When you touch down in Amsterdam, there are two things you must do to truly vibe with the energy of the place. First up's a given; take a cue from the locals and explore the city by bike. Second, brace yourself for a sweet hit of sensory overload: from the cool kid cafes to alt-art hangouts and boat trips through the canals with 'Those Dam Boat Guys', the sheer variety of eateries, bars, and places to see could leave your head spinning without a decent shortlist.

That's where Peter Kolks, MAAP friend and co-founder of POP Trading Company, stepped up to give first-timers and repeat visitors his inside track. POP, the Amsterdam-based label known for its collaborations with the likes of Burberry, Paul Smith, and Converse, is the undisputed go-to for Benelux skate culture and clothing. So who better than Peter and his team to give us a guided tour around their hometown exclusively for Off The Front. And what better way to start things off than kickflipping gracefully from four wheels onto two?

Morning Rides
Quick weekday rides that you can get done before work

1. Marken Lighthouse - 50km
You gotta be quick to get this in before work, as you have to jump on the ferry at Centraal Station to Noord first, so a bit of a faff. But it’s scenic and the lighthouse turning point is a good view across the Markermeer. Plenty of long stretches to put the power down, so it goes by quick.

2. De Ronde Hoep - 35km
The most popular route in Amsterdam, hence I rarely ride it, haha. But it’s quick to get out of the city along the Amstel river to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel and then you hit the infamous Hoep. Which is literally a 16 km loop back to Ouderkerk. It’s a total mixed bag of newcomers to seasoned riders putting in efforts and trying to smash the KOM and QOM.

City Spin
Since it’s so easy to leave the centre, no one really does city spins, they head towards Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. But for sightseeing I recommend this one.

3. Amsterdam City Loop - 20km
This is more of a mellow city cruise rather than a ‘ride’, and can easily be done on the stadsfiets (city bike) for showing people around the city. Starts and ends in Vondelpark, next to where I live, but you can pick it up anywhere. I still do this route now and again just to get out, it’s all on perfect bike lanes so you’re never in any traffic and it reminds you what an amazing place Amsterdam is to cycle in. Combine it with a stop for some food or a drink.

Weekend Spins

4. Uithoorn Loop- 58km
This is my go-to route, you leave the city really quickly via the Olympisch Stadion and soon out past Amsterdamse Bos and on the Ringvaart next to Schiphol airport. You’re always on cycle paths, you hardly ever stop, and you can just charge it, should you want to put in the watts and gun for a higher average speed. Everyone does the De Ronde Hoep, which is shorter version of this, but it can get boring and well, it’s what everyone else does.

5. Kopje Van Bloemendaal - 72km
This route takes in the mighty Kopje! Quite literally the only ‘climb’ in about a 200 sq km radius of Amsterdam. There are a few ways you can hit it and it offers two different ‘climbs’ but it peaks at a whopping 50 m and hits 7% in places! The many Strava segments across it feature a bunch of WorldTour pros, so go test the legs. Combine it with a longer run through the National Park of Kennemerland, which features bull’s roaming all over the cycle paths.

Longer Rides

6. Soesterburg Runway (Road/Gravel) - 118km
This route combines road with some gravel tracks. It first heads south towards Breukelen, yes, as in Brooklyn! New York was originally New Amsterdam, right? We also have a Haarlem. It then bears east to the old military base in Soesterburg. You can literally cycle on the old runway here and there’s a great museum and café in this new park. It loops back to Amsterdam via Lage Vuursche and on some mellow gravel tracks (ok for road bike) through the amazing Goois Natuurreservaat Limitische heide.

7. Zandvoort - Dunes - The Hague - 173km
This is a longer route, but if you’re new to the area, it gives you a great slice of cycling in the Netherlands. First to the seaside town of Zandvoort and south through the sand dunes, on perfect cycling lanes of course. Be sure to check the wind direction, it can be a killer if there’s a headwind! You skirt The Hague and back north through wide-open, flat fields and towns, and if there was a headwind heading south, you’ll be loving this. If the opposite, then welcome to cycling in Holland!

