Walking and Cycling in Amsterdam Woods
Explore This City Forest on Your Next Trip To Amsterdam
Apr 19, 2009
Only four kilometers from the city Amsterdam Woods, or Amsterdamse Bos as it is known in Dutch, is one of the largest city parks in Europe, covering almost 1000 hectares, or three times as much land as New York’s Central Park. Canals and lakes break up the park and offer opportunities for canoeing, boating and fishing in addition to the many land-based activities.
A Brief History of Amsterdam Woods
Incredibly, the woods were created entirely by man, having been planted as part of a project to give work to unemployed people during the Great Depression. More than 50,000 people worked on the project between 1934 and 1967, and during that time they transformed the area from a disused wetland into a thriving forest and recreational area.
Walking and Cycling in Amsterdamse Bos
Of the 116 miles of trails in the park 85 are for walking and 31 for cycling, but you’ll find that most of the walking trails are wide enough for bikes too, provided that you watch out for those on foot. The tracks wind in and out of the forest, passing gentle meadows and huge grassy fields that have been set aside for games and sport.
Away from the main sportsgrounds the park is quiet and uncrowded, and even in the height of summer there are few people on the inner trails. Bumpy side tracks peel off the main paths and lead to clearings and canal-side lawns where you can have a lazy afternoon picnic and siesta without seeing another soul. To find these areas you’re much better off on a bike; hire one in Amsterdam and cycle down or get one at the main entrance on Van Nijenrodeweg.
Horse Riding and Boating in Amsterdam Woods
There two riding schools in Amsterdam Woods, located at either end of Nieuwe Kalfjeslaan, and both of them hire out horses for use within the park. If you’re not an experienced rider you can get lessons in English at De Amsterdamse Manege, with prices starting at €25 for half an hour.
In the summer you can hire canoes and pedal boats beside the Grote Vijver lake and spend a peaceful day rowing through the forest. You can get one, two or three person canoes from €6 an hour and two or four person pedal boats from €10, or, if you prefer a speedier mode of transport, you can also get a six-person motorboat for €32 an hour.
People traveling with children have a few options if the little ones tire of walking or biking. There are two shallow pools in the park that are great for under 5’s, an adventure playground on the islands of the Grote Vijver lake and a small farm where children can chase goats and chickens to their hearts content. The farm also has a small cafe where you can get coffee and lunch and a shop that sells cheese made on the farm.
Camping Near Amsterdam?
There are camping facilities at the southern end of the park where you can pitch a tent or rent a small bungalow, and this is a good option of you’d like to spend a couple of days there. Campsites cost around €6 and bungalows start at €25.
The visitor’s center at the main entrance has maps of the park and lots of information, though you will find that most of it is in Dutch. You can also buy a permit for fishing there if you’re interested in going out on one of the lakes. There is one cafe near the visitor’s center and another further in the park where you can get traditional Dutch pancakes.
It should also be noted that Amsterdamse Bos backs up to Schiphol Airport so at any time of day there will be planes flying low overhead, though because they’re flying slowly they aren’t overly noisy.
Biking from Amsterdam
It’s easy and quick to bike to the park from Amsterdam and the best option if you want to explore in depth. From the front of the Rijkmuseum, go east on the canal then take the first right onto Hobbemakade, also called the s108. Follow this road until you hit Stadionplein (Stadium Square), turn left on Amstelveenseweg and then continue for a mile and a half until you reach the park. If you’d prefer you can also take a bus; get lines 170 or 172 from Central Station.
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