Public Transport Map Visitor Centres & Highlights
I amsterdam Visitor Centre Central Station or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol iamsterdam.com/area A VVV Naarden (vvvnaarden.nl) B VVV Weesp (welkominweesp.nl) C VVV Gooi & Vecht (vvvgooivecht.nl/en) D VVV Hilversum (vvvhilversum.nl) E VVV Wijdemeren (vvvwijdemeren.nl) F VVV Huizen (vvvhuizen.nl)
Highlights Fort Island Pampus Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot Dutch Fortress Museum Museum Weesp Nautical Quarter, Huizen Aalsmeer Historical Gardens Fort Uitermeer Cobra Museum of Modern Art B Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Forest) F Castle-Museum Sypesteyn Singer Laren Museum Amstelveen Ouderkerk aan de Amstel Ronde Hoep cycle route A
C
D E Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket (ARTT)
Get out of Amsterdam with the ARTT, which grants you unlimited travel on the city’s public transportation and beyond. From flower auctions and windmills to beaches and medieval castles, ARTT is the easiest and most economical way to explore everything the greater Amsterdam Area has to offer! Pick yours up at an I amsterdam Visitor Centre, participating public transport company ticket counter, or selected hotel or campsite. (Don’t forget to check in and out whenever you get on or off a train, tram, metro or bus!)
ARTT tickets are valid on any bus, tram, metro and train services offered by GVB, Connexxion, EBS and NS (including night buses) from 00:00 until 04:00 the following day. 1-day tickets are €19.50, 2-day tickets €28 and 3-day tickets €36.50. Find more information and a map of all included routes on: iamsterdam.com/area
Fortress Stretch River Escape
Half day or full day Half day or full day
Home to old castles, fortified towns and ruins, Amsterdam’s Did you know that Amsterdam was once built on a series of picturesque fortress stretch offers a glimpse into medieval dams and dykes on the Amstel River? Follow this historic times. and majestic river as it winds its way south past lush green countryside, majestic manors and quaint villages. START your trip at Amsterdam Amstel Station. From there, buses 320 run regularly to the town of Muiden (P+R Terrein stop, RENT A BIKE from one of Amsterdam’s many bike rental 30© minutes). Rent an e-bike (credit card required) at the bus stop companies. or walk through the historic old centre of Muiden to the medieval Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot (muiderslot.nl; free FIND the Amstel River (you can pick it up at Waterlooplein) and entranceMIKE BINK with your I amsterdam City Card). cycle south on the bike paths along the river. You will pass the stately Hermitage Amsterdam museum, the iconic Magere Brug
VISITphoto: Mike Bink the spectacular 13th-century castle, which towers over the (Skinny Bridge) and the beautiful Royal Theatre Carré as you mouth of the picturesque River Vecht. Take a tour through the leave the city. knight’s hall, towers, dungeon and armoury, enjoy the fantastic views over the countryside from the ramparts, and stroll BREAK FOR LUNCH in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, a picturesque outdoors through the beautiful herb and vegetable gardens. 12th-century village full of bustling cafés with sunny terraces, and exceptional restaurants. After lunch, stroll around the village HOP ON the ferry to Fort Island Pampus (follow the canal back and admire its churches, windmills and ancient monuments. towards Muiden to find the terminal; 25% discount with your I amsterdam City Card). Fort Pampus was part of the Defence CYCLE south until you reach the beautiful Ronde Hoep polder, Line of Amsterdam in the 19th century and is currently a where Golden Age artists painted nature scenes. Today it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site (pampus.nl). important bird sanctuary and a popular bicycle route.
KICK BACK and enjoy lunch, coffee and cake at the Pampus If you’re not tired yet, continue along the river to Fort aan de Pavilion. The terrace offers marvellous views of the passing Drecht, part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. From Friday- parade of boats. Sunday, hungry bikers can enjoy pancakes in the fort.
