Waterland loop

Take the free ferry across the IJ and ride north out of the housing estates. The transition is abrupt: one roundabout and you are on a narrow dike road with water on both sides and cows on the third. Durgerdam is the first village, a single row of houses along the dike with the old church tower at the end.

The loop turns inland through Ransdorp, whose square, unfinished church tower is visible for miles across the polder, and on to Broek in Waterland with its painted wooden houses and a café on the lake. From there you can add the causeway to Marken (about 16 km return) if the wind is kind.

The way back follows the Noordhollandsch Kanaal. It is straight, fast and completely open; if a south-westerly is blowing you will feel it for the last half hour.

A junction sequence we have used

Numbers repeat between regions, so this string only means something on the map panels near Ferry landing in Amsterdam Noord. Check it against the panel at the first junction before you set off.

Plan this ride

Dike roads are shared with farm traffic and, in summer, with a lot of other cyclists. Ride single file where the path is narrow and give way at the small ferries.