Hem: historic farmhouses and West Frisian landscape

Hem combines historic farmhouses and distinctive architecture with a landscape whose history stretches back to prehistoric times. The village offers different starting points for planning your trip: you can explore West Frisian architectural styles, follow the Streekpad Westfriese Omringdijk, or consider Hem as part of the Drechterland landscape and leisure region.

Hem and its regional landscape

Drechterland, including Hem, combines views across the IJsselmeer and agricultural land with characteristic stolp farmhouses. Regional leisure activities include hiking, boating and cycling. This context adds to the picture of Hem without bringing the different options together into a single outing or set route.

A specific connection with the water can be seen along the Streekpad Westfriese Omringdijk: the route passes Tersluis on the Markermeer. Hem’s harbour used to be located there. The historic harbour is therefore part of the village’s history; this does not refer to a harbour operating today. Those interested in the landscape will find a different perspective here from the details of the farmhouses and historic buildings.

West Frisian architecture in detail

The Schuilwijk stolp farmhouse, together with its schute, is a largely preserved example of traditional rural architecture typical of West Friesland. Its core is older, while its appearance dates from the second half of the 19th century. The distinction between the older building core and its later exterior makes Schuilwijk especially informative for anyone interested in the development of historic farmhouses.

The tower of the Herv. Kerk at Hemmerbuurt 66 also features several architectural details. It has three sections. A tall pointed arch frames the entrance, above which is a rose-shaped sandstone beam. Narrow pointed-arch niches adorn the second and third sections; in the upper section, some of the recessed panels serve as sound openings. The balustrade and spire date from the period after the 1897 fire. This makes it easy to distinguish the older tower sections from the elements added after the fire.

A three-sided Kaakberghoeve is located at Hemmerbuurt 99. Its features include a wooden side wall, windows with muntins and a wooden gable ornament with a makelaar. The building at Hemmerbuurt 101 has a simpler appearance: it has a renovated façade and also a wooden side wall. Here, a number of specific construction features are contrasted with a more restrained design.

A landscape with a deep history

From the junction with Meeweg, Hemmerbuurt runs northeast along a raised, sandy inversion ridge. This ridge traces former stream beds dating back to prehistoric times, when West Friesland was still a tidal area. The present-day landscape can therefore also be understood as the result of earlier natural developments, not only through its visible buildings and agricultural land.

Another historical reference is the Elba hoeve stolp farmhouse at Hemmerbuurt 243. It was built around 1680 as a farmhouse originally standing on its own on a terp. Unlike the building descriptions, which focus mainly on architectural forms and individual details, this information points to the farm’s original location and date of construction.

Different interests, different perspectives

If you are interested in historic architecture, Schuilwijk, the church tower and the buildings along Hemmerbuurt offer different scales for comparison: from the older core of a largely preserved farmhouse to the sections of a tower and details such as side walls, windows and a gable ornament. Those more interested in landscape history will find different topics in the inversion ridge and Tersluis, spanning everything from prehistoric times to the harbour’s former function.

’t Hemmerven is an outdoor swimming pool in Hem, adding a leisure option to the architectural and landscape themes. When choosing where to stay, you can first consider which of these aspects of Hem appeals to you most. The places and themes described reflect different interests and do not need to be combined into a single route.

Discover more destinations: Westwoud, Hoogkarspel, Schellinkhout, Wijdenes, Venhuizen, Oosterleek.

Return to the main travel overview: Drechterland.