Discover the peat meadow area of Landelijk Noord on this 33 km cycling route. Learn about land subsidence, regional products, and future-proof farming. Start at Amsterdam Noord metro station.
Bicycle route Future-proof farmers in Amsterdam North
Just a five-minute bike ride from the bustling capital lies a world of greenery, silence, and space. This 33-kilometer cycle route takes you through the peat meadow area of Landelijk Noord – and shows you what is needed to preserve this unique landscape for the future.
Directions
You start at Amsterdam Noord metro station, the terminus of the Amsterdam North-South Line. As soon as you leave the city behind, the view changes rapidly. You cycle past vast meadows filled with grazing cows and sheep. Ditches glistening in the sunlight crisscross the flat landscape. The church towers of Zunderdorp, Ransdorp, and Holysloot rise above the low polder landscape.
Along the way, you cycle past dairy farms, organic farms, and farm shops. You smell the grass, hear the birds, and see with your own eyes the structure of the peat meadow landscape. Via junctions 39, 40, 75, 78, 44, 46, 45, 43, and 42, you make a loop through the polders. Halfway through the route, you pass Holysloot – you can cross there on a small ferry. Please note: check the ferry's operating times in advance.
On the way back, cycle past Schellingwoude and ride back leisurely towards Amsterdam Noord. Get back on the metro at Noord metro station.
Highlights along the way
- Jersey Ice Cream Parlor – Delicious artisanal farm ice cream made from fresh milk from Jersey cows, straight from the pasture next to you.
- Organic Milk Tap Disseldorp – Tap daily fresh organic farm milk yourself here, directly from the producer.
- Farm Shop Arken AE – A real farm shop with fresh dairy, eggs, vegetables, and homemade products from local sources.
- De Breedijkhoeve – A 100-hectare organic farm actively engaged in meadow bird management and sustainable livestock farming.
- Landmarkt Schellingwoude – A farmers' market right on the water, with fresh produce from the farmer, market gardener, butcher, and baker.
Background story: farmers on peat
The peat meadow landscape of Landelijk Noord has existed since the Middle Ages. In the past, peat was cut for turf; now, cows and sheep graze there. However, the peat is subsiding. If the soil becomes too dry, the peat oxidizes and emits CO2—more than two million car exhausts combined. Farmers like Thom Huitema and the Zant family are working with Water, Land en Dijken on solutions: ditch infiltration, pressure drains, and delayed mowing for meadow birds. They demonstrate that nature and agriculture coexist perfectly.
Practical information
- Distance: 33 km (recreational cycle route, loop)
- Start and end point: Metro Station Noord, Amsterdam (1121)
- Accessibility by public transport: Take the metro (North-South Line, Line 52) to Amsterdam Noord station. Excellent accessibility from the center of Amsterdam. No car needed!
- Signposting: Via cycle nodes 39 – 40 – 75 – 78 – 44 – 46 – 45 – 43 – 42 – 40
- Download GPX: Available via the route page on laagholland.com
- Dogs: Allowed, keep them on a leash at farmyards and pastures
- Accessibility: Predominantly flat cycle path, suitable for regular bicycles and e-bikes
- Please note – Holysloot Ferry: The ferry at Holysloot operates on limited hours. Check the opening times before departure. Is the ferry not running? Then cycle from junction 76 to junction 42 as an alternative.
- Seasonal tip: Meadow birds are most active during the breeding season (March–June). Ideal for spotting calling lapwings, black-tailed godwits, and redshanks!
- Shops: Several regional product shops are located a short distance from the route. Keep an eye on current opening times.
This route lets you taste and experience how farmers in North Holland are working on a future-proof peat meadow landscape.
