Noordoostpolder: World Heritage, water engineering and tulip blossom

Noordoostpolder lies on the bed of the former Zuiderzee and has been dry for more than 80 years. Schokland gives the landscape a distinctive historical character: the former island can still be recognized by its contours. Since 1995, Schokland has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the first site in the Netherlands to be added to the World Heritage List. Four protected mounds of former villages and more than 160 archaeological sites shape the area. Schokland is open for walking and cycling year-round; there is no admission charge.

Polder landscape and the history of water engineering

In Waterloopbos, models of water engineering structures now lie in ruins along marked walking trails. The polder forest was a historic open-air laboratory where more than 200 studies of water engineering structures were carried out. As you walk through the forest, you will come across traces of this research. Waterloopbos is freely accessible from sunrise to sunset; daylight hours affect the practical visiting time.

The 1.2-kilometre Deltawerkroute starts at the car park. It is easily accessible for wheelchair users and people using mobility scooters. Check trail conditions before setting out. Schokland can also be explored on foot: the “De laatste lichtwachter” audio walk leads from Middelbuurt to Zuidpunt. You make your own way back; the tour is suitable for families with children aged around ten and older.

Castle ruins and architecture

Near Kuinre, the remains of two castles, with moat structures and ramparts, have been preserved. The Lords of Kuinre built the castle around 1150. From there, they carried out raids on the Zuiderzee and controlled shipping to the Hanseatic cities. The ruins connect a specific place with the history of trade and shipping in the region.

In Nagele, Museum Nagele presents the design history of the village’s architecture. The museum is housed in a former church designed by T. Taen and T. Nix. The permanent exhibition focuses on Nagele’s architecture; changing exhibitions cover architecture and visual art. Alongside the historic traces in the landscape, visitors can also choose an experience with an architectural focus.

Trails, tulips and nature

There are three dedicated mountain biking routes in Noordoostpolder. They all run through the forest and differ in their challenges and distances. In the Schoterveld nature and recreation area, you can see various sand sculptures on a walk each year. The theme changes annually; check the current theme and exact location before your visit.

During tulip season, the Tulpenfestival Noordoostpolder offers signposted routes through the tulip landscape, which you can travel by bicycle or car. The routes change from year to year, so it is worth checking the route for the current festival. In Marknesse, De Tulpenpluktuin has an observation tower with views over the tulips. For a fixed fee, you can pick a bucket of 30 colourful tulips yourself. Blooming and opening times vary from year to year.

Kuinderbos lies northeast of Noordoostpolder and is home to a wide variety of wildlife and plant life. These include rare plants and mushrooms, butterflies, birds of prey, and mammals such as the pine marten. If you are planning to observe nature, this broader geographical area offers a different point of reference from the trails right in Waterloopbos.

More experiences and practical information

Pantropica is a fully indoor tropical park with jungle trails, thousands of butterflies, tall palms and animals. Adventure attractions include a suspension bridge and a cave; the park is wheelchair- and child-friendly and open seven days a week. Individual facilities may change. At Netl, daily activities include swimming, walking, outdoor play, sports and an obstacle course. Dunes and bamboo forests shape the surroundings; some activities may be seasonal.

At Wijngaard Maronesse in Marknesse, visitors can take tours and enjoy tastings of the polder wines produced there. Tastings may be seasonal or by appointment, so check in advance whether you can attend. Three Tourist Transfer Points, or TOPs, serve as starting points for walking and cycling tours.

Six bicycle stations in Noordoostpolder offer electric rental bikes that you can reserve through the Deelfiets Nederland app. You can return a bike at another station in the region, including in Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden and in Giethoorn. Check the current reservation and return conditions in advance. If you are looking for a hotel, first decide what matters most to you—for example, World Heritage, architecture, forest trails or seasonal tulip experiences. Then compare the hotel’s location with the specific places you want to visit.

Discover more destinations: Bant, Emmeloord, Marknesse, Rutten, Kraggenburg, Lelystad, Zeewolde, Almere.

To the main travel overview: Flevoland.