nature

Because of it's water, the nature feels close at IJburg. The water reflects in the air, the light seems to be brighter than in the rest of Amsterdam. The wind blows stronger than in the rest of Amsterdam, like a sea breeze. The wind blows away the clouds and the sun seems to shine more often. IJburg feels like a holiday island all year. You can enjoy this feeling everywhere at IJburg - but specifically at some places.

ENJOYING THE WATER AROUND IJBURG

IJburg has many beautiful water banks. The Bert Haanstrakade looks like a large boulevard, with the wideness of the IJmeer, Lake IJ and the rock formations that house many animals. There is huge red couch to enjoy this view.

Blijburg beach at the north east side of IJburg is a beautiful place.

The dike houses at the banks at the north side of Steigereiland North have a nice view over the water.

The Groene Tunnel, south of the IJburglaan, is a modern version of the historic Amsterdam canals.

The water between Kleine Rieteiland and Grote Rieteiland, the islands south of the IJburglaan, is beautiful.

You can reach IJburg by boat, through two lock-gates. The first is in the water next to restaurant Blok 4, where you can enter the Groene Tunnel, the canal south of the IJburglaan. The second is in the harbor, which you can enter from the north side.

In the summer, there is a ferry to fort island Pampus, which departs from the harbor. The Muider Compagnie, which offers trips on it's traditional Dutch sailing ships, is also in the harbor.

There are many clubs for nautical sports: a sailing club called Watersportvereniging IJburg, a canoe club called Kano op IJburg, a surfing club called Surfcenter IJburg and water sports club Wakeboardschool Wake2wake.

IJburg has one official swimming place, Blijburg beach, with it's beach club. In the Diemerpark is a little beach too, called Diemerparkstrandje. Also, many locals swim in the canals, although this is officially forbidden. You can find the canal Groene Tunnel (green tunnel) south of the IJburglaan and the canal Hollandiagracht north of the Erich Salomonstraat. In the summer, IJburg sounds like a camping place and you can see kids jump from the bridges into the water. In the winter these canals turned out to be a perfect scating ring!
 

ENJOYING THE GREEN SPOTS AROUND IJBURG

The largest parc at IJburg is called Diemerpark. This park is not like most parks: it looks more like a dune park. In the summer it is covered with wild flowers. Look at the manhole covers in the park: they all have poetic sayings on it. Bike bridge Nesciobrug connects IJburg with the rest of Eastern Amsterdam and is very long: 780 meters. From the Diemerpark you have a very nice view at IJburg.

South east of IJburg is nature park Diemer Vijfhoek at PEN-eiland, it starts at the end of the Pampuslaan. There are many walking routes that cross IJburg. The Zuiderzeepad crosses Diemerpark and shows you the old banks of the Zuiderzee, which used to be a sea, but is a lake now, since it is separated from the sea by a dike. Waterkeringpad also follows the former Zuiderzee, a route between Amsterdam Central Station, Zeeburg, IJburg, Maxis, Muiden, Muiderberg, Naarden, Oud Valkeveen and Huizen. You can walk to Paris over the GR12 path: from Amsterdam Central Station, through Flevopark in East and Diemerpark at IJburg.

ENJOYING THE SKY ABOVE IJBURG

Don't forget to watch the sky above IJburg once in a while: it has many different colors.