
Between 1880 and 1920 the Defence Line of Amsterdam was built, a defence line of 135 kilometres with 45 forts. If the enemy threatened to attack, the area around the capital, which would serve as the last bastion of the Netherlands, could be flooded to keep the enemy armies at bay. The field army could then retreat here and, together with civilians, hold out until help arrived from abroad. Supplies were built up to last six months and there were two gunpowder factories within the area. The forts were placed where the waterline was crossed by railways, dykes or roads. During this cycle route, you will cycle past some of these beautiful and impressive forts. Take a break to take a look at the buildings and learn more about the history. Cycle along the numerous polder meadows with ditches and canals and enjoy the whistling meadow and water birds. Get a breath of fresh air in the dunes on one side, and on the other experience the Dutch bustling life of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries at the Zaanse Schans. Cycling along the Defence Line of Amsterdam is truly a day out. Are you ready to get on your bike? Please note: to cycle through the Noordhollands Duinreservaat, you need to be in possession of a dune card (access card). You can buy one from the PWN water company: www.pwn.nl/duinkaartkopen. Check out the other access rules for this dune reserve to prepare for your visit.
Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
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Start: Padlaan 2, 1561ZA Zaanstad | 57.8 KM | |
From
90
86
|
2009.9 M | 2 KM | |
Head northwest on Badhuislaan | 240 M | ||
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Continue right onto Weverstraat | 115 M | |
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Continue onto Eikelaan | 501 M | |
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Continue onto Serooskerkestraat | 237 M | |
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Keep left onto Waterjuffer | 218 M | |
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Continue left onto Uitweg | 700 M | |
You are now at section 86 | 0 M | ||
From
86
85
|
1788.2 M | 1.8 KM | |
Head northwest on Krommeniedijk | 1.6 KM | ||
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Continue right onto Krommenieweg | 234 M | |
You are now at section 85 | 0 M | ||
From
85
38
|
3705.6 M | 3.7 KM | |
Head south on Busch en Dam | 3.7 KM | ||
You are now at section 38 | 0 M | ||
From
38
37
|
884.6 M | 0.9 KM | |
Head northwest on Communicatieweg | 885 M | ||
You are now at section 37 | 0 M | ||
From
37
36
|
1210.7 M | 1.2 KM | |
Head northwest on Communicatieweg | 1.2 KM | ||
You are now at section 36 | 0 M | ||
From
36
99
|
3775 M | 3.8 KM | |
Head north on Communicatieweg | 710 M | ||
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Turn right onto De Baandert | 1.4 KM | |
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Continue right onto Mozartstraat | 350 M | |
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Continue slightly left onto Noordermaatweg | 1.3 KM | |
You are now at section 99 | 0 M | ||
From
99
23
|
1336.1 M | 1.3 KM | |
Head northwest on Noordermaatweg | 1.3 KM | ||
You are now at section 23 | 0 M | ||
From
23
35
|
993.9 M | 1 KM | |
Head west on Noordermaatweg | 29 M | ||
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Turn left onto Rijksstraatweg | 939 M | |
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Turn right onto Duinweg | 26 M | |
You are now at section 35 | 0 M | ||
From
35
34
|
2944.4 M | 2.9 KM | |
Head northwest on Kraaiennest | 119 M | ||
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Continue onto Kruisberg | 1.2 KM | |
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Continue onto Zwarteweg | 1.6 KM | |
You are now at section 34 | 0 M | ||
From
34
97
|
4509.9 M | 4.5 KM | |
Head south on Meeuwenweg | 3.3 KM | ||
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Continue onto Kaagweg | 304 M | |
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Continue left onto Wim Mensinkstraat | 715 M | |
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Continue straight to stay on Meeuweweg | 224 M | |
You are now at section 97 | 0 M | ||
From
97
42
|
2711.9 M | 2.7 KM | |
Head east on Verlengde Voorstraat | 236 M | ||
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Continue onto Zeestraat | 2.5 KM | |
You are now at section 42 | 0 M | ||
From
42
01
|
1636.8 M | 1.6 KM | |
Head southwest on Zeestraat | 693 M | ||
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Continue onto Westerhoutplein | 107 M | |
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Continue slightly right onto Westerhoutweg | 390 M | |
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Continue left onto Holland op zijn smalst | 446 M | |
You are now at section 01 | 0 M | ||
From
01
41
|
2209.7 M | 2.2 KM | |
Head southeast on Holland op zijn smalst | 379 M | ||
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Turn left onto Velserweg | 335 M | |
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Continue slight left onto Velserweg | 156 M | |
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Continue right onto Breestraat | 686 M | |
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Continue onto Hendrik Mandeweg | 287 M | |