RETURN via another ferry that runs directly from Pampus Island RETURN to Amsterdam via the cycle paths, with the city on your to Amsterdam IJburg (amsterdamboatexcursion.com; horizon at the river’s every twist and turn. April-October; 25% discount with your I amsterdam City Card). From IJburg, take tram 26 back to Amsterdam Central Station. iamsterdam.com/routes Fortress Leisure Amstel Historical Stretch photo: Mike Bink Lakes River River Countryside Estates
Home to many old Just outside Amsterdam’s hinterland castles, fortified Amsterdam you’ll find is quiet, green and Take a trip south of towns and ruins, the a number of lakes unspoilt – no wonder it the city to enjoy the picturesque fortress perfect for a day of was prime real estate lush greenery and stretch – a UNESCO fun on – and in – the for wealthy Golden architectural grandeur World Heritage Site water. Rent a sailboat, Age merchants looking of the historical river – offers a fascinating electric boat, canoe or to escape the city. estates that dot the glimpse into medieval surfboard to explore, Retrace their footsteps banks of the River times. enjoy and relax. along the Amstel River. Vecht.
The River Vecht winds between Amsterdam and Utrecht Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot Naarden & Dutch Fortress Museum Loosdrecht Lakes Westeinder Lakes & Water Tower Amstelveen Ouderkerk aan de Amstel and is a wonderful setting for a boat trip or bike ride from Castle-Museum Sypesteyn Muiden or Weesp. Both offer unimpeded views of the imposing castles, country houses and accompanying tearooms. Wealthy Golden Age merchants once spent their summer months here. The holidaymakers ‘only’ needed five to seven hours to reach their rural residences. Thankfully, it’s much quicker today!
River Vecht by boat & bike
The aristocrat C.H.C.A. (Henri) van Sypesteyn dreamed of a grand monument to his family, of which he was the last male
photo: Matthijs Immink descendant. That dream became reality: between 1912-1927 he designed and built Castle-Museum Sypesteyn. The There’s plenty to see and do in leafy Amstelveen – from museum features portraits of family members and a varied museums to shopping, theatre to sports. Amstelveen is home to Featuring some of Amsterdam’s most breathtaking rural views, collection of weapons, porcelain, glass, silver, statues, clocks The Loosdrechtse Plassen (Loosdrecht Lakes) are perfect for one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, the Amsterdamse historical Ouderkerk aan de Amstel is now hip and happening. and other items. The grounds, which feature gardens and a water sports: sailing, rowing, canoeing, waterskiing and Bos (Amsterdam Forest). Amstelveen is also well known for its It’s just an idyllic bike ride along the Amstel River from the park, are also a pleasant place to take a stroll. speedboating are all possible here. If taking a boat out yourself heemparken, wildlife gardens dedicated to native flora and centre of Amsterdam. This medieval village is separated from sypesteyn.nl Naarden is one of the most remarkable examples of a is not your thing, then join a sailboat or speedboat excursion recognised as national monuments. The parks are well worth a the surrounding cities of Amsterdam and Amstelveen by the preserved fortified town. From the air, the town’s unique layout or just relax on a terrace and admire the view from dry land. visit, especially in the spring. The Cobra Museum of Modern Art Ronde Hoep nature reserve and photo-ready fields dotted with resembles a gigantic snowflake, comprised of six bastions, a See vvvgooivecht.nl for rental options. is home to a collection of key works by artists from the windmills and stately riverside homes. It's the ideal destination double rampart and a double ring of canals. The history of avant-garde CoBrA art movement. It presents interesting when you’re looking for a local (bike) trip that offers a little bit Singer Laren Museum Naarden is explained at the fascinating Dutch Fortress exhibitions from this unique collection as well as temporary of everything. Museum, which features canons, weapons, uniforms and an Town exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. Also situated in amstelgoed.nl Why choose between land and water when exploring the audio-visual presentation. Experience how the soldiers Huizen Amstelveen‘s ‘Old Village’ is Museum Jan van der Togt, which lovely country estates of the River Vecht? De Fietsboot (the protected Amsterdam and its surroundings from enemies from holds a superb collection of modern glass sculptures and fine Bike Boat) lets you hop on and off and continue by bike as you Muiden is home to the grand Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot the Far East, and explore the dark corners of the fortress, art. Amstelveen is also home to two-Michelin-star restaurant Aan Restaurants & Cafés please! – built around 1285 – which looms