The Dutch Waterline and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Off The Beaten Path Tips

The Dutch used to flood their land against enemy attacks.

The fortresses that came with this technique are called the Dutch Waterline, you can read all about it in English here: http://www.hollandsewaterlinie.nl/ and here http://www.noord-holland.com/ (things to do).

Walking routes around Amsterdam that visit the fortresses can be found under "wandelroutes" at http://www.noord-holland.com/stellingvanamsterdam/.

See my Netherlands page for some English/Dutch keywords to understand these search engines for walks in the Netherlands.

A similar defense line with fortresses was build around Amsterdam, see my Amsterdam Things to Do tip about the Stelling van Amsterdam (Defense Line of Amsterdam).

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Website: http://www.hollandsewaterlinie.nl/

Four authentic "banning poles" (banpaal in Dutch) can be found around Amsterdam. In the past (around 1600 AD) these poles marked the borders of the city. The city of Amsterdam had the rights to apprehend suspects within these borders, and to ban/expel convicts from the territory marked by the banning poles.

Banning was a popular punishment for thieves and beggars, but also for cursing, playing dice s(gambling) or prostitution.

Interestingly, the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt made an etching showing one of these banning poles. A part of this banning pole, that has been relocated several times, can now be found in the Geuzenbos at the Spaarndammerdijk close to its original position. It is close to the water-pumping station ("gemaal" in Dutch) near Vaalmuiden/Wethouder van Essenweg.

The other banning poles can be found here:

- Sloterweg in Sloten (1794)
- Amsterdamseweg in Amstelveen (±1625)
- Near the river Amstel, Amsteldijk Noord, close to the Kalfjeslaan in Amstelveen (±1625)

The last banning pole, the one next to the river Amstel, is included in a marked 10 km walk through the Middelpolder, see my off-the-beaten-path tip.

The banning pool on the Amsterdamseweg in Amstelveen is close to the parks "De Braak", "Thijssepark" and "Broersepark" in Amstelveen and a visit to the banning pole could be combined with a visit to these parks. Please see my Amstelveen tips if you are interested.

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Website: http://www.studiokoning.nl/Foto_19/Banpalen_Amsterdam.html

The Amstelpark is a big park in the south of Amsterdam, enclosed by the Europaboulevard, the highway A10 and the river Amstel.

The Amstelpark offers a broad diversity of things to do, for adults but also for children. A wide variety of trees and and flowers can be found here, as well as several kinds of animals like squirrels.

Things to do and see in the Amstelpark:

- Playground and farm for kids (http://www.speeltuin-amstelpark.nl/)
- Midget golf (http://www.midgetgolf-amstelpark.nl/)
- Pony rides for kids
- Tour by small train, April-October daily from 10.00-18.00, in the winter on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11.00-18.00)
- Labyrinth
- Mill (Riekermolen).
- Glass house (Glazen Huis) with exhibitions
- Gallery Papillon
- Rhododendron Valley with 8000 rhododendrons of 139 species
- Garden with endangered local plants (Heemtuin)
- Butterfly Garden
- Rose Garden (Rosarium) with 160 different species of roses
- Dahliarama with different kinds of dahlias and other plants
- Japanese Garden
- Conifer Garden
- Orangerie with exotic plants.
- Cafe De Hop
- Restaurant Rosarium (http://www.rosarium.net/).

The main entrance is at the Europaboulevard, opposite to the A.J. Ernststraat. The park can be reached with busses 69, 169 and 148, or by train/metro/tram to RAI station. For info about the Amstelpark: parkwachterij@zuideramstel.amsterdam.nl

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Phone: +31 20 644 42 16
Website: http://www.speeltuin-amstelpark.nl/

A tip for the kids: The goat farm "De Ridammerhoeve" in the "Amsterdamse Bos" (Amsterdam forest). But also nice for older goat-lovers...

This is a "biological" farm, consisting of a goat-farm, cheese factory, farm for children, chicken farm, farm shop where you can buy goat-cheese etc, and a terrace where you can have a coffee and a small lunch.

Open: Every day except Tuesday from 10.00-17.00. From 1 November - 1 March also closed on Mondays.

Check out the website (Dutch) for more info and/or pictures.

Directions: Nieuwe Meerlaan 4. In the forest (by bike or foot), follow the signs "Geitenboerderij".