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Continue left onto Beatrixlaan | 368 M | |
You are now at section 41 | 0 M | ||
From
41
06
|
1926.8 M | 1.9 KM | |
Head southeast on Sint Aagtendijk | 488 M | ||
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Continue right onto Aagtenpoort | 400 M | |
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Turn left onto Parallelweg | 92 M | |
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Turn left to stay on De Meerlanden | 75 M | |
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Continue right onto Sint Aagtendijk | 872 M | |
You are now at section 06 | 0 M | ||
From
06
44
|
674.5 M | 0.7 KM | |
Head south on Vuurlinie | 422 M | ||
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Continue left onto Noorderweg | 253 M | |
You are now at section 44 | 0 M | ||
From
44
07
|
1305.3 M | 1.3 KM | |
Head southeast on Noorderweg | 839 M | ||
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Continue onto Vonderweg | 466 M | |
You are now at section 07 | 0 M | ||
From
07
38
|
3412.3 M | 3.4 KM | |
Head southeast on Vonderweg | 137 M | ||
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Continue onto Zeedijk | 3.3 KM | |
You are now at section 38 | 0 M | ||
From
38
99
|
482.2 M | 0.5 KM | |
Head southeast on Noorder Y en Zeedijk | 273 M | ||
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Continue onto Dorpsstraat | 210 M | |
You are now at section 99 | 0 M | ||
From
99
10
|
802.2 M | 0.8 KM | |
Head south on Dorpsstraat | 214 M | ||
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Continue onto Noorder Y en Zeedijk | 530 M | |
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Turn left | 58 M | |
You are now at section 10 | 0 M | ||
From
10
67
|
1545.5 M | 1.5 KM | |
Head northeast | 133 M | ||
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Continue right onto Nauerna | 1.4 KM | |
You are now at section 67 | 0 M | ||
From
67
69
|
3182.1 M | 3.2 KM | |
Head southeast on Zaandammerweg | 35 M | ||
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Continue onto Nauerna | 700 M | |
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Continue right onto Veldweg | 2.4 KM | |
You are now at section 69 | 0 M | ||
From
69
68
|
4109.8 M | 4.1 KM | |
Head west on Overtoom | 122 M | ||
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Continue right onto Zuideinde | 1.4 KM | |
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Continue onto J.J. Allanstraat | 2.1 KM | |
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Continue onto Kerkbuurt | 206 M | |
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Make a slight right to stay on Kerkbuurt | 202 M | |
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Make a slight right | 57 M | |
You are now at section 68 | 0 M | ||
From
68
63
|
1516.3 M | 1.5 KM | |
Head east on Provincialeweg | 645 M | ||
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Continue left onto Middel | 871 M | |
You are now at section 63 | 0 M | ||
From
63
73
|
2658.5 M | 2.7 KM | |
Head east | 74 M | ||
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Continue onto Freek Engelpad | 1.3 KM | |
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Continue onto Doctor Jan Mulderstraat | 995 M | |
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Make a slight right onto Guisweg | 133 M | |
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Continue onto Leeghwaterweg | 198 M | |
You are now at section 73 | 0 M | ||
From
73
94
|
2319.7 M | 2.3 KM | |
Head north on Kalverringdijk | 1.7 KM | ||
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Continue left onto Engewormer | 635 M | |
You are now at section 94 | 0 M | ||
From
94
92
|
1634 M | 1.6 KM | |
Head north on Engewormer | 22 M | ||
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Continue onto Zaandammerpad | 458 M | |
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Continue slightly right onto Papiermakerstraat | 140 M | |
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Continue onto Koetserstraat | 217 M | |
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Continue onto Rigastraat | 330 M | |
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Continue left | 30 M | |
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Continue slight left onto Aanlegstraat | 252 M | |
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Turn right onto Zaanweg | 125 M | |
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Go straight | 61 M | |
You are now at section 92 | 0 M | ||
From
92
91
|
1802.9 M | 1.8 KM | |
Head southwest | 23 M | ||
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Turn right onto Zaanweg | 22 M | |
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Turn left | 30 M | |
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Continue slightly left onto Zaanweg | 677 M | |
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Continue left onto Marktstraat | 234 M | |
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Continue onto Krommenieërweg | 817 M | |
You are now at section 91 | 0 M | ||
From
91
91
|
204.6 M | 0.2 KM | |
Head north on Kerkstraat | 205 M | ||
You are now at section 91 | 0 M | ||
From
91
90
|
546.2 M | 0.5 KM | |
Head west | 181 M | ||
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Continue onto Padlaan | 365 M | |
You are now at section 90 | 0 M |