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Outdoor Adventures Nearby

Amsterdammers head out to trails and waterways around the city for weekend escapes in mid-July.

By Amsterdam Things-to-do Desk · Published 25 July 2026

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This article was written by AI from the linked sources and was not reviewed by a journalist before publishing. The Daily Amsterdam is part of The Daily Network and follows our reasonable editorial care.

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Residents in Amsterdam have increased visits to nearby parks and trails since the start of July, with many choosing routes that stay within a short train or bike ride from the city centre.

Summer temperatures and longer daylight hours push people outdoors now, as global headlines on conflicts and economic pressures make short local trips more practical than longer holidays abroad.

The Amsterdamse Bos south of the ring road offers 1,000 hectares of paths for walking and cycling, while the Waterland area north of the IJ provides flat polder routes popular with day-trippers from Centraal Station.

Routes through the Bos and Waterland

Local cycling groups such as Fietsclub Amsterdam organise weekly group rides that start at the entrance near Van Nijenrodeweg and loop through the Bos on marked gravel tracks. The same club lists a separate Saturday route that takes riders across the ferry to Waterland, passing the village of Broek in Waterland and returning via the Noordhollandsch Kanaal.

City records show park attendance rose by 18 percent in the first week of July 2025 compared with the same period the year before, with the Bos recording 42,000 visitors on the busiest Sunday. Standard bike rental at MacBike outlets near Centraal Station costs 15 euros for a full day, including a lock and map of the regional routes.

Practical steps for this weekend

Check the current ferry timetable on the GVB site before heading to Waterland, as services run every 15 minutes from 7am on Saturdays. Bring water and a light jacket, since forecasts for the coming days show a chance of showers after 4pm. Tickets for the ferry remain free for pedestrians and cyclists.

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