Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland

With around 3,400 residents, Uilenstede campus is the largest student campus in the Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Amstelveen, right on the border with Amsterdam. Where student flats now stand used to be a large low-lying bog, where peat was extracted on a large scale. The peat was laid on a narrow strip of land to dry before being transported to the city as precious fuel. This narrow strip of land was called 't Kleine Loopveld. The peat extraction eventually resulted in a large, shallow lake, which could not be drained until 1892. Notice how much higher the ring canal and the Kalfjeslaan are compared to the Middelpolder on the Amstelveen side. Here’s another interesting fact - the name Kalfjeslaan is derived from the old 't Kalfje inn on the corner near the Amstel river. Jan Claesz Kalf opened an inn here way back in 1670. During the Dutch famine of 1944-45, the tree-lined Kalfjeslaan turned into a bare polder road due to illegal logging. After the war, the row of trees was replanted and soon afterwards the avenue became a valuable green area between the built-up areas of Buitenveldert and Amstelveen.

• The Riekermolenroute or Rieker Windmill Route (green) connects the Amsterdamse Bos park
  with the Amstelpark and the much-photographed Riekermolen windmill on the Amstel river. Follow the ribbons of greenery along the Kalfjeslaan and the Gijsbrecht van Aemstelpark. There are alternate routes for areas where dogs are not allowed.