"Banning poles (Dutch: Banpalen)" Amstelveen Off The Beaten Path Tip by Pijlmans

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 theives and beggars, but also for cursing, playing dice (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. A map showing its location in the Geuzenbos can be found here: http://www.westpoortbeheer.amsterdam.nl/recreatie/geuzenbos, click on "wandelkaart".

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 other Amstelveen tips if you are interested.

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