Venhuizen: Heritage, Horse Racing and Cycling Routes

Venhuizen can be explored through several distinct themes: historic architectural styles, the Harddraverij, the offerings of a garden centre, and cycling routes through the town and along the IJsselmeer dike. You can use these as a starting point when planning your hotel stay and decide whether architecture, an event, outdoor activities or a cycling tour should be your focus.

Church, Farmhouses and a Historic Overhaal

The Hervormde Kerk in Venhuizen is a single-nave cruciform church with a pentagonal chancel. At De Buurt 1 stands a Stolphoeve dating from 1773. Its features include a carved door with a carved fanlight, six- and nine-pane windows, and a decorative brick chimney.

Swanenplaats at De Buurt 11 is a West Frisian-style Stolpboerderij. Its core is older, while most of the façades date from the third quarter of the 19th century. An old 18th-century Smuiger has been preserved inside. The two farmhouses therefore present different architectural styles and dates: the house at De Buurt 1 is dated 1773, while Swanenplaats combines an older core with later façades.

Another structure is the Overhaal near Westerbuurt 34. It consists of two wooden winches, associated brick paths and wooden slipways that lead into ditches running parallel to the road. The combination of wood and brick clearly distinguishes this monument from the church and farmhouses.

Harddraverij and Local History

The Harddraverij of Venhuizen is a 300-metre short-distance horse race held in the middle of the town. The Harddraverijvereniging Venhuizen has organised the race on Pinkster drie, the third day of Pentecost, since 1960. In April 2021, Harddraverij Venhuizen/Pinkster 3 was added to the Dutch Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. If you would like to plan your trip around the race, check the event date.

The Koggehuis also offers access to local images and objects. Historical photos are available in a picture database, and objects can be found in an object database. At the library, anyone can search by author, title and keyword. As visiting arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the latest information before visiting.

Garden Centre, Activities and Cycling Routes

TuinGoed Bonatèr is a young organic garden centre in the West Frisian village of Venhuizen, near the IJsselmeer dike between Hoorn and Enkhuizen. Its offerings include a farm shop with agricultural products, a play meadow, pedal boats, an electric whisper boat and ponies. Visitors can also fly kites, fish and enjoy water sports there. Before visiting, check the current opening arrangements and the availability of the farm shop and activities.

The paved handbike route through Venhuizen follows quiet side roads lined with small houses and Stolpboerderijen, as well as the wide dike along the IJsselmeer. Check the route conditions before setting out. Another cycling route is 31 kilometres long: it starts in Enkhuizen, follows side roads through Lutjebroek and Westwoud to Venhuizen, then runs along the Zuiderdijk on the IJsselmeer back to Enkhuizen. For comparing the two tours, the 31-kilometre distance provides a specific route length; for the handbike route, the surface and character of the route are the main details described.

There are several possible focuses for a stay: the details of historic buildings, the date of a traditional race, the garden centre’s offerings or a cycling route. The sequence of towns and the length of the longer cycling tour, as well as the described architectural and landscape features, can help you weigh your interests when planning your trip.

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

Go to the main travel overview: Drechterland.