Locals discover Noord's secret nature trails tourists never find

More than 450 Noord residents log steps each weekday on unmarked routes that skip the main tourist loops along the IJ waterfront.

Summer schedules have pushed more people outdoors for consistent exercise after indoor gym closures tied to recent network disruptions, and local trail use has climbed as residents seek reliable spots for walking or light running without crowds.

Two routes stand out for regulars. The Overhoeks reserve behind the old shipyard buildings offers a 2.8-kilometre loop with shaded gravel sections that connect to the NDSM ferry landing. Further north, the Buiksloterweg green strip in the Volewijck neighbourhood runs 1.9 kilometres past community gardens maintained by the Noord Greens Initiative, a volunteer group that plants native shrubs each spring.

Daily routines on lesser-known paths

Participants in the Noord Outdoor Fitness Program meet at the Overhoeks entrance every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 a.m. for group walks that finish before most visitors arrive. The program, now in its fourth year, charges no fee for the basic sessions and keeps group sizes under fifteen people to protect the quiet.

City data from the Noord Parks Department records 1,150 registered users on these two routes during June 2026, compared with 820 the same month in 2025. Average daily counts on the Buiksloterweg stretch reached 210 people last week, according to counters installed near the garden gates.

Practical steps to start

Locals recommend starting at the small parking area on Grasweg for the Overhoeks loop or entering the Volewijck strip from the corner of Buiksloterweg and Distelweg. Both routes stay open from dawn until 10 p.m. and require no permits. Anyone new to the area can check the weekly schedule posted on the Noord Greens Initiative notice board at the community garden shed before heading out.