Cycling from Amsterdam, short 4-day trip

Arrival Amsterdam

If you arrive early, you can explore the different neighbourhoods of Amsterdam by public transport or on foot. There are fun shopping streets, museums, squares to while away your time, restaurants… enough to fill your day.

Roundtrip Volendam (78 km) or Haarlem (46 km)

Choose one of our four routes. For example the route to Marken, Volendam and Edam on the coast of what used to be Zuiderzee sea. The former two are old fishing villages, the latter shipped out salty, round, polder cheeses to the rest of the world. This route takes you through picture-postcard scenery. Or choose a shorter loop and cycle to the elegant city of Haarlem and back in 46 kilometers.

Roundtrip Muiden (56 km) or Zaandam (45 km)

Choose another of our four routes. The route to Muiden Castle is 63 km long. We have a bit of a military theme going here. The town of Naarden is a good example of a star-shaped fortification (have a peek on google maps!). It’s very well preserved, complete with walls and a moat. Next up is the village of Muiden, at the mouth of the River Vecht. Although very picturesque in itself, it is best known for its small moated castle built around 1280 - well worth a visit!

The last of our four routes takes you to Zaandam and back. The area around the River Zaan was very early to industrialize thanks to wind power. Hundreds of sawmills, for example, contributed in a big way to the building of the enormous shipping fleet that brought Amsterdam prosperity. This is a fantastic route for those interested in industrial heritage! In addition to quaint old factories and warehouses lining the river, look forward to the beautiful windmills at Zaanse Schans that continue to produce mustard, paint and oil to this day. Check out the many home movies on youtube for a foretaste of Zaanse Schans. As the sun sets, back in Amsterdam, you could go for a leisurely stroll through the romantic canal district.

Return Home

After breakfast, it’s time to pack your bags. There are big lockers at the train station where you can leave your luggage to continue your explorations for another couple of hours, perhaps.