Amsterbanned

See http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/2397ce/ for more info

Four authentic "banning poles" or "boundary stakes" (called "banpaal" in Dutch) can be found around Amsterdam. They are indicated with a blue dot in the map above.

In 1544 emperor Charles V granted Amsterdam the right to ban criminals, vagabonds and other undesirable individuals to one German mile (7.4 km) outside the city gates. Six boundary stakes along the main routes to the city indicated the borders of this banishment area. Exiles were forbidden to enter the area within the limits of the stakes until their banishment had ended. By entering the area they risked capital punishment.

Banning was a popular punishment for thieves and beggars, but also for cursing, gambling or prostitution. Nobody has been exiled since 1800.

On the banning poles is written "Terminus Proscriptions" and "Uiterste Palen Der Ballingen" which is respectively Latin and Dutch for "limit post of the banished".

This 48 km cycling tour passes the four remaining banning poles.

The route is very diverse, ranging from the quiet Amsterdam Forest and polder landscapes to Amsterdam’s Dam Square, one of the busiest places of the Netherlands.

The official start of the cycle tour is in Amstelveen, at the parking for the Amsterdam Forest at the end of the Oude Karselaan (coordinates: N52 18 41.8 E4 50 26.6). However, since this is a circular tour, you can start anywhere. The train stations Amsterdam Amstel and Amsterdam Central and Amsterdam Sloterdijk are closely along the route.

You will find the first banning pole less than 5 minutes from the official starting point, on your right along the Amsterdamse weg close to house-number 210.

The banning pole at the Amsterdamseweg in Amstelveen dates from 1625 . It is close to the parks De Braak, Thijssepark and Broersepark in Amstelveen and a visit to the banning pole could be combined with a visit to these parks (coordinates N52 18.810 E4 50.826).

From here you will cycle through Amstelveen and the “Middelpolder” to the Amstel river. When you arrive at the Amstel river, the second banning pole is about 150m to the right.

The address of the second banning pole is Amsteldijk Noord, close to house number 65. This banning pole from 1625 is also included in a marked 10 km walk through the Middelpolder (coordinates N52 18.624 E4 54.278).

The tour continues along the river Amstel, and passes the windmill “Riekermolen”, with a statue of the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt next to it. The windmill still spins on Saturdays and Sundays between 12:00 and 17:00, May to September – when the winds are favorable, of course. Unfortunately, the windmill's interior is not available for tours. The statue of Rembrandt was placed in 1969, at this 300th dying day.

You will continue cycling next to the Amstel river into the busy center of Amsterdam, where you pass places such as the “Magere Brug” (Skinny Bridge), Amstel Hotel, the City Hall and Opera (Stopera) and the Dam Square with the National Monument and Palace. Be aware of cars, trams, pedestrians and other cyclists!

Via the canal “Singel” and the Haarlemmerstraat you leave the busy city center again and cycle paralell to the train tracks to the third banning pole near the recreational area Spaarnwoude.

Interestingly, in 1650 the painter Rembrandt made an etching showing this banning pole. This "Rembrandt pole" dates from 1624 and has been relocated several times. The lower part unfortunately has been destroyed, but the remaining part can now be found in the Geuzenbos at the Spaarnwouderdijk, close to its original position where it was painted by Rembrandt.

The exact location of the third banning pole is behind the water-pumping station near the Wethouder van Essenweg. You'll have to climb over a small wooden fence to reach it, this is completely legal to do, the fence is just there to keep the sheep inside (coordinates N52 23.521 E4 46.153).

Via the town of Halfweg you continue cycling along the Ringvaart canal to the village Sloten. Here you can pass the windmill “Molen van Sloten”, which is open to the public, as well as a Coopery museum.

Just before you arrive at the fourth banning pole, you will pass a square with the smallest police station of the Netherlands.

The fourth banning pole is located at the Sloterweg in Sloten, hidden in an alley between house numbers 1204 and 1208. The original boundary stake from 1624 along the Sloterweg in Sloten marked the southwestern extent of the banishment area and was replaced in 1794, since it was falling into ruin (coordinates N52 20.501 E4 47.927).

From here you will cycle around the lake “Nieuwe Meer” and through the Amsterdam Forest back to the start.

When you arrive at the Nieuwe Meer lake, there is the possibility for a shortcut by boat. The boat option is available every 15 min from April 15th – October 15th on Saturdays from 12.00-18.00 and Sundays and holidays from 11.00-19.00. Adults 1 euro, kids 0.50 euro, bicycles 0.50 euro; see http://www.rederij-oeverloos.nl/. Besides being a pleasant trip, this saves you about 4 km!

Near the stop of the boat at the other side of the lake, there is the pancake house Boerderij Meerzicht.

Along this tour there are numerous possibilities for refreshments, such as hotel/bar/restaurant Abina close to the start/finish, cafe/restaurant Klein Kalfje along the Amstel river, and cafe/restaurant De Bosbaan near the Amsterdam Forest. Along the part between Amsterdam , Halfweg and Sloten there are not a lot of options for refreshments.