Hiking in the Rural North, Amsterdam

North of Amsterdam is a rural area that includes the villages of Durgerdam, Holysloot, Ransdorp, Schellingwoude, Zunderdorp and the hamlets of Het Nopeind and Het Schouw, all of which are part of the municipality of Amsterdam. The A10 North ring road forms the border between the city and the countryside. The area borders the IJsselmeer and the Buiten-IJ. It is a wetland area with many ditches, the lakes Ransdorper Die, Holysloter Die and Uitdammer Die, which form a remnant of a former peat river. In addition, there is the large Kinselmeer, which is a remnant of flooding from the Zuiderzee. Near Durgerdam is the protected nature reserve IJdoornpolder, which is managed by Natuurmonumenten.