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Turtle GPS Art Running Route in Amsterdam — 10.3 km

A 10.3 km loop through Amsterdam that draws a turtle when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 70 m in total, and covers a footprint about 2.7 km wide by 1.5 km tall.

Distance10.3 km
Elevation gain70 m
Elevation loss71 m
Estimated time66 min
DifficultyModerate
Average gradient0.7%

Route map

Start point: 52.37782, 4.8836 — about 1.8 km north-west of the centre of Amsterdam. It is a closed loop, so any point on the line works as a start.

Elevation profile

Measured from the elevation data in the GPX file: 70 m of ascent and 71 m of descent across 10.3 km, an average gradient of 0.7%.

3 m0 m0.0 km2.6 km5.2 km7.8 km10.3 km

Kilometre by kilometre

SplitHeadingElevation changeRange
km 1Runs east-south-east+2 m0–2 m
km 2Runs south-east0 m1–2 m
km 3Runs south-south-east0 m0–2 m
km 4Runs south-west0 m0–3 m
km 5Runs west0 m0–2 m
km 6Runs west-north-west0 m0–2 m
km 7Runs west0 m0–2 m
km 8Runs west0 m0–2 m
km 9Runs north-north-west+1 m0–2 m
km 10Runs north-east-2 m0–2 m
km 10.3Runs north-east0 m1–1 m

Turn-by-turn outline

The 24 direction changes below are the ones that define the drawing. Hitting them accurately matters more than pace — the shape only reads well if the corners are sharp.

  1. 0.32 km — turn left, then continue north-north-east.
  2. 0.64 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
  3. 0.77 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
  4. 0.94 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
  5. 1.08 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
  6. 1.21 km — turn right, then continue south.
  7. 1.39 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
  8. 1.58 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
  9. 1.72 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
  10. 2.28 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
  11. 2.43 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
  12. 2.55 km — turn right, then continue south.
  13. 2.88 km — turn right, then continue west.
  14. 3.16 km — turn left, then continue south-west.
  15. 3.41 km — turn sharp left, then continue east-south-east.
  16. 3.69 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
  17. 3.97 km — turn left, then continue south-south-west.
  18. 4.14 km — turn right, then continue north.
  19. 4.39 km — turn left, then continue north-west.
  20. 4.52 km — turn left, then continue south.
  21. 4.72 km — turn left, then continue south-south-west.
  22. 4.97 km — turn right, then continue west.
  23. 5.16 km — turn right, then continue north-west.
  24. 5.39 km — turn right, then continue north-north-east.

Difficulty and terrain

Moderate. Flat profile, but 10.3 km of concentration on the line. Expect the distance, not the climb, to be the limiting factor.

Surface: Road and mixed surface depending on route creator.

Safety: Review each route on Plotaroute before running, especially where routes include off-road segments.

Best months: All year, depending on local weather.

How to run this shape

  1. Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
  2. Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
  3. Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
  4. Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
  5. Upload to Strava and the turtle appears on your activity map.

Other GPS art routes in Amsterdam

All 15 GPS art routes in Amsterdam

Questions about this route

How long is the turtle route in Amsterdam?
The turtle covers 10.3 km with 70 m of ascent and 71 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 66 minutes plus stops.
Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?
Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.
How accurate is the drawing?
The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 2.7 km east to west and 1.5 km north to south across Amsterdam.
Where does the route start?
The start point is at 52.37782, 4.8836 — roughly 1.8 km north-west of the centre of Amsterdam. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.
Turtle GPS Art Running Route in Amsterdam — 10.3 km | ShapeMiles