Discover the heart of Amsterdam

What do tourists so often notice about the Dutch? Right, that we like cycling so much. Even a big city like Amsterdam has many kilometers of cycle paths. Try that in other world cities. This cycle route takes you through the heart of Amsterdam. A gem of a route through our beautiful capital. You will of course see plenty of beautiful historic buildings, especially on the Canal Belt. But the route will also surprise you with its green character! After you leave the Grachtengordel you will soon enter the Vondelpark, which borders the stately Old South. A busy, but pleasant park that was still a peat meadow area in the middle of the nineteenth century. In 1865 the first part of the park, laid out in English landscape style, was opened. As early as 1893, people were allowed to cycle through the park, albeit initially only in the morning hours. Because it was a private park, bicycles without lights could not be fined. You reach the Amsterdamse Bos via the banks of the Nieuwe Meer. Here you will find a mix of rolling meadows with tufts of trees and dense forest plots. The beautiful water features, bridges and narrow winding paths have created a special landscape here where it is pleasant to cycle. From the Amsterdamse Bos you drive into Het Kleine Loopveld, a long but narrow park-like green strip in the Buitenveldert district. In the Amstelpark you will pass the Riekermolen, a polder mill dating from 1636. This mill was originally located near the village of Sloten. In 1956 it had to disappear for the enlargement of the Nieuwe Meer, after which it moved to its current location in 1961. Via the course of the Amstel you drive into the Diamantbuurt, a neighborhood rich in historic buildings. At the end of the Diamantstraat you will pass the monumental building of Diamantslijperij Asscher, among other things. The Cullinan, the largest rough diamond ever found, was cut here at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Cullinan's diamonds were then incorporated into the British Crown Jewels. At the other end of this street, Gerard Reve lived in his youth. His book De Avonden takes place in this house at Schilderskade 66. The route starts and ends at Yellow Bike in the heart of Amsterdam. At Yellow Bike you can rent the famous bright yellow bicycles from a solid Dutch manufacturer. The company also has children's bicycles and front and rear seats. Yellow Bike is just a three-minute walk from Central Station, making it an ideal starting location. For a complete day out you can book an arrangement, for example combining a bike ride with a meal (lunch or dinner) and a walk or boat trip. Groups of 8 or more can put together their own package.