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Phone: +31 20 645 50 34
Website: http://www.geitenboerderij.nl/

In the weekends a ferryboat connects the North bank of the Nieuwe Meer (Oude Haagseweg near McDonald´s and the beaches) with the South bank (close to the pancake restaurant Boerderij Meerzicht, see my other tips).

A fast and exciting way to reach the Amsterdamse bos from Amsterdam West, or to reach the beaches of the Nieuwe Meer from the Amsterdamse Bos.

Single trip only 1 euro for adults and 0.50 euro for kids (5-12 years), bikes and buggies. Free for kids under 4 years.

15 April - 15 Oktober, every 15 minutes on: Saturdays 12.00-18.00h, Sundays and holidays 11.00-19.00h.

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Phone: +31 20 644 51 63
Website: http://www.amsterdamsebos.amsterdam.nl/amsterdamsebos/attractie/attractie09.html
Other Contact: http://www.rederij-oeverloos.nl/

Outside Amsterdam there is plenty opportunity for walks in nature or in a less populated environment.

See e.g. my Amsterdam tips about the Amsterdamse Bos (forest of Amsterdam) or the beautiful small parks in my Amstelveen tips.

Additionally, you will find a lot more information about hiking and walking around Amsterdam and in Holland in general on my page about the Netherlands.

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Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/6117e/312/

Amstelveen is one of the suburbs of Amsterdam. In contrast to Amsterdam, Amstelveen is one of the "greenest" cities of Holland.

There are quite some activities for children, and possibilities for recreation.

Ladies, the shopping center is the biggest in the region!!! (Sorry guys...)

Amstelveen can easily be reached by tram 5 or metro 51 from Amsterdam.

On the picture, Amstelveen is the rectangular shape in the middle, surrounded by green, with Amsterdam in the north. The Amsterdamse Bos (forest) is located to the west of Amstelveen.

Please check out my Amstelveen pages for tips about Amstelveen!

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Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/6117e/71213/

Marken is a former island, that is now connected to the mainland by a dam.

It is a small fishermen's town with characteristic wooden houses.

Other people already wrote interesting tips about Marken. Here I would like to draw your attention to the possibility to do a nice walk around the island.

The hike takes 2 or 3 hours, depending if you walk up and down the dam towards Volendam or not.

The hike takes you around Marken, so it does not really matter where you start, just walk along the dyke.

A suggested starting point is the port. Go right after cafe "De Taanderij" onto the cycle-track ("fietspad").

Just before a bunch of willow trees, you can leave the cycle-track and go left onto the dam. This will add an hour to the hike, if you walk until the end of the dam and back. It's certainly worth the effort, with the water on both sides of the dam and the wide views. At the end of the dam, you get a view of the port and church of Volendam.

After the dam, continue your walk to the left, always stay on the dyke.

You will pass the lighthouse (nicknamed "The Horse") and the settlement Rozewerf where icebreakers protect the houses from the ice in the winter.

Follow the dyke, cross the main asphalt road to Marken and continue your walk along the dyke until you are back in the port of Marken.

See the pictures for a map of the island...Just follow the shore!

Bus 111 (Arriva company) takes you from Amsterdam Central station to Marken in 45 minutes!

It is also possible to take a boat from Marken to Volendam.

You cannot enter Marken by car unless you are a resident. There is a big parking before the village, 3.50 euro per day.

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Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/6117e/70228/

Not far from Amsterdam you will find the charming village Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. The village is divided in two parts by the river Amstel.

Ouderkerk aan the Amstel is a small village, about 200 years older than Amsterdam. It has many excellent restaurants, and some of them have their terraces at the waterside.

It is a good idea to escape Amsterdam for a moment and have lunch or dinner in this beautiful quiet village.

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Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/6117e/6fe6a/

This 13 km long (3 hour) hike takes you through the recreational areas Gaasperplas, Gaasperzoom and De Hoge Dijk in Amsterdam Zuidoost (south-east).

The walk is well marked with signs from the ANWB (the Dutch touring club) which are marked "Gaasper Zoom Route" (see pictures). The hike starts and finishes at metrostation Gaasperplas. Metro 53 stops here.

You can also cheat a little and take the metro at station Holendrecht near the AMC (Amsterdam Medical Center) on your way back, that will save you about 20-30 minutes.

Some parts of the walk are unpaved, so leave your high heels at home!

There is a map with the route among the pictures.

On my Netherlands page there is a lot more information about hiking in Holland, follow the link below.

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Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/6117e/312/