James Munt and Barack Obama. Photo: Pure Boats
Former US president Barack Obama has been popping up all over the place during his recent visit to Amsterdam for a speaking engagement at the Ziggo Dome.
If you were out an about on Amsterdam’s canals on Sunday morning, you may have spotted him on board an electric boat with friends and security staff, as he took time out of his busy schedule for a tour of Amsterdam’s canals.
James Munt from Pure Boats hosted the former president, his security team, and four of his friends. Munt, who co-owns the canal cruise company with his wife Geertje and colleague Nick Mezas, told Dutch News the voyage came together on short notice.
On King’s Day, Munt said, they decided to go on a boat trip with a few friends, one of whom asked if they could bring someone along. That ‘plus one’ was someone who works on the production team for Obama’s current European tour.
‘He had such a good time with us that he said he would invite Obama to come on the boat,’ Munt said. ‘We thought, ‘okay, we’ll see about that,’ but, sure enough, he started texting me the next day.’
There was just one problem: they were fully booked for Sunday, the day the former president wanted to go on a tour. ‘But you can’t say no to Obama,’ Munt said. ‘We said we’d make it work.’
A low-key trek
Obama’s team requested the company’s Schollevaar, a classic canal boat originally built in 1912 that’s since been restored with an electric engine. Munt and his colleagues loaded it with drinks and snack platters before meeting with Obama and his team for the tour, which began at 11 am.
‘Most of Amsterdam is not up by that time, so it was still pretty quiet,’ Munt said.
Obama boarding the boat. Photo: @eddie_amsterdam eddieolsen.com
After climbing abroad, Obama told him that he was looking forward to having a day off. To avoid potential crowds and photographers, Munt set sail for a few of the city’s quieter waterways.
‘I think he enjoyed a…
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