Landsmeer: Peatland Landscape, Waterways and Village History

In Landsmeer, a distinctive peatland landscape meets a rich village history. The village borders the Ilperveld on one side; the Het Twiske recreation area lies northeast of Landsmeer. From birdwatching and waterways to walking routes and historic buildings, you can discover different sides of the region.

Peatland landscapes and routes around Landsmeer

The Ilperveld is a peat meadow landscape with hundreds of peat islands, drainage mills, birds and grazing livestock. If you want to explore the landscape on foot, the Kadoelenroute offers a clearly described route: this ten-kilometre walking trail passes through Ilperveld Landsmeer and along old peat streams and the waterways of Het Twiske. Some walking routes around Landsmeer cross unpaved ground, which can become muddy after rain. It is useful to bear this in mind when choosing footwear and planning your day.

You can also experience the Ilperveld from the water. Guided boat excursions are offered on Sunday afternoons from early April to late September. The visitor centre rents out whisper boats, canoes and rowboats from April to September. If you are planning around a particular date or boat, check the times and current availability in advance.

Het Twiske recreation area has kilometres of routes for cycling, walking and horse riding. There is also a climbing park, a petting zoo and two dive sites, including an underwater park. This makes Het Twiske a different kind of nature outing from a guided boat excursion in the Ilperveld: here, routes and a range of leisure activities take centre stage, while there the focus is on the landscape seen from the water.

For cycling, the “Historisch rondje Landsmeer” route starts in Landsmeer. It leads to places of historical, cultural and natural interest. You can rent e-bikes from Dral Fietsen in Landsmeer for rides around the region and towards Het Twiske; check availability and terms in advance.

Churches, a mill and local history

The Grietje-Tump Museum shows what a Waterland house looked like around 1900. Its permanent collection includes furniture, household objects and jewellery, as well as old textiles such as christening gowns and embroidery samplers. Check the opening arrangements before visiting. Contact Petra in advance to find out whether the Anton Heyboer Gallery is open.

The Kerkje van Landsmeer is a former Dutch Reformed church dating from 1852. It retains parts of the interior of its predecessor; access to the interior may be restricted. The bell tower houses a bell made by A. Koster in 1639. The Everskerkje is a rare example of religious timber-frame construction in the Eclectic style. These terms describe two different aspects of the building: its construction and its stylistic classification.

The local history of trade can also be read in specific buildings and dates. Landsmeer developed into a national centre for the egg trade. Het Grote Huis is a Rijksmonument, was a centre of the egg trade from 1900 and hosted an egg auction in 1925. A house at Dorpsstraat 54 was built in 1863 in a restrained Eclectic style. The church in Purmerland probably dates from the early 14th century; this date remains a historical estimate.

Since 1974, the Twiskemolen has stood on the boundary between the municipalities of Landsmeer and Oostzaan. The octagonal inside-sailing mill was originally built around 1541 in Barsingerhorn. The Luijendijk is another example of historic water management: it was built along the Twiske in 1589 to protect the surrounding area from flooding. Together, the mill and the dike tell the story of different ways people used and shaped the landscape.

Regional products in everyday life

Local offerings include fresh regional produce at the Friday market in Landsmeer; check before visiting whether the market is taking place. Rural farm shops in Landsmeer also sell regional products. The farm shop at Natuurboerderij Hardebol sells, among other things, meat from its own Black Angus cattle, eggs from its own hens and homemade jam; the range may change. Natuurboerderij is a water farm: in summer, the cows are taken by boat to the islands of the Ilperveld. This farming practice offers insight into how people work with the landscape, whether you choose to focus your stay on routes, history or regional produce.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Landsmeer, Den Ilp, Wieringermeer, Wijdemeren, Hollands Kroon, Langedijk, Heemstede, Graft-De Rijp.

Go to the broader travel overview: North Holland.