Amsterdam, Badhoevedorp, Lijnden

Amsterdam from above is like a puzzle of houses and water. On this cycle route, you will cycle through the green polders around Amsterdam and follow the water to the recognisable canals in the city centre.

Amsterdam originated, how could it be otherwise, on the Amstel river. Trade went well in Amsterdam and more and more merchants wanted to settle in the city. Soon there was no room left in the inner city and a new outskirts was built outside the outer wall. To give all the rich people a nice canal house with space, they built in a crescent. This allowed rectangular plots to be formed where the merchants could live by the canals. Not only beautiful but also practical to transport their goods. On the smaller canals across, artisans lived on smaller plots.

As you cycle along the canals, look around carefully. The impressive canal houses almost all still have a beam at the top of house. This allowed them to easily lift goods and store them in the right places. Over the years, as prosperity increased, so did the canal houses. At the canal museum, dive further into history and discover the great biodiversity of these Amsterdam waterways.

The ring of canals is not the only watery thing you visit. You also pass the Lynden and Halfweg pumping stations. These pumping stations were used to drain the Haarlemmermeer. They are no longer used, but are still a feast for the eyes.

Start your route at TOP Halfweg and discover the Amsterdam Canal District by bike.