Amstelland Area

Amstelland is the lowland and riverine region surrounding the River Amstel in the area south of Amsterdam, covering parts of the provinces around the capital. It is defined by its mix of polders, river meadows, small towns and suburban greenbelt.

The landscape is valued for outdoor recreation and local agriculture, with routes for cycling and walking that follow the river through villages and past historic roadside features. The area functions as a peri-urban buffer that links Amsterdam with surrounding countryside.

Historically the Amstel valley supported agriculture and transport linked to Amsterdam; over the 19th and 20th centuries parts of the area urbanized while other parts were retained as parkland and polders. Conservation and planning policies have shaped the balance between development and green space.

Geographically the region runs along the course of the River Amstel south of central Amsterdam and includes municipalities and countryside in the provinces adjacent to the city.

• Regional character: The name refers to the rural and suburban landscape along the River Amstel that forms a greenbelt south and east of Amsterdam.
• Recreation routes: Extensive cycling and walking routes follow the river and connect small villages, recreational sites and historic mills in the area.

Amstelland is immediately south of Amsterdam; reachable by local trains to stations such as Amstelveen, then by bike or bus. Cycling from Amsterdam’s center along the Amstel is a popular option (roughly 20-30 minutes depending on start point).

• Explore by bike-the polder roads are flat and quiet, revealing small waterways and farmsteads.
• Visit a local cheese farm in the region for a taste of rural production that feeds Amsterdam.
• Combine with a walk along the Amstel river to see how urban and rural landscapes meet.