Amstel Running Route

Saturday morning, 7:30 AM. I lace up, leave my apartment, and head south toward the Amstel river. By 8 AM I am running past the Magere Brug. By 8:15 I am passing stately mansions along the Amsteldijk. By 8:30 there are cows on my left and rowers on my right, and the city feels like a memory. By 9 AM I am in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, a tiny village with waterside terraces, ordering a coffee and feeling like I have my life together. This is my favorite run in Amsterdam, and if you are a runner, it should be yours too.

My buddy Chris and I discovered this route our first autumn in Amsterdam. We were looking for a long run that was not just laps around Vondelpark, and someone at the local running store suggested following the Amstel south. That first run changed how I think about this city. You start in the heart of Amsterdam and within 30 minutes you are in the Dutch countryside. No other European capital gives you that transition so fast.

The route: Start at the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) on the Amstel river. Head south along the Amsteldijk, staying on the east side of the river. The path is a mix of asphalt and fine gravel, completely flat, and well-maintained. You pass through a stretch of grand mansions — 17th and 18th-century estates that look like they belong in a movie. Then the city thins out, you pass Amstelpark on your left, and suddenly it is green. Meadows, cows, the river, rowing teams practicing in the morning mist. Chris always says this section makes him forget he lives in a city of 900,000 people.

The destination is Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, about 10-12 kilometers from the Magere Brug (or 7-8 km if you start from Amstelpark). It is a small village that sits where the Amstel river bends, with a beautiful church, old houses, and several terraces right on the water. The coffee at Loetje aan de Amstel or one of the other waterside spots is the reward. Chris and I sit there, stretch, drink coffee, and watch the boats. Then we run back.

For the full out-and-back, you are looking at 20-24 kilometers. If that is too much, you can take bus 300 or 347 from Ouderkerk back to Amsterdam Zuid station. No shame in the bus option — Chris took it the first time and lied about it for months.

If you want to extend: from Ouderkerk you can loop around the Ouderkerkerplas (a lake, adds about 4-5 km) or head into the Ronde Hoep polder for completely flat, quiet polder running with nothing but sky and water.

The Amsterdam Marathon uses parts of this route, which tells you it is good. The paths are well-lit for early morning or evening runs. Watch for cyclists — they are everywhere and they will not move for you. Wear reflective gear in winter.

Best time: early morning on a weekend. The light on the river at 8 AM is spectacular, the path is quiet, and you get to Ouderkerk before it gets busy. Spring and autumn are ideal — summer mornings work too but can get warm. Winter is fine if you dress for it, and the misty river views are actually beautiful.

You do not need to be a marathon runner for this. The path is flat, there are no hills (this is the Netherlands), and you can turn around whenever you want. Even a 5-kilometer out-and-back along the Amsteldijk gives you that city-to-countryside feeling. Chris's girlfriend, who runs about 5K at a gentle pace, does the first section and says it is her favorite route in Amsterdam.

Pack: just your running gear and a bank card for coffee in Ouderkerk. The path has water fountains in a few spots during warmer months. Download the route on Strava or Komoot if you want turn-by-turn guidance, but honestly, you just follow the river. It is hard to get lost when your navigation strategy is "keep the water on your left."