Amstelveen Between Culture and Nature

Amstelveen offers a range of options to focus on when planning a trip: theater and art, local history, routes through the landscape, and insights into agriculture and winegrowing. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by considering which themes matter to you during your stay. Options range from an annual summer production to hiking and cycling routes and activities at a goat farm.

Culture, Theater, and Local History

Schouwburg Amstelveen has two theater halls and a cinema hall, and is one of the larger regional theaters in the Netherlands. If you are planning to attend a specific theater performance or film, check the current program and arrangements: the program and event packages may change.

For more than 35 years, a new production has been created each year at the Bostheater. It runs throughout the summer on the large stage in Amsterdamse Bos. This makes a seasonal theater visit a distinct cultural highlight alongside the offerings at Schouwburg.

The Dorpskerk on Dorpsplein has had several different forms, recognizable by its successive towers. The older church was demolished in 1866 because it had fallen into disrepair; a new church building with a graceful roof turret was built on the same site. The Sint-Urbanuskerk offers a different historical landmark: it is a 19th-century church on the edge of De Poel in Amstelveen.

The Museumhuis dates back to 1799 and is considered a heritage site. Visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee in Jan’s living room. Museum Cobra focuses on the art and ideas of the Cobra movement. Those who prefer to view art along a route can include the Buitenkunstroute Centrum: it passes outstanding and unique works of art in the center and the old village of Amstelveen.

Routes, Water, and Landscape

Amsterdamse Bos has a total of 200 kilometers of cycling, hiking, and horseback riding trails. The network caters to a range of interests in outdoor activities. There is also a designated natural-water swimming area at the Grote Vijver, as well as two children’s pools. The routes and swimming areas offer distinct options when planning a trip.

The focus in Middelpolder is on the polder landscape and birdwatching. There are good hiking trails and some muddy paths to explore the landscape. Numerous birds stay and settle in the area, making it suitable for birdwatching. If you plan to hike here, bear in mind that the route types vary.

De Braak park offers another way to explore Amstelveen’s landscape history. Chris Broerse designed the park in 1938; De Braak became the Netherlands’ first true heempark. This historical context distinguishes the park from the specific trails and water-based activities in Amsterdamse Bos and Middelpolder.

Vineyard and Goat Farm

The Amsteltuin vineyard covers more than one hectare and has over 3,500 vines from five grape varieties: Solaris, Johanniter, Souvignier Gris, Pinotin, and Cabernet Cortis.

Geitenboerderij Ridammerhoeve is located in Amsterdamse Bos. It has nearly 100 dairy goats, around 60 lambs, laying hens and chicks, pigs, cows and a calf, a horse, and a pony. Children can feed the animals and bottle-feed the young goats. The farm shop sells fresh raw goat’s milk, cheese, yogurt, quark, buttermilk, butter, and goat’s milk ice cream. There are several distinct reasons to visit this place: meeting the animals, activities for children, and products from the farm shop are each separate aspects of a stay in Amstelveen.

For the broader travel overview: Amstelveen.