Barsingerhorn: protected village setting and history

If you are looking for a place to stay with village history, historic buildings and excursion routes, Barsingerhorn offers several different points of interest. The themes range from the settlement pattern and the protected village setting to the history of the church, mill and tram. There are also specific walking and cycling routes to consider when choosing your destination.

A protected village setting along the Heerenweg

The province of Noord-Holland has designated Barsingerhorn as a protected village setting. The village was first settled on small dwelling mounds; these can be found, among other places, along the Heerenweg and Koningsweg. This connects the early settlement history with two specific streets in the village.

The built-up strip of Barsingerhorn along the Heerenweg from Barsingerhorn to Kolhorn is considered a characteristic landscape backbone. The Heerenweg itself also has listed status: it is a provincial monument. The village setting and the historic road are therefore two distinct aspects of the landscape.

Church and transport history

The former Mennonite church at Heerenweg 48 was built by Pieter Brugman in 1862. Its cultural and historical significance lies in the history of Mennonite communities in Noord-Holland. If you are interested in this history, the church is a specific point of reference alongside the settlement pattern and streetscape.

The tram shelter on the Heerenweg was built around 1910 and is currently used as a starting point for walks. There is also the history of a historic tram line: the branch of the N.V. Tramweg Wieringen-Schagen tram line ran from Barsingerhorn towards Wieringerwaard, ending at Van Ewijcksluis. It opened on 1 March 1912 and closed in 1936.

Mill history and traces of natural gas

The mill ruins stand on the north side of the Vaart, on the eastern edge of Barsingerhorn, in an open setting. They are of considerable landscape significance and belong to a corn mill built in 1907. The hulling mill “Het Wapen van Friesland,” built in Zaandam-Oost in 1761, was acquired as a dismantled mill for the construction of the corn mill built in 1907.

A piece of local technological history can also be traced at the stolp farm at Heerenweg 10: pipes leading to the old natural gas installation opposite can still be found there. The black, round boiler was used to store natural gas. Thin pipes carried the gas to houses Nos. 3, 8 and 10, where it was used for lighting and cooking. The mill and natural gas installation show different aspects of the area's economic and architectural history.

Walking and cycling routes

Barsingerhorn is the starting point for three signposted circular walks. The tram shelter is also currently used as a starting point for walks. The 15-kilometre Westfriesedijkroute begins on the western side of Barsingerhorn, by the tram shelter. This gives you several walking options with different starting points or route details to plan around.

The “Langs dijken en dorpen” heritage cycling route covers about 30 kilometres, passing through the countryside and by old, stately houses, churches, farms and locks. By way of comparison, the Westfriesedijkroute is 15 kilometres long, while the cycling route is about 30 kilometres. Check the latest route details and the availability of the walks before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Westerland, Wieringerwaard, Kolhorn, Kreileroord, Winkel, Hippolytushoef

Return to the main travel overview: Hollands Kroon.