Length 10.5 km (6.5 miles), terrain flat, (what else, you're in Holland!)
Amsterdam running routes:
Three parks route
Amsterdam canals run
Sloterpark lake loop
Amstel river trail
Amsterdamse Bos run
For more running routes, see Route List.
Thanks to the creative photographers at Flickr CreativeCommons for the great photos!
Here's a route that will help satisfy your need for some green surroundings while in Amsterdam: it goes through three nice parks west of the city center, Vondelpark, Rembrandtpark and Erasmuspark. It will also follow a few scenic canals and interesting neighborhoods, after beginning right in the heart of the town.
NOTE: see the Destinations Tips page for tips about spending your free time in this great town!
This run starts at the same place as the Amsterdam Canal Run, on the town's main square, Dam, in front of the Royal Palace.
Moody shot of Dam, with royal palace and Niewe Kerk, photo by Emilio Santacoloma |
Now head south along the Singel until you get to the lively crossroads with the tram line, Konigsplein. Turn right to cross the square, and cross the bridge over the next canal, Herengracht.
Houseboats along the Singel, photo by dutchamsterdam.nl |
Run past the theater and then over the bridge for the next canal, where you turn left to run along the water for just 100 meters, past the Holland Casino across the water.
At the next pedestrian/bicycle bridge, turn right to cross busy Stadhouderskade to go through the entrance to Vondelpark, running westwards.
Vondelpark entrance, photo by svacher |
Blue Teahouse café in Vondelpark, photo by dutchamsterdam.nl |
Shady spot in Vondelpark, photo by nicola |
Barbeque time in Vondelpark, photo by Berend B |
You'll cross a drawbridge over another canal (hey, remember, this is Amsterdam), and continue running along Theophile de Bockstraat, in a quiet residential neighborhood.
When you get to Woesduinstraat, a block before the street ends, turn right to run northwards. You'll cross another canal and then keep right to run up a tree-lined path between two canals.
The path takes you under a big street and right into the next park, Rembrandtpark.
This park is also a fairly equal mixture of land and water, with meandering streams and ponds everywhere, and less going on than Vondelpark, probably due to the traffic noise of the freeway along its western edge.
Kids playing in Rembrandtpark, photo by tres rosas amarillas |
After still another street-overpass, you'll enter the northern section of the park, and pass by a swimming pool. You will exit the park at Jan van Galenstraat at the SportPlaza building, a really interesting building, covered in green plants on every side.
Cross the street and then turn right to begin the eastward trip back to the city center.
After three blocks, you'll begin running past the third park, Erasmuspark. When you get to the entrance, turn left to run across this unspectacular little park.
Follow the path to the right side of the park and through the little formal garden. Then turn left to run out the north end of the park at the polar bear statue, crossing two little bridges.
Treeline where you leave Erasmuspark, photo by Natashenka |
Keep running for a few blocks until the street ends at Willem de Zwijgerlaan, with an industrial area ahead, across the next canal.
Turn right on Willem de Zwijgerlaan and run the few blocks into the park-like square, returning to Jan van Galenstraat. Turn left here and head east again towards town.
For the next half-kilometer, the street curves to the right, changes its name, goes through a big square with a roundabout, crosses a canal and then becomes a pleasant street with a canal down the middle, Bloemgracht, with nice old houses lining each side.
You are now in the cool Jordaan neighborhood, one of the liveliest residential neighborhoods in town.
Flowers showing how Bloemgracht got its name, photo by jpmm |
Now keep running straight over the next three canals (Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Singel) crossing Singel over the square over the old locks.
Along narrow Leliegracht, photo by jim forest |
Now just try to avoid all the trams coming through, and run around the right side of the church, between the church and the palace, and you'll find yourself back in Dam square.