Surrounding Area

Discover the beautiful Amsterdam region, between city and country, by bicycle or by car

Day trips in North Holland. A green polder landscape that is still untouched by the hectic life of the Randstad metropolis. Everywhere, you will find wonderful places to stop, in farm villages and old Zuiderzee towns. Amsterdam forms the switch to city life, but is surrounded by green areas, woodlands and in the Gooi region, even some moorland

Schellingwouderoute

Distance: 38 kilometres
Signs: Hexagonal signs (ANWB)
Starting points include Amsterdam and Diemen.

Amsterdam did not make a real mark on the North Holland region until 1960, after the tunnels were built. Then residential areas mushroomed across the countryside and small villages were swallowed up.

The eastern port area was once the port area Amsterdam. With the development of the western ports, it lost its role and is now mainly a residential area. The expansion of Amsterdam to the east began with the in annexation of the Watergraafsmeer (1921), including Tuindorp Watergraafsmeer (Betondorp) and later the Bijlmermeer.

Ask at the Reception Desk for more information..

Durgerdam, Broek in Waterland and Uitdam

Distance: 33 kilometres
Signs: Hexagonal signs (ANWB)
Starting points include Durgerdam, Broek in Waterland and Uitdam.

The buildings of Amsterdam stop abruptly at the A10 motorway, where the Waterland region stretches out ‘pale green and marshy, with nothing in it and the stubby tower of Ransdorp in the distance'. Nescio’s description, dating from 1917 is still easily recognisable.

So has nothing changed in Waterland? It certainly has: Amsterdam has swallowed up parts of it and the remainder is under pressure from the city. To avoid the loss of Waterland, zoning plans have been introduced. Parts of the area have been made suitable for modern agriculture by lowering the water table, plot exchanges and road surfacing. In around 40% of the surface area, conservation takes priority. New pumping stations have been built, so that each agricultural and conservation area can be given its own water level. In East Waterland, many reserves are managed by the Forestry Commission. Here, farmers help to give meadow birds as many chances as possible (for a fee). This means delaying mowing and grazing. The effect is visible in May, when black-tailed godwits fly soar above the cycle paths.

Ask at the Reception Desk for more information.

Rondom Watergangroute

Distance: 36 kilometres
Signs: Hexagonal signs (ANWB)
Starting points include Monnickendam, Broek in
Waterland and Amsterdam.

Amsterdam has made its mark on this route: housing construction in the North area and recreation in Twiske. The route runs in a wide circle around the village of Watergang, which gives the route its name.

Note: The ferry at Ilpendam may be decommissioned. There are plans to replace it with a small cycle ferry. For the latest information and crossing times, please call the operators: Landsmeer municipal authority, Tel. (020) 4361426

Ask at the Reception Desk for more information.

For more routes, see www.anwb.nl

Zaans Erfgoedroute

Distances: 32 kilometres
Signs: Hexagonal signs (ANWB)
Starting points include Zaandam, Westzaan, Krommenie and Haaldersbroek

In the 12th Century, the peat lands to the north of the IJ held several villages on higher ground, often creek hamlets such as Assendelft, Krommenie, Westzaan and Oostzaan.

Land reclamation led to subsidence here, making new dikes a necessity. Dams were built in rivers leading to the sea, including the dam in the Zaan river, where it reaches the IJ. This led to the development of Zaandam, which eclipsed all the other villages in the area. The oldest industrial area in the Netherlands developed in the Zaanstreek district.

Ask at the Reception Desk for more information.

Gouwzeeroute

Distance: 39 kilometres
Signs: Hexagonal signs (ANWB)
Starting points include Edam, Volendam, Monnickendam, Marken and Purmerend

In the 16th and 17th Centuries, trade and fisheries flourished in the Waterland region. The small towns on the Zuiderzee did such good trade that the sea on which they lay was dubbed the Goudzee (the ‘Golden Sea'). Later, the name became bastardised to ‘Gouwzee'. Prosperity fell back sharply in the 18th Century, through competition from Amsterdam. Much of the glorious past has been preserved in Edam and Monnickendam.

In the 20th Century, the region's 'gold' lies in its outstanding natural beauty. The Gouwzee is a shallow part of the Markermeer, with excellent water quality and good underwater vegetation. This makes it suitable as a breeding ground for fish. The area is also attractive to birds. Wild swans and duck species come for the knot-grass. In winter, in particular, there are many widgeons, scaups, tufted ducks and pochards. In the summer, this is a wild area for the greylag goose and the rare red-crested pochard.

Ask at the Reception Desk for more information.