Castles & gardens Amsterdam 2017

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Public Transport Map

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5 51 170 172 174 Amsterdam Central Station

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Amsterdam City

Hoofddorp Hoofddorp 300 340

142 170 172 174 300 Amstelveen Bus station

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Duivendrecht

Amstelveen Centrum

Weesp

Flora Holland

Zwarteweg

Leisure Lakes

Westeinderplassen

340 172

Kudelstaart 172

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110

Gooimeer

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Fortress Stretch

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108 Bus station

Naarden 

Westwalstraat

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106 206

Huizen

320

120

Historical River Estates

Leisure Lakes

110

106 110 Weesp

Rundervreugd

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A 110

320

105 110 D Naarden-Bussum

Ankeveense

Bussum

plassen

Bussum-Zuid

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Nederhorst den Berg

142 170 174 340 Bus station

 5 min

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HAVEN VAN 'T GOOI

Vinkeveense plassen

142 174

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F

120

105 206

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Hilversum

Mijdrecht

Leisure Lakes

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Wilnis

Loosdrechtse plassen

Nieuw Loosdrecht

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Bus stop

Centrum

Railway

120 Breukelen

Breukelen

with its restaurants and cosy terraces.

• Visit the Old city harbour, the Botter yard and historical fishing botters.

• Huizen offers fine hotels and b-and-b

accommodations and there are all kinds of activities and events.

• And free parking!

 Pampus, isle of Amsterdam  Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot  Dutch Fortress Museum  Museum Weesp  Nautical Quarter Huizen  Historical Garden Aalsmeer  Fort Uitermeer  Cobra Museum  Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Forest)  Castle-Museum Sypesteyn  Singer Museum Laren

8 min

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• Experience the charming Nautical Quarter

Highlights

Wilnis

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past historic farms and fishing cottages.

A VVV Naarden (www.vvvnaarden.nl) B VVV Weesp (www.welkominweesp.nl) C VVV Aalsmeer (www.vvvaalsmeer.nl) D VVV Bussum (www.vvvbussum.nl) E VVV Hilversum (www.vvvhilversum.nl) F VVV Wijdemeren (www.vvvwijdemeren.nl) G VVV Huizen (www.vvvhuizen.nl)

104 105 108 206 320

Hilversum

• The hiking route Huizer Milk maid takes you

Central Station or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol www.iamsterdam.com/area

320

Hilversum Mediapark

shopping center and the Huizer museum.

I amsterdam Visitor Centre

Natuurmonumenten

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• Come enjoy the old village, the charming

Visitor Information Centres

Laren

Brink

Uithoorn Amstelplein 170

327 328 Bus station ‘t Oor

Muiden

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Ouderkerk a/d Amstel

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Take the train from Amsterdam Central Station to Naarden-Bussum (towards Amersfoort Vathorst or Zwolle via Weesp, platform 11). From Naarden-Bussum, take bus 110/151 to Naarden (50 mins total). Walk around this preserved fortified town and visit the Dutch Fortress Museum . From Naarden, take bus 110 or 602 or cycle to Muiden. A lovely walk through the historic centre of Muiden brings you to the medieval Muiderslot Castle  (free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card). From Muiden, take bus 110 to Weesp. Rent a bike at the bus/ train station (Fietspoint, €12.50) and follow the River Vecht.

The riverbank offers unimpeded views of the imposing castles (such as those at Breukelen and Oud-Zuylen), ornate country estates and accompanying tearooms. Don’t forget to stop by at Fort Uitermeer . Next to the fort you’ll find a lovely restaurant – the perfect stop for a refreshing drink or good meal. To discover all the forts and castles in this area, download the English app with free audio tour (search for ‘Layar’ and then ‘Fortenland’ in the app store). From Weesp, trains back to Amsterdam run every 15 minutes.

See www.vvvgooivecht.nl for cycle routes.

327 328

Almere Marina Muiderzand

300 Ouderkerk a/d Amstel

Amstel River Country Side 142 170 174

Forts and Country Estates (full day)

Brandweerkazerne

300 328 120 A’dam Bijlmer ArenA

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172

322 Almere Centrum

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110

340

Aalsmeer

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Muiden, P+R Terrein

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Amstelveen

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320 322 327 328

Amsterdam Zuid

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Pampus

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Schiphol Airport

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320 322 327 Amsterdam Amstel

Amsterdamse Bos 

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Almere

Almere Centrum

IJburg 5

142 170 172 174

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142 Elandsgracht Bus station

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Advertentie-3.pdf 1 2/28/2017 12:20:29 PM

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AM-CastlesGardens.indd 1

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MIKE BINK©

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 Metropolitan Area has to offer! Pick up yours 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 or bus!)

Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot

Only 15 minutes from Amsterdam

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Find more information and a map of all included routes on: www.iamsterdam.com/area

Daytrips

Amstelland (full day)

Fortress Stretch (1/2 day or full day) Take a tram, train or the metro from Amsterdam Central Station to Amsterdam Amstel. From there, buses 320 and 322 run regularly to the P+R Terrein stop in Muiden (30 mins). A lovely walk through the historic centre of Muiden brings you to the medieval Muiderslot Castle  (free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card) (www.muiderslot.nl). If you follow the canal towards Muiden, you will see the ferry to Pampus Island (www.pampus.nl) on your right after about 500 metres (25% discount with your I amsterdam City Card). The island and abandoned fort have a mysterious air and make for an interesting day out for visitors of all ages.

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Leisure Lakes (1/2 day and full day) Set the alarm because it's time to discover the wonderful world of flowers at the FloraHolland flower auction (www.floraholland.com). The earlier you get here, the more you’ll see (visit before 9 AM). Experience the hustle and bustle of the auction floor, watch traders bidding against the clock and be amazed at the quantity of beautiful blooms traded daily from more than 10 countries.

Another ferry (25% discount with your I amsterdam City Card) (www.amsterdamboatexcursion.com) runs directly from Pampus Island  to Amsterdam IJburg, from where you can take tram 26 back to Amsterdam Central Station (April–October).

Take bus 172 from Amsterdam Central Station (1 hour, direct connection). After your visit, take bus 172 again to the Hortensiaplein stop. From here you can walk to Westeinder Rondvaart (20 mins total), a company that operates boat tours on the Aalsmeer lakes. You’ll float past countless islands teeming with flora and fauna.

www.vvvgooivecht.nl

www.westeinderrondvaart.nl

Rent a bike from one of Amsterdam’s many bike rental companies and head south towards Amstelveen and the beautiful Amsterdamse Bos  (Amsterdam Forest). You can also rent bikes at the entrance to the Amsterdamse Bos, as well as canoes for a view of the forest from the water.

In Amstelveen, pay a visit to the famous Cobra Museum  (www.cobra-museum.nl) or the smaller Jan van der Togt Museum (www.jvdtogt.nl). Continue on to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, a picturesque village established in the 12th century on the River Amstel. The banks of the Amstel are bustling with fantastic cafés and restaurants with sunny waterside terraces.

After you’ve refuelled, visit the Netherlands’ oldest Jewish cemetery, Beth Haim.

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The route back to Amsterdam is lovely; in no time at all you’ll be cycling past grazing cows and elegant country houses.

Brochures of the different cycle routes are available in the I amsterdam Visitor Centre at Stationsplein.

www.vvvaalsmeer.nl

Weesp is often called ‘Small Amsterdam’ for it’s well preserved historic centre with old canals and monuments. This town is a hidden secret that hosts plenty good shops and restaurants. At the heart of it all, the 18th century town hall houses a remarkable museum.

Fortress Stretch Home to many old castles, fortified towns and ruins, the picturesque fortress stretch – a UNESCO World Heritage site – offers a fascinating glimpse into medieval times.

Leisure Lakes

Amstel River Countryside

Just outside Amsterdam you’ll find a number of lakes perfect for a day of fun on the water. Rent a sailing boat, electric boat, canoe or surfboard to explore, enjoy and relax.

Amsterdam’s hinterland is quiet, green and unspoilt – no wonder it was prime real estate for wealthy Golden Age merchants looking to escape the city. Retrace their footsteps along the River Amstel.

Muiden

Amstelveen

The fortified town of Muiden is located near the IJmeer, just 20 minutes from Amsterdam. Dating back to the 10th century, it is now known for its peaceful streets, cosy cafés and historic harbour and landmarks.

There’s plenty to see and do in leafy Amstelveen – from museums to shopping, theatre to sports. Amstelveen is home to one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, the Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Forest), as well as the family-friendly Amstelpark. Amstelveen is also well known for its heemparken, parks dedicated to native flora and recognised as national monuments. The parks are well worth a visit – especially in the spring. It’s an idyllic bike ride along the River Amstel from the centre of Amsterdam.

