Post by: Andy Hayes, PlanetEye Traveler
Everyone knows that Amsterdam is best seen by foot or by bike. (If you haven’t been, you’ll quickly realize that the only way to get anywhere is to navigate your way down the narrow maze of streets.) But skip the hair-rising ride through town and set your handlebars towards the suburbs. There are lots of great biking trips that you can finish in a day without needing lycra biking gear or an extensive fitness regime before you arrive. Here are three top recommendations.
Amsterdamse Bos
Amsterdamse Bos (pronounced Amsterdam-zuh-boss) means the Amsterdam Forest. And while it is a park, it justly deserves the name forest, because it is enormous. Inside the park, located just southwest of Amsterdam at the edge of the city and near Schiphol airport, you’ll find over 50 bridges, 31+ miles of bike track, and a number of daytime activities to fill up more than a day. One favorite of mine is the goat farm, where you can have a cheese or milk (or ice cream) snack – beer is also available – and then go pet some of the farm animals.
If a farm isn’t your thing, than just pedal – you’ll find spots to picnic, places to go rowing in one of the lakes, or just let the breeze hit you as you cycle in what feels like the middle of nowhere. One of the few camping sites in Amsterdam is also here in the park, should you love it so much that you don’t want to head back into town.
Marken
To really leave the tourists behind in a flash, jump on the free ferry with your bike and head across the Ij river. On the other side you’ll be standing in North Amsterdam, a place rarely visited by tourists except for those intrepid folk who know about some of the great restaurants along the waterside here. My recommendation, though, is to follow the shoreline and head up towards the ocean to a little village called Marken. This trip is more about the journey than the destination, because it’s a fairly long ride so you might not want to go that far. But what’s nice about biking in this area is that the bike path is on top of the dyke, meaning that you have the best view of all. Lots of little villages dot the area so just see how you feel and let your two wheels lead you.
Westerpark and the Amsterdam Beach
Another fun option, particularly nice on a sunny day, is to head to the Ij river and then make a left, heading west. If you follow along and keep an eye out, you might spot the tiny Amsterdam Plage, or Amsterdam Beach. It’s a little hippy spot, complete with mojito bar and unusual live music acts. There is sand and water access, but this place is more about the ambience, not necessarily the quality of the waterfront.
Continue on to Westerpark, a relatively narrow stretch of park which does continue on for a couple of miles. Inside of it are a mix of new (a bakery, reflecting ponds you can swim in, public art) and old (windmills, classic views, old houses). Westerpark is, I suppose, good “bang for your buck” – the ride is shorter and a great place to sit and chill out. In any case, it is far less crowded than Vondelpark, the most popular park in the city center.
If You Go
If you plan to set out on an extensive biking journey, you’ll want a map and perhaps some directions. Most of the reputable bike rental companies, such as Macbike, will be happy to give you directions and a map if you need it. It’s harder to get somewhere because while the bike paths are well marked, they always list the next destination – you don’t have any of those bigger, faraway stops like you’d have on an expressway. Getting home is easier because you just follow the signs for Amsterdam.
Also if you are cycling in the countryside, be mindful of road signs and traffic lights – don’t let your guard down just because there are fewer folks around. Bring some wet weather gear in a pack, as well as some snacks and water in case you get hungry. I know you’re just out for a leisurely ride, but it is always nice to be prepared!
And if you’re looking for great short term rentals in Amsterdam, definitely check out our amazing listings!
Photo Credit: Redjar
