Steendam on Schildmeer – Water, Nature and Local History

Steendam is the only village on Schildmeer. Most of the shores of Schildmeer are nature areas; Steendam also has a marina and various recreational activities. If you are looking for a hotel in Steendam, you can plan your stay around water activities, local trails or the village’s historic character.

Water sports on Schildmeer

Visitors can kayak, canoe, windsurf, stand-up paddle and swim on Schildmeer near Steendam. The list includes both paddling activities and board sports, as well as swimming—different ways to enjoy the lake. The beach on Schildmeer near Steendam also has a jetty from which you can jump into the water.

Further afield in the region, Jachthaven Boei 12 is on the south shore of Schildmeer. It serves as a starting point for people with a permanent berth and for visitors passing through, and is suitable for sailing and surfing.

Trails around Steendam and Schildmeer

Near Steendam, the Knuppelpad is a 750-metre wooden boardwalk through the 't Roegwold marsh. The Knuppelpad loop is about 2 kilometres long from the car park. These figures refer to different stretches: 750 metres is the length of the boardwalk, while about 2 kilometres is the loop from the car park. For up-to-date route information, you can consult Staatsbosbeheer. At about two kilometres, the loop from the car park is longer than the 750-metre boardwalk.

't Roegwold near Steendam is suitable for walking and cycling and is popular with birdwatchers. Further afield in the region, the area extends from Kolham through Slochteren and Schildwolde to Schildmeer. There is also an approximately 14-kilometre cycling and walking trail around Schildmeer. These details offer different scales for planning: the boardwalk, the loop from the car park and a trail around the lake.

Village character and history

The Steendammer Ommetje starts at the Dorpshuis or Podiumcafé Peter & Leni. Along Damsterweg in Steendam are farm workers’ houses dating from around 1920 and middle-class houses from the 1930s. These two dates provide different points of reference for the village’s character. Nearby is also the Keerschutsluis Haanssluis, a Rijksmonument from the 19th century built by farmer De Haan in the Haansvaart.

Nature themes on the Kabouterpad

The Kabouterkrant for the Kabouterpad is available at Kaap Steendam. There, nature themes aimed at children are presented through questions, activities and interesting facts. Complementing the trails that focus on walking and cycling, the Kabouterkrant draws attention to questions and activities about nature.

Discover more destinations: Overschild, Slochteren, Kolham, Scharmer

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