A Dam Good Bike Ride 1 Noordhollands Kanaal Take the free Buiksloterweg ferry from behind Centraal Station

across the IJ, then continue 1km along the west bank of the Noordhollands Kanaal. Do a loop onto and over the second bridge, continue along the east bank for a few hundred meters, then turn right under the freeway and head along Nieuwendammerdijk, past the Vliegenbos camping ground. Follow Schellingwouderdijk under the two major road bridges, when it becomes Durgerdammerdijk, and youre on your way. 2 Durgerdam The pretty town of Durgerdam, spead along the dyke, looks out across the water to IJburg, a major land-reclamation project with thousands of new homes. Further north, the dyke road passes several lakes and former sea inlets low-lying, drained peat lands that are now key breeding sites for birds, among them plovers, spoonbills and herons. Climb the dyke at one of the vantage points for sweeping views to both sides. 3 Uitdam The road now called Uitdammerdijk passes the town of Uitdam, whose 160 inhabitants can usually be found near the yacht harbor, the camping ground or the swimming pool, as there is not much going on. 4 Marken Take the road leading right (east) and proceeding along the causeway to the former island of Marken, a one-time fishing community in a startlingly isolated setting, with houses on piles. 5 Volendam From Marken, take the summer ferry to Volendam (around 4 euro each every 30/45 min from 11am to 6pm mid-March to October). This picturesque fishing port has reinvented itself as a tourist town, but the backstreet behind the harbor hold most of the charm. 6 Monnickendam Head south along the sea dyke towards Monnickendam, with its many old fishing homes and 15th centry church. About 1.5km south of Monnickendam, turn right (southwest) towards Zuiderwoude. 7 Broek in Waterland Contine to Broek in Waterland, a pretty hamlet with homes painted a particular shade of grey, Broeker grijs, after the landscapes painted here by Claude Monet and others. Then cycle along the south bank of the Broekervaart canal towards Het Schouw on the Noordshollands Kanaal.