Upon our arrival on the northern side of the bay we noticed an immediate scenery change. Gone were the tall row houses, canals, and bustling traffic of the city. Unlike most American cities, Amsterdam has very little urban or suburban sprawl. Just a five-minute ferry ride from the city center we found ourselves amid vast stretches of farmland with only an occasional farm house or village in sight. We planned a 12-mile loop that passed through the villages posted on this sign and headed into the green pastures.