Amstelveen: Nature, Art and Polder Paths

Amstelveen offers different ways to enjoy a stay: Amsterdamse Bos puts paths, water and recreation at the forefront, while Middelpolder invites you to go hiking and birdwatching. Art museums, historic sites and the seasonal cherry blossoms add further highlights. The destinations below can help you plan outings to suit your interests.

Paths, Water and Nature

Amsterdamse Bos is a natural area with a wide range of recreational activities. There are 50 kilometres of cycling paths, and you can rent bicycles at the entrance. The network of cycling, hiking and horse-riding trails covers more than 200 kilometres in total. Check the latest information about bicycle rentals before you arrive. At Grote Vijver, you can also rent a canoe and paddle along one of two designated canoe routes.

Water activities and horse riding are also part of the recreational offering at Amsterdamse Bos. You can swim at Grote Vijver, where there are also two children’s pools, a kiosk and toilets. Visitor facilities may be subject to seasonal arrangements, so it’s worth checking the latest information before your visit. Other offerings include recreational horse riding, two riding stables, horse stalls and a picnic area for horses.

De Boswinkel organises sightseeing boat trips as well as walking and cycling tours; these must be booked in advance. Visitors with limited mobility can use the Bosmobiel. National and international rowing competitions are regularly held at Bosbaan, offering a different perspective on the area from exploring it by bike or canoe.

In Middelpolder, good walking paths wind through the polder landscape; some paths can be muddy. The area is also considered a good place for birdwatching, as numerous birds fly over and land there. Path conditions can vary after rain. The Oude Polderwandeling is a 7-kilometre walking route that shows what the polder landscape used to look like.

Cherry Blossoms and History

Every spring, 400 cherry trees bloom in Bloesempark, attracting thousands of visitors from the Netherlands and abroad. The blossoms last for about two weeks in March or April; temperature, wind and precipitation affect the exact timing. The trees were donated to the municipality of Amstelveen in 2000 by the Japanese Women’s Club. So when planning your visit, the time of year is not the only consideration—the current stage of the blossoms matters too.

De Braak is Amstelveen’s oldest heempark. Designed in 1939, it established the municipality’s unique heempark tradition. Historical routes also trace Amstelveen’s past: information panels cover topics ranging from its origins as a farming village dating back centuries to the Second World War.

Buitenplaats Wester-Amstel is a 17th-century country estate with a monumental manor house, a public park, ornamental gardens and winding walking paths. The park is open daily and free of charge for most of the year. Access arrangements may change during events or maintenance work, so check before your visit.

Art and Local Experiences

Museum JAN is dedicated to visual art, with a particular focus on glass art. Museum Cobra highlights the art and ideas of the Cobra movement. Together with the historical routes, the museums add a cultural dimension that can be easily alternated with time spent in parks and natural areas.

Wijngaard Amsteltuin combines winemaking with seasonal visitor experiences. More than 3,500 vines of five varieties grow across more than one hectare: Solaris, Johanniter, Souvignier Gris, Pinotin and Cabernet Cortis. In summer, you can enjoy a high wine or a seafood lunch among the vines. As these are seasonal offerings, check availability in advance.

At Geitenboerderij Ridammerhoeve, visitors can bottle-feed lambs. A workshop gives you the chance to make your own goat’s cheese and take it home; check whether the workshop is available before you arrive. At Speelboerderij Elsenhove, children can learn about farm animals, the environment and sustainability through play.

Transport and Location Planning

Stadshart Amstelveen has a large, modern bus station where almost all bus routes meet. Bus route 300 also goes to Schiphol Airport. From Leidseplein, you can reach Stadshart Amstelveen by tram 5 in 25 minutes. These transport connections can help you plan your hotel stay; check the latest timetables for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Amstelveen, Langedijk, Velsen, Heemstede, Huizen, Landsmeer, Haarlem, Hollands Kroon.

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