Amsterdam: The land of tulips, windmills, clogs, beers, cheese, soft drugs and sex. Unfortunately that’s what one see as you exit Centraal Station and walk along Damrak canal towards the Koninklijk Palaies. I won’t talk about the 2 Km² of Amsterdam Central that most people assume to be Holland.
Let me take you to place that’s not even listed on the map as a tourist spot.
I live in Gein, 4 km away from busy Amsterdam, in the countryside. Gaasperplas lake and the adjoining nature reserve is just walking distance from my home. This review is about Gasperplas that even most residents of Amsterdam do knot know about. Probably the best kept secret of Amsterdam are these quite getaways.
This trip is to be enjoyed in true Dutch style. It takes 2 hours and would be more fun if you do it with a friend, two cycles, a picnic spread, a basket of food, a bottle of white wine and 100 gms of Gouda cheese. During summer take some sun protection cream if you have fair skin, If you are naturally tanned like myself, then you are fine without any protection.
Computing the metro fare takes a bit of training so it’s worth listening. From Centraal Station to Gaasperplas its four zones. So you should punch 5 strips in the Strippen Karte (Strip Card). A ticket with 15 strips costs € 5.90 so each strip is worth €0.393. Cycles can be hired from Amsterdam Central for €10 / day and can be taken with you on the metros provided you punch an extra strip on the Strippen Karte .Now If you are intersted to know the exact metro fare to Gaasperplas with the cycle it can be calculated like this €0.393 * 6 = €2.36.
From Central Station you should take number 53 Metro heading to Gaasperplas . Gaasperplas is also the last stop on this route so you can not miss it. As you get down from the station, the entrance to Gaasperplas park and nature reserve is less than a 100 meters from the station. Its also properly marked on the map you will find at the Metro Station. The Dutch are also very helpful and English friendly folk. Everyone will be willing to help you with direction.
Entrance to Gasperplaas is free. The natural lake is surrounded by green meadows that graduate to form carefully preserved wooded forests. The total area of this land is about 3 Km². Its extremely tranquil and the usual tourist crowd would be miles away smoking pot in Amsterdam Central.
During January and February the lake freezes to form reasonably thick ice allowing skaters to enjoy at least a week or two of Ice skating. But summer is the best time of the year to enjoy this beautiful park. Summer brings great blue skies and breathtaking views. After seeing Gaasperplas I have no doubt in my heart that this really was the place that inspired great Dutch masters like Albert Cuyp and uncle van Gogh to paint their countryside landscapes.
There are countless cute little wooden bridges that stretch across the many small canals originating from Gaasperplas Lake. Once you step into Gaasperplas you will not feel like you are in the heart of Western Europe. You may be forgiven to think that you are in some tropical jungle in Sumatra or the Congo. well.... That’s a bit of an exaggeration. But hey it still packs a great punch for atmosphere.
The woods come alive with many North African and European species of wild water fowls, ducks cranes and swans. There is no shortage of species of tall deciduous trees and plenty of rose bushes. Most of the trees are sycamores and several species of hard wood pines. Many of them towering up to 50 feet. There are separate paths that wind their way all around Gaasperplas. They also form a fine network around the surrounding forest making every inch of Gaasperplas accesible by cycle. You should cycle away from the entrance to about 400 meters deep into the heart of the park where you will see several the shore of the lake. At places the trees and vines form a thick canopy above the pathway that block off the sun, creating a very quite and romantic atmosphere. One has to be careful not to loose touch with reality as you may drift deep into this dark and surreal landscape. The Dutch have very large dogs. Large dogs also eat plenty of food. So what goes in comes out in the form of un-impressive piles that adorn the sidewalks and cycle pathways. Be very careful as the guy who leased you the cycles won’t be happy too see dog poo on his cycles tires.
After your short cycle trip you will come at the shore of the beautiful lake. This is where you will park your cycles and spread your picnic basket and sit down to relax with the gouda cheese and white wine. You will see swans wobbling up and down the lake. Do not get friendly with the Swans. Summer is the time these stubborn creatures go about their mating rituals and build nests. It would be wise to stay clear of these rather large and unfriendly birds. Swans can be very nasty with drunken tourists.
Take a lot of pictures. As you look to the right from where you sit facing the lake, you will see a boat house in the distance where several private catamarans and sailing boats are berthed. The red and yellow nylon sails against the blue summer sky will make a colourful addition to your collection of photographs.
The Dutch being a very liberal lot will surprise you with some of their strange customs. You should not be surprised to see men and women sunbathing wearing only their wrist watches. Make the best of it and take plenty of pictures. Enjoy the sun, don’t forget to finish the wine and deposit the bottles in the bins marked for glass. Do not leave any trash. if you haven’t stayed longer than a few hours the ticket you punched earlier would still be valid for the return trip back to Amsterdam Centraal.