Zuidermeer: Water, Routes and History

Zuidermeer can be explored through its water management, agricultural architecture and landscape history. Key themes include a dry flood retention basin, a meadow bird area along the Oude Gouw, and traces of peat and polder history. There are also walking routes, a stolp farmhouse and the history of a church. This combination gives your stay a thematic framework: you can consider the design of the land and its architectural development together.

Water and Landscape

Wasserberging Westerveer is a dry flood retention basin. The land there was lowered to about 10 cm above the water level in the ditches. This figure describes the elevation of the land in relation to the ditch water, not the depth of the basin. It gives the basin’s function a concrete measure. Another aspect of the landscape can be found along the Oude Gouw in the Polder Achterkogge: an area was created by the water where meadow birds can nest and forage. Together, these examples show different approaches to water management—from retention to creating a habitat for meadow birds.

Walking Routes and Practical Information

A walking route runs along the Veersloot and crosses the wide Slimtocht, one of the region’s major waterways. The Rijndijk follows the irregular contours of the Baarsdorpermeer. One walking route continues along a stretch of the Oude Gouw. These landscape features offer different points of reference as you find your way: waterways and banks are in view, as is the shape of a former lake. There is an important restriction for walking with a dog: dogs are prohibited on the private farm track between junctions 9 and 14 of the yellow route. This section is therefore not suitable for walking with a dog.

Agriculture and Local History

The Baarsdorpermeer was formed by removing the peat banks of the Kromme Leek stream; it was drained in 1624. The formation of the water body and its subsequent drainage make the transformation of the landscape easy to understand. A tall chimney on Baarsdorpermeer road marks the site of the former cooperative dairy De Ster. The history of the church also has a specific date: around 1935, the wooden emergency church in Zuidermeer was replaced by the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Lourdeskerk. The history of the landscape and its architectural changes raise different questions about the land’s former uses and the development of the village.

Architecture and Planning Your Visit

Koggeweg 1 is a well-preserved example of agricultural architecture from the early 20th century. A traditional West Frisian stolp farmhouse has stood on Koggeweg since 1907. Both details offer concrete points of reference if you are interested in historic farm architecture. Museumboerderij De Anloup is also on Koggeweg. If you plan to visit, make arrangements in advance and call ahead; visits are by appointment.

Discover more destinations: Avenhorn, Spierdijk, Scharwoude, Obdam, Hensbroek, Ursem, Berkhout, Oudendijk.

For the broader travel overview: Koggenland.