Oudorp: Mills, Paths and Local History

Oudorp brings together open countryside and traces of its history. Expansive meadows and mills define the Oudorperpolder; the Munnikenweg, former castles and churches reveal other sides of the area. You can explore Oudorp through a range of interests when planning your trip: nature and outdoor activities, as well as historic sites and architectural history.

Landscape and paths

The Oudorperpolder is a nature area in Oudorp, with expansive meadows and distinctive mills. The area is popular with walkers, cyclists and nature lovers. Oudorp is also a starting point for waymarked circular walks in the Alkmaar region's walking network. The Rode Route is a short circular walk through Oudorperhout near Alkmaar. Route details may change, so check them before setting out on your walk. Oudorperhout City Park lies between the Hoornsevaart and the Munnikenweg in Alkmaar/Oudorp.

The landscape also has its own historical aspect for cyclists. The cobbled Munnikenweg has long been a sporting challenge for road cyclists. The nature area and the road therefore offer different points of interest: spending time outdoors or exploring the historic road and its surface.

The Munnikenweg and the castles

The Munnikenweg has been a municipal monument since 8 December 2018. Its earlier role dates back further: it once provided Floris V's troops with a safe crossing between the castles of Torenburg and Middelburg. De Nieuwburg Castle stood on the north side of the Munnikenweg, and De Middelburg Castle on its south side.

At the site of De Middelburg, the main castle and the outline of the moat are still clearly visible in the ground. These visible shapes give a tangible impression of how the castle complex stood in the landscape. Those interested in local history will find a different perspective here than along the Munnikenweg: there, the historic road takes centre stage; here, it is the surviving structure of a castle complex.

Mills and churches

The Ambachtsmolen stands in the De Leedjes nature area beside the Kippenbrug in Oudorp. It offers guided tours and a small museum in the attic. Dates and opening hours may vary; check what is currently available before your visit. Mills are part of the characteristic landscape of the Oudorperpolder, while the Ambachtsmolen, with its location and what it offers inside, has its own connection to local history.

Churches and their surroundings also tell of Oudorp's past. The tower of Sint Laurentiuskerk is 48 metres high. Kerkenbos is a woodland belonging to the Catholic St. Laurentius church complex in Oudorp. De Terp was built on the remains of earlier churches at the raised end of a beach ridge. The church hall at De Terp is suitable for concerts and rehearsals by choirs and instrumentalists.

From 1658, Oudorp's Schuilkerk stood in a woodland on the north side of the village, some distance from the Herenweg. Archaeologists found some remains of the vanished church at the western edge of the lawn. Together with Kerkenbos and De Terp, it offers a glimpse of different historical traces: a former church site, woodland in the grounds of the St. Laurentius complex, and a church built on the site of earlier churches.

Discover more destinations: Alkmaar, Koedijk, Stompetoren, Schermerhorn, Driehuizen

Go to the main travel overview: Alkmaar.