Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland

“Amstelveen, the largest village in the municipality of Nieuwer-Amstel, is located on the De Poel lake and the railway line between Amsterdam and Alphen aan den Rijn.” That description was spot-on a hundred years ago, when its few thousand inhabitants made their livings from peat extraction. The Haarlemmermeer had just been drained and Schiphol airport did not exist yet. The old village, the station and the lake are still there, but the city now has 90,000 inhabitants with all the corresponding amenities. The train track now features a museum tram and the De Poel lake is part of the large Amsterdamse Bos. Amstelveen is surrounded by greenery and has several parks that are internationally admired. The town’s botanical parks are renowned for their rich native flora, and the Bloesempark near De Poel is special because of the 400 cherry trees donated by the Japan Women's Club.

• The Poel Walk (green) is lovely in every season but especially lush during the summer. You can admire rare plants here, such as the southern marsh orchid and the carnivorous sundew. Highlights along the route include the steeple of the St. Urbanus Church in Bovenkerk and of course the Bloesempark.

• The Museum Tram Path (blue) follows the footpaths in the public gardens on either side of the track as closely as possible. The walk takes you through De Braak and the Jac. P. Thijssepark - which will treat you to stunningly beautiful flowers in spring - and around the Amsterdamse Bos, the Bloesempark and De Poel. A route like no other!