8. La Trappe Brewery - 154km
What better, a long ride south, ideally with a tailwind and finish off with a beer brewed by monks! This route heads straight south through many awesome towns where you can stop for coffee, you cross De Lek river by ferry and continue south alongside Tilburg until you reach the Trappist monastery where beer and frites await. To return, especially after a few 6% beers, it’s a quick cycle to Tilburg station and jump on the train back to Amsterdam.

9. Bella Storia
Best pizza in Amsterdam!
Bentinckstraat 26, 1051 GL

10. AO Bar
Coffee near the park
Van Hallstraat 97, 1051 HA

11. TOKI
Local coffee
Binnen Dommersstraat 15, 1013 HK

12. Saint-Jean Bakery
Coffee and pastry
Lindengracht 158h, 1015 KK

13. Toscanini
Great Italian
Lindengracht 75, 1015 KD

14. Domenica
Great Italian #2 (have to book)
Noordermarkt 7, 1015 MV

15. Cafe Tabac
Local bar
1 Brouwersgracht 101, 1015 GC

16. Winkel 43
Best apple pie in the world!
Noordermarkt 43, 1015 NA

17. Hinata
Good ramen
Westerstraat 40H, 1015 MK

18. La Perla Pizzeria
My local pizza place
Tweede Tuindwarsstraat 53, 1015 RZ

19. Salvatorica
Fresh pasta
Lijnbaansgracht 71, 1015 GX

20. La Oliva
Tapas style place
Egelantiersstraat 122 124, 1015 PR

21. Twee Prinsen
Local bar
Prinsenstraat 27, 1015 DB

22. De Klepel
Romantic and amazing wine
Prinsenstraat 22, 1015 DD

23. Loetje
Amsterdam style steak
Stationsplein 10, 1012 AB

24. L Momento
Coffee on a bridge
Singel 180, 1015 AJ

25. Dun Yong
Great ramen!
Stormsteeg 9, 1012 BD

26. De Druif
Local bar #3
Rapenburgerplein 83, 1011 V

27. Fou Fow Ramen
More good ramen
1 Elandsgracht 2A, 1016 TV

28. Foodware
Amazing lunch spot
Looiersgracht 12, 1016 VS

29. Cannibale Royale
Ribs and steak
Handboogstraat 17a, 1012 XM

30. Castell
Also ribs and steak
1 Lijnbaansgracht 254, 252, 1017 RK

31. Bakers & Roasters
Best brunch
Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat 54, 1072 BH

32. Van’t Spit De Pijp
Good rotisserie chicken and chips
Frans Halsstraat 42, 1072 BT

33. Sora
Great ramen
Ceintuurbaan 49, 1072 ET

34. Klaproos
Amazing pizza on the river
Papaverhoek 39, 1032 JZ

35. Cornerstore
Great new restaurant (have to book)
Papaverweg 11, 1032 KD

36. Oedipus Brewing
Best burger and craft beer
Gedempt Hamerkanaal 85, 1021 KP

37. Skatecafe
Cool kids hangout
Gedempt Hamerkanaal 42, 1021 KM

38. Garage Noord
Night out
Gedempt Hamerkanaal 40, 1021 KM

39. Murmur
Night out, more mellow
Aambeeldstraat 60, 1021 KB

40. Hotel De Goudfazant
For big groups and smaller crews, great food
Aambeeldstraat 30, 1021 KB

41. Those Dam Boat Guys
Go on a boat trip
Prinsenstraat 13H, 1015 DA

42. Patta
Streetwear store
Zeedijk 68-70, 1012 BA

43. Foam
Photo gallery
Keizersgracht 609, 1017 Ds

44. Rijksmuseum
Home of the Dutch masters
Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX

45. Van Gogh Museum
His life and works
Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ

46. Vondelpark
Hire some bikes and cycle around
Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ

47. Pop Trading Company 
POP store
Sint Annendwarsstraat 3, 1012 HC