over the mouth of the where the soldiers once fought, lived and slept. de Poel at the Amstelveen entrance of the Amsterdam Forest. defietsboot.nl River Vecht. Take a tour through the impressive knight’s hall, towers, dungeon and armoury or dress up like a real knight Free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card In Aalsmeer, the Westeinderplassen (Westeinder Lakes) offer Free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card to the Cobra Museum TIP: For boat trips and rentals, check vvvgooivecht.nl/en and try your hand at jousting. A great day of fun for the whole vestingmuseum.nl plenty of water sports, from swimming to sailing lessons and of Modern Art. family. vvvnaarden.nl boat rentals. Everyone is welcome to moor their boat at cobra-museum.nl Starteiland (Start Island). The area is famous for its horticultural 1 April-31 October: open daily; 1 November-31 March: weekends only industry, and the small islands still grow strawberries and lilacs Nyenrode Castle Free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card Town – just as they did long ago. You can discover this from the muiderslot.nl Muiden water or at the Historical Garden (10 April-late October).The Wildlife Gardens & Amsterdam Forest vvvgooivecht.nl/en 50-metre-high, Art Deco water tower is one of Aalsmeer’s Besides Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot, the fortified town of showpieces. At the foot of the tower, you’ll find Westeinder Muiden offers a cosy harbour with historical flat boats and Paviljoen restaurant, which offers a breathtaking view of the
lovely terraces. Time seems to pass more slowly on the banks lake and is a perfect spot for a surf break. photo: Gemeente Amstelveen Brink, te Laren, Avond, Avond, Brink, te Laren, Gustave Franciscus de Smet © Fort Island Pampus near the lock. historischetuinaalsmeer.nl The banks of the Amstel River are lined with fantastic Town restaurants and cafés with waterside terraces to refuel. Both The town of Laren was one of the centres of Dutch art at the Weesp sides of the river feature some of the region’s top dining spots, end of the 19th century, after famous painter Jozef Israëls Huizen – literally ’Houses’ – was originally an agricultural village Day Trip such as Ron Gastrobar Indonesia, steakhouse Loetje aan de discovered the quiet beauty of this picture-perfect village and Weesp is a charming town, only 15 minutes by train from about two kilometres from the sea. It later expanded to Amstel, Brasserie Paardenburg and restaurant Lute. Local its surroundings. Fellow artists followed suit, including Anton Amsterdam Central Station. Because of the many canals, become a coastal town, boasting the IJsselmeer’s most vibrant entrepreneurs are drawing in visitors with new bike routes and Mauve, Albert Neuhuys and Hein Kever. The American painter Weesp looks like a small version of Amsterdam. With a lovely fishing industry. In recent years Huizen has developed into a Get a big dose of nature in the Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam attractions. Every summer a hidden beer garden blooms in the and art collector William Singer and his wife Anna built a large museum situated in an 18th-century town hall, boutiques modern town bordering the Gooimeer (Gooi Lake), with Forest), featuring activity-packed central zones framed by fields along the Amstel River just outside Amsterdam. The villa there in 1911, which Anna turned into a musuem after her and plenty of terraces along the water, Weesp is an ideal several marinas and a lively historic centre offering great quieter forests and fields of rustic flora and fauna. At the winter home of the Amstelbocht ice-skating club (of which husband’s death. It displays their collection and the works of destination if you want to enjoy a typical Dutch town. shopping as well as the medieval Dutch Reformed Church. beginning of April, the forest’s many cherry trees blossom, Grandpa Kek was the chairman for many years) is transformed many of the artists of the Laren School of Painting. Until 7 museumweesp.nl Built around the Oude Haven (Old Harbour) where you can still marking the return of spring. The wildlife gardens (heemparken) in its off-season, serving craft beer with an idyllic Dutch view April 2019, the museum is hosting a special exhibition called welkominweesp.nl see beautiful flat boats, some of them over 100 years old, of Amstelveen offer would-be botanists a treasure trove of rare and tasty local treats. The perfect bike-tour stop. Built in 1290 and located in Breukelen, the namesake of the Out of Office: Art in Business showcasing 75 years of Dutch art Huizen’s Nautical Quarter includes a lovely hotel, restaurants indigenous plants. Explore a typical Dutch polder landscape in kek-bier.nl/en New York City borough of Brooklyn, Nyenrode Castle was from corporate collections. The museum also has a sculpture and convivial