The Amsterdam Sundial Trail
<- tourist info | bonus page | start trail ->
Introduction
The Amsterdam Sundal Trail is intended for sundial friends who visit Amsterdam as a tourist, and would like to see some interesting dials, or dials in interesting locations, together with classified highlights such as the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House, or other hot spots of their choice. Although I describe a complete trail, starting and ending at the Central Station, you are of course free to include selected sites into a trail of your own. Amsterdam has so much to enjoy for everyone!
The complete trail is about 8 km (5 miles) long. It offers 8 sundials visible from public walkways, and another 8 dials hidden behind Amsterdam's famous canal house façades. The latter can usually be visited during office hours (workdays 9-17 hr) - and most are free! The route is divided into 12 steps, with an early stop option after step 9.
The map below shows the targets of the 12 steps. For an overview of what can be seen there, click the numbered spot in the map.
For general information on your visit to Amsterdam , click the "i" sign in the map.
To start the trail, click here. In addition, a bonus page presents some sundials, not included in the trail.
The trail description details for each step how to get at the target and what can be seen and done there. It is available in printable form as pdf. Two versions can be downloaded:
- a 28-page booklet with color illustrations (12 MB),
- a 16-page booklet without illustrations (700 kB).
Right-click on the link and choose "Save target/link/file as..." to store the booklet on your computer. Print the booklet two-sided (duplex, or first odd, then even pages) and staple (or wire-stitch) in the center.
You need to have the Adobe Reader installed in order to view and print the trail descriptions.
The free Adobe Reader can be downloaded by clicking the logo.
I hope you will enjoy the trip. I enjoyed composing it!
Frans Maes
E-mail: sundials *at* fransmaes.nl
My sundial website: www.fransmaes.nl/sundials