Four years ago I watched from a bridge as a group of paddlers sliced silently through the morning mist on their SUP boards. As they approached they suddenly crouched down on their boards to slip beneath the bridge on which I stood, standing back up to continue paddling along the Zwette towards the centre of Sneek.

I was inspired, as paddling seemed like a perfect way to explore the many waterways of the city.

During our visit to the the Dutch province of Fryslân this summer I finally had the opportunity to live this experience. Kind of like my own personal canal tour, but without the audio commentary, and with the ever-present risk of getting wet.

Here’s SUP van der Kooi to explain how you too can have a SUP adventure of your very own.