cafés. To get there take bus 320 from Amstel De Braak, romantic ‘garden rooms’ in the Dr. Jac P. Thijssepark, destroyed in both 1481 and 1511, but was rebuilt as a country garden that features works by modern Dutch artists. Station. and very rare Molinia meadows in the Dr. Koos Landwehrpark, retreat in the 1630s in the Dutch Renaissance style. The castle Defence Line of Amsterdam vvvhuizen.nl all within walking distance of each other. currently houses a private university but can be viewed from Free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card. Country Houses the river. The adjacent park has a rose garden, old lime trees, a Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-17:00 deer park and pheasantry. singerlaren.nl Uithoorn
Once built to defend the city of Amsterdam, this unique How to get there fortress island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pampus Leisure Lakes Half day and full day offers you a 40-minute Xperience trip through the abandoned Destination How to get there Duration From fortress, a black light scavenger hunt for children, an audio Set the alarm because it’s time to discover the wonderful Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot Bus 320, stop: P+R Terrein, bus 110 to Bussum, 40 mins Amsterdam Amstel Station tour in English or German that shares the secrets of 400 years world of flowers at the Royal FloraHolland flower auction stop: Muiden, Centrum of history, a cosy restaurant and interesting historical artefacts (floraholland.com). The earlier you get here, the more you’ll Naarden old town Train to Naarden-Bussum, bus 110 to Weesp, 45 mins Amsterdam Central Station to discover all over the island. Explore freely and find them see (visit before 09:00). Experience the hustle and bustle of the stop: Westwalstraat all! auction floor, watch traders bidding against the clock and be amazed at the quantity of beautiful blooms traded daily from Singer Laren Museum Train to Naarden-Bussum, bus 109 to Hilversum, 1 hr Amsterdam Central Station To get to Pampus, catch the ferry from Muiden or Amsterdam. more than 10 countries. The banks of the Amstel River were favoured by wealthy stop: Brink 25% discount with your I amsterdam City Card. Both Muiden and Weesp are fantastic starting points for Golden Age merchants looking to escape the bustle of pampus.nl exploring Stelling van Amsterdam (the Defence Line of Take bus 357 from Amsterdam Elandsgracht Bus Station Just to the south of Amsterdam is Uithoorn, with its charming Amsterdam, and it’s easy to imagine you’ve been transported Fort Island Pampus Tram 26 to IJburg, ferry to Pampus 1 hr Amsterdam IJburg (end of tram line Amsterdam), a 135-kilometre ring of fortifications around the (1 hour, direct connection). After your visit, take bus 357 again Thamerkerk church from 1834 right on the Amstel River. The Fort back to the 17th or 18th centuries as you pass one grand (not included in ARTT) 26) TIP: Travel by boat from Amsterdam IJburg or Almere to Fort Island city that once protected it from invaders, and was added to the to the Hortensiaplein stop. From here you can walk to aan de Drecht, completely renovated in 2000 and part of the country estate after another. A few of these magnificent Amstelveen city centre Metro 51, stop: Amstelveen Centrum 30 / 15 mins Amsterdam Central Station / Pampus and Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot and get a 25% discount UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1996. Special bike routes Westeinder Rondvaart (20 mins total), a company that operates Defence Line of Amsterdam, can also be seen here. The buildings have been preserved – including the privately owned Amsterdam Zuid with your I amsterdam City Card. Ferries run Tuesday-Sunday, 6 April- (in English) take you past the most beautiful highlights, among boat tours on the Westeinder Lakes. You’ll float past countless more-than-a-century-old former military installation is located on Oostermeer and the fully restored 350-year-old Wester Amstel, 27 October from IJburg (take tram 26 from Amsterdam Central Station them Fort Island Pampus, Fort aan de Ossenmarkt, Fort islands teeming with flora and fauna. the edge of Uithoorn. A variety of walking and cycling routes which hosts regular exhibitions and concerts and whose to the Pampuslaan stop). Uitermeer and Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot (April-October). westeinderrondvaart.nl have been marked out in Amstelland (the area around the gardens are open to the public. Find up-to-date schedules and fares for trains, buses and more at BooQi products are produced under license and are subject to design registrations and trademarks. © Booqi Media Solutions BV www.booqi.com call +31 (0)20 7163151 NO28112/31 amsterdamtouristferry.com defencelineamsterdam.com Amstel River), or discover the area from the river itself. westeramstel.com 9292.nl/en