3d4-d56fe8dd66fb/content/images/2026/06/DSCF7347.jpg)

A couple of weeks ago I went to Lisbon to attend an expo. Most attendees were in blue suits. You know, one of those events that are very formal, very serious. However, one of the stands that did best at attracting people was one with a game. And funnily enough, one of the best conversations I had was while we were playing with paper planes. That got me thinking, we grow up, we become “serious”, but we still want to play, to have fun. Why don’t we design for that? To get fun into our daily lives, whether at work or commuting in the city.

![Two people sitting on a bench under a tree in an Amsterdam park, two others walking past in motion blur](https://storage.ghost.io/c/19/ae/19ae7b7e-3267-4ec9-a3d4-d56fe8dd66fb/content/images/2026/06/DSCF7418-1.jpg)

I don’t have an answer to that, probably my version of play is taking a camera and observing others. For others it might be going fishing in the city. What I know is that I find people interesting. What’s your version of play in everyday life?