Amsterdamse Bos: Amsterdam's great forest, cycling, goats and rowing course

Updated on October 1, 2026

The Amsterdamse Bos is an entirely man-made forest, laid out between 1934 and 1970 south-west of Amsterdam, largely within the municipality of Amstelveen. At around 1,000 hectares, it is nearly three times the size of New York's Central Park. People come here to walk, cycle, swim or see the goats on an organic farm, and entry is free all year round. From the centre, it takes 20 minutes to get there by bike.

Highlights

The Bosbaan

This artificial rowing course, more than 2 kilometres long, was one of the first works dug in the forest. At 118 metres wide, it hosts international regattas, including the World Rowing Championships in 1977, 2014 and August 2026. The path alongside it is good for walking or cycling.

The Bloesempark

Around 400 Japanese cherry trees, donated in 2000, make up this blossom orchard. The flowering, in spring, draws big crowds at weekends.

Open spaces and Highland cattle

Meadows, ponds and reed beds alternate with woodland. Highland cattle graze in some areas, and the forest has around 200,000 trees and 116 bridges, 67 of them designed by the architect Piet Kramer.

The Ridammerhoeve goat farm

On this organic goat farm, children can bottle-feed the kids, collect eggs from the henhouse and play in the playground. Shop selling goat's cheese and a restaurant with a terrace. Free entry, from 10am to 5pm, closed on Tuesdays, and also on Mondays from 1 November until the February half-term. Address: Nieuwe Meerlaan 4, 1182 DB Amstelveen.

The Amsterdamse Bostheater

This open-air theatre hosts plays, concerts and screenings every year from May to September. Out of season the venue is closed; check the summer programme before planning an evening.

Bike hire and visitor centre

The De Boswinkel visitor centre (Bosbaanweg 5) provides maps and advice, from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Opposite, De Boshalte (Bosbaanweg 1) rents out city bikes, tandems and ElliptiGOs, on Mondays from 11am to 5pm and from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, closed on Tuesdays. A signposted 14 km route starts from De Boswinkel and passes through the Bloesempark.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Come by bike from the centre along the green cycle routes, about 20 minutes of pedalling: it is the easiest way to get around the forest. On Sundays and public holidays, from mid-April to mid-October, a heritage tram on the Electrische Museumtramlijn runs from Haarlemmermeerstation to the forest.

How to get there

Main entrance and De Boswinkel: Bosbaanweg 5, 1182 DA Amstelveen. From Central Station, take metro 52 to Amsterdam Zuid station (Station Zuid), then bus 178 (Connexxion) to the Amsterdamse Bos stop, at the junction of Amstelveenseweg and Van Nijenrodeweg. By bike, allow about 20 minutes from central Amsterdam; car parks on site.