wellness
Locals Rate Jordaan's 5 Best Walking Trails by Distance and Difficulty
Local paths through parks and along canals offer measured options for walkers seeking short flat routes or longer climbs with varied terrain.
How we reported this
Jordaan residents now have five marked walking trails inside city parks and canal edges graded by total distance and elevation gain after the Jordaan Active Living Program released its updated map on 1 July 2026.
The ratings arrive as summer daylight hours stretch and the Jordaan Wellness Collective reports rising demand for outdoor routes that fit work schedules without gym fees.
Two specific sites anchor the list. The Egelantiersgracht Greenway runs 2.8 kilometres along the canal from Elandsgracht to Lindengracht with zero elevation and a flat gravel surface. The Noorderpark Ridge Path covers 6.4 kilometres from the park entrance at Haarlemmerplein to the Westerdok edge and includes 48 metres of cumulative climb across two footbridges.
Short and flat options
The Egelantiersgracht Greenway carries an easy rating. Walkers complete the loop in 35 to 45 minutes at a steady pace. The route passes the weekly Saturday market stalls at Noordermarkt and ends near the public drinking fountain installed in 2023 at the Lindengracht junction.
A second easy path, the 3.1-kilometre Bloemgracht Spur inside the same canal network, stays under 10 metres of rise and connects directly to the Jordaan Active Living Program's Tuesday evening group start at 18:30 from the corner of Bloemgracht and Prinsengracht.
Moderate and longer routes
The Noorderpark Ridge Path receives a moderate label. The full out-and-back requires 90 to 110 minutes and crosses two wooden bridges that add the only noticeable inclines. A 2025 Jordaan Health Board count showed 2,140 residents logged this trail at least once between April and September, with average weekly distance per user reaching 4.2 kilometres.
Trail maintenance costs 12 euros per participant in the annual Jordaan Active Living Program membership that covers map updates and group safety briefings. The next scheduled map revision is set for October 2026.
Walkers can download the current GPX files from the city portal and check water levels along the canals before heading out, especially after heavy rain on the preceding day.