The Cobra Museum of Modern Art is home to a collection of key works by artists from the avant-garde CoBrA art movement. It presents interesting exhibitions from this unique collection as well as temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. Situated in Amstelveen's ‘Old Village’ is Museum Jan van der Togt, which holds a superb collection of modern glass sculptures and fine art.

Free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card to the Cobra Museum of Modern Arts. www.cobra-museum.nl TIP: At the beginning of April, the many cherry trees in the Amsterdamse Bos blossom, marking the return of spring.

Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot

Free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card www.muiderslot.nl

Take a trip south of the city and enjoy the grandeur and nature of the historical river estates that dot the banks of the River Vecht.

The River Vecht that winds between Amsterdam and Utrecht is a wonderful setting for a boat trip or bike ride. 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!

Country Houses

Castle-Museum Sypesteyn

It’s easy to imagine you have been transported back to the 17th or 18th century as you pass one grand country estate after the next. The banks of the River Amstel were favoured by wealthy Golden Age merchants looking to escape the bustle of Amsterdam. A few of these magnificent buildings have been preserved – including the privately owned Oostermeer and the fully restored 350-year-old Wester Amstel, which hosts regular exhibitions and concerts and whose gardens are open to the public.

The aristocrat C.H.C.A. (Henri) van Sypesteyn (1857-1937) dreamed of a grand monument to his family, of which he was the last male descendant. That dream became reality: between 1912-1927 he designed and built Castle-Museum Sypesteyn. The museum features portraits of family members and a varied collection of weapons, porcelain, glass, silver, statues, clocks and other items. The grounds with garden and park are also a pleasant place to take a stroll. A drink and light meal on the terrace or in the castle itself are the perfect way to end a visit. www.sypesteyn.nl

Loosdrecht Lakes

Naarden Naarden is one of the most remarkable examples of a preserved fortified town. From the air, the town’s unique layout resembles a gigantic snowflake, comprised of six bastions, a double rampart and a double ring of canals. The history of Naarden is explained at the fascinating Dutch Fortress Museum, which features canons, weapons, uniforms and an audio-visual presentation. Experience how the soldiers protected Amsterdam and its surroundings from enemies from the Far East and explore the dark corners of the fortress, where the soldiers once fought, lived and slept.

The Loosdrechtse Plassen (Loosdrecht Lakes) are particularly suitable for water sports: sailing, rowing, canoeing, waterskiing and speedboating are all possible. If taking a boat out yourself is not your thing, than join an excursion with a speedboat or sailing boat or just relax on a terrace and admire the view from dry land.

See www.vvvgooivecht.nl or www.vvvwijdemeren.nl for rental options.

Greenline

River Vecht by Boat

Explore the Amsterdam area's "Green Lung" with this new hop-on, hop-off excursion. Nature, history, art and culture converge in this authentic slice of the Dutch countryside, where you'll find windmills, tulips and plenty of traditional Dutch treats.

Discover the wonderful lakes around Amsterdam and the River Vecht lined with the historical estates. Take a guided boat trip that includes lunch and dinner. A luxury bus takes you from Amsterdam to the Loosdrecht Lakes (www.rederijwolfrat.nl). Or combine biking and boating on the River Vecht with De Fietsboot (the bike boat). You can hop on and hop off as you please to continue by bike.

13 April through late November.

Pick-up at Museumplein. Tickets (€25) & schedule: www.greenline.amsterdam

Free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card www.vestingmuseum.nl

www.defietsboot.nl

Uithoorn Ouderkerk aan de Amstel Nestled in a green crook of the Amstel river between Amsterdam's two southern arms is the medieval village of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. A picturesque bike or watertaxi ride whisks visitors away on a foodie adventure or a historical trip back in time.

Weesp A grand town hall, windmills, forts and the River Vecht adorn the fortified town of Weesp. The historic centre boasts almost 200 monuments and the town hall houses a small museum for one of its oldest industries: porcelain.

For more information visit www.amstelgoed.nl.

Just to the south of Amsterdam is Uithoorn, with its charming Thamerkerk church from 1834 right on the River Amstel.

The Fort aan de Drecht, completely renovated in 2000 and part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, can also be seen here. The more-than-a-century-old former military installation is located on the edge of Uithoorn. A variety of walking and cycling routes have been marked out in Amstelland (the area around the River Amstel), or discover the area from the River Amstel itself.

