wellness
New Family Cycling Routes Transform De Pijp Parks Into Safe Havens
New family-friendly bike paths through Sarphatipark and along the Ceintuurbaan give beginners and parents with children direct access to flat, separated lanes away from car traffic.
How we reported this
De Pijp residents can now reach two marked family cycling loops that start inside Sarphatipark and connect to the canal-side path on the north side of the Ceintuurbaan without crossing any major roads.
The routes opened for regular use this spring after the borough completed a resurfacing project that added 1.8 kilometres of red-painted bike lanes and lowered several curb crossings. Parents and new riders have used the paths daily since the May school holiday, when the local Fietsersbond chapter began posting weekly group rides for children aged six and older.
Two routes that stay inside De Pijp boundaries
The shorter loop leaves from the south entrance of Sarphatipark near the tennis courts, follows the park’s internal path for 800 metres, then joins the protected lane along Hugo de Vrieslaan before returning via the east side of the park. The second route runs north from the same park entrance along the Ceintuurbaan service road, crosses the small bridge at the Amstel side and circles back through the quiet streets around the Albert Cuyp market before re-entering the park at the playground. Both loops are under three kilometres and contain no steep grades.
Local trainers from the De Pijp chapter of Fietsersbond run free beginner sessions every Saturday morning at 10:00 at the Sarphatipark entrance. The group supplies spare helmets and a small number of children’s bikes for families who arrive without their own.
Usage numbers and practical details
City traffic counts recorded 1,240 family bike trips on the new Sarphatipark-Ceintuurbaan segment during the first full week of June 2026. Rental shops on Ferdinand Bolstraat charge €12 for a child seat and €18 for a standard city bike for a full day. The borough maintenance team inspects the red lanes every Monday morning and replaces faded paint within 48 hours of any report.
Families who want to try the routes can download the free borough cycling map at the district office on the Van der Helstplein or pick up a paper copy at the Sarphatipark kiosk. Riders are asked to keep to the red lanes between 8:00 and 20:00 to avoid conflicts with pedestrians on the narrower park paths.