By bicycle from Amstelveen to Hoofddorp

Roll out from Amstelveen and swing southwest toward Aalsmeer, skirting the green edges of the Amsterdamse Bos. Follow the Ringvaart canal and cross at Aalsmeerderbrug, then hop onto the Geniedijk—a straight, scenic dike that carries you right into Hoofddorp. It’s about 19 km, almost entirely on dedicated cycle paths, dead flat polder riding with mostly smooth asphalt and the odd stretch of paving stones. Expect big-sky views and, on breezier days, a touch of headwind.

Nice extras: plane-spotting near Schiphol, a coffee stop by the water in Aalsmeer, or a quick detour to the Westeinderplassen. Amstelveen’s known for the Amsterdamse Bos and the Cobra Museum of Modern Art; Hoofddorp is the main town of Haarlemmermeer, a polder reclaimed from the Haarlemmermeer lake in the 19th century. The Geniedijk here is part of the UNESCO-listed Defense Line of Amsterdam, and Fort Hoofddorp makes a neat finish-line landmark. Enjoy the smooth, stress-free cycleway cruise!