Starting point Houtrak Halfweg

The Houtrak recreational area near Halfweg has been around for more than 50 years now. The mature forest is part of the much larger Spaarnwoude. The semi-open area is bisected by large ponds and grass meadows, strung together by walking, cycling and bridle paths. It’s interesting to keep in mind that you are actually walking along the bottom of the IJ here. Until the construction of the North Sea Canal in 1876, the Amsterdam tidal inlet – then an open connection with the Zuiderzee – extended around the island of Ruigoord. This was drained for the benefit of the Port of Amsterdam. The Afrikahaven now reaches as far as Ruigoord but the green Houtrakbos has been preserved for recreational purposes.

• The Geuzenbos Walk (green) is a walk best done in wellies or high top walking shoes because the grass trail in the Geuzenbos in Halfweg is usually soaking wet. Cattle and horse hooves make a muddy mess of it, but it’s nice to cross this little piece of urban nature. It is still owned by the Port Authority and managed by Free Nature. The marshy plains are former silt fields where the sugar factory in Halfweg dumped the pulp after washing the beets.
• The Houtrak Route (red) at Halfweg is a circular walk that strings together all the exclusive and unpaved walking paths in the area. The walk offers a lot of variety. In some spots, the route goes over grass meadows that can get a bit soggy in wet periods. You can enjoy a drink at the equestrian school.