Brink, te Laren, Avond, Gustave Franciscus de Smet ©

Muiden is also home to the grand Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot – built around 1285 – which looms over the mouth of the River Vecht. Take a tour through the impressive knight’s hall, towers, dungeon and armoury or dress up like a real knight and try your hand at jousting. The castle’s theme in 2017 is 'Muiderslot, the secret key of Amsterdam'. A great day of fun for the whole family.

Historical River Estates

Singer Museum Laren Laren became one of the centres of Dutch art at the end of the 19th century after famous painter Jozef Israëls had discovered the quiet beauty of this picture-perfect village and its surroundings. Fellow artists followed suit, including Anton Mauve, Albert Neuhuys and Hein Kever. The American businessman and art lover William Henry Singer built a large mansion in the centre of Laren in 1911, which became the famous Singer Museum after the Second World War, proudly displaying the works of many of the artists of the Laren School of Painting. A special exhibition dedicated to Cuban art, Cuban Art Now, can be seen from May 23 till September 24.

www.aemstelboating.nl

www.museumweesp.nl

Huizen Huizen – literally, Houses – was originally an agricultural village, about two kilometres from the sea. It later expanded to become a coastal town, boasting the IJsselmeer’s most vibrant fishing industry. In recent years Huizen has developed into a modern town bordering the Gooimeer (Gooi Lake), with several marinas and a lively historic centre offering great shopping and the medieval Dutch Reformed Church. Built around the Oude Haven – Old Harbour – where you can still see beautiful flat boats, some of them over 100 years old, Huizen’s Nautical Quarter includes a lovely hotel, restaurants and convivial cafés.

Free entrance with your I amsterdam City Card. www.singerlaren.nl

www.vvvhuizen.nl

Pampus, Isle of Amsterdam Once built to defend the capital, now a unique fortress island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pampus offers you a 40-minute Xperience trip through the abandoned fortress, a black light scavenger hunt for children, an audio tour in English or German sharing the secrets of 400 years of history, a cozy restaurant and all over the island are interesting historical artefacts to discover. Explore freely and find them all!

To get to Pampus, catch the ferry from Muiden or Amsterdam.

25% discount with your I amsterdam City Card. www.pampus.nl TIP: travel by boat from Amsterdam IJburg to Pampus Island and Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot and get a 25% discount with your I amsterdam City Card. Boats run Tuesday–Sunday 1 April–29 October from IJburg (take tram 26 from Amsterdam Central Station to the Pampuslaan stop). www.amsterdamtouristferry.com

Westeinderplassen & Water Tower Defence Line of Amsterdam Both of these towns are fantastic starting points for exploring De Stelling van Amsterdam (the Defence Line of Amsterdam), a 135-kilometre-long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam that once protected the city from invaders. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1996. Special bike routes (in English) take you past the most beautiful highlights, among them Fort Pampus, Fort aan de Ossenmarkt, Fort Uitermeer and Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot (April–October). www.defencelineamsterdam.com

In Aalsmeer, the Westeinderplassen (West End Lakes) offer plenty of watersport options from swimming to sailing lessons and boat rentals. Everyone is welcome to moor their boat at Starteiland (Start Island). The other small islands still grow strawberries and lilacs – just as they did long ago. This area is famous for its horticultural industry. You can discover this from the water (www.westeinderrondvaart.nl) or at the Historical Garden (www.historischetuinaalsmeer.nl).

The 50-metre-high, Art Deco water tower is one of Aalsmeer’s showpieces. At the foot of the tower, restaurant Westeinder Paviljoen offers a breathtaking view of the lake and a perfect surf break.

Dining on the Amstel

Castle Nyenrode

The banks of the Amstel are lined with fantastic restaurants and cafés with sunny waterside terraces where you can pause to refuel. They include Brasserie Paardenburg, steakhouse Loetje and Lute, an ultra-modern restaurant on the site of a former explosives factory.

Built in 1290 and located in Breukelen, the namesake of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Castle Nyenrode was destroyed in 1481 and in 1511 but was rebuilt as a country retreat in the 1630s in the Dutch Renaissance style. The castle currently houses a private university but can be viewed from the river. The adjacent park has a rose garden, old lime trees, a deer park and pheasantry.

www.vvvgooivecht.nl www.amstelgoed.nl

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