Similarly, the towpath shortened the route considerably for land traffic. Prior to this route, coaches traveling by land would leave Haarlem over the Oude Weg up to the Liede, where they would cross at Penningsveer (a ferry for a penny), to Spaarnwoude and along the IJdijk (on older maps, Spaarndammerdijk) to Amsterdam.
In addition, the towpath greatly simplified the route for land traffic. Previously, coaches traveling by land would leave Haarlem via the Oude Weg to the Liede, where they would cross at Penningsveer (a ferry costing a penny), then proceed to Spaarnwoude and along the IJdijk (as depicted on older maps, Spaarndammerdijk) to Amsterdam.