Den Ilp: Moorland Landscape and Historic Village Architecture

Landscape and Seasonal Excursions

Den Ilp offers both a landscape and a village-history perspective. Ilperveld lies between Landsmeer, Den Ilp, and the Noordhollandsch Kanaal and consists of hundreds of peat islands. Near Den Ilp, Landschap Noord-Holland runs boat trips through Ilperveld every Sunday afternoon from early April to late September. The period and day of the week give you a concrete point of reference for planning your trip: if you would like to include the excursion, check the date in advance.

Village History and Historic Buildings

Den Ilp originated in the 12th century as a village established for draining moorland and colonizing peatland. This history connects the village to the surrounding moorland. In the wider settlement pattern, Landsmeer, Den Ilp, and Purmerland together form an extensive ribbon village surrounded by a landscape rich in water and greenery. The history of each individual village thus sits alongside their shared settlement pattern, without merging the villages into a single place.

The former two-class public primary school at Den Ilp 73 dates from around 1900 and was remodeled around 1920. Its historic character reflects both its former use as a school and two distinct construction periods: its origins around the turn of the century and its later remodeling.

The farm complex at Den Ilp 193 also illustrates historic architecture. It dates from the 19th century and has a hay barn at the rear. The farm complex and the building at the back thus offer a different type of building from the village school.

The crosswise timber house at Den Ilp 131–132 was built in 1899 and remodeled in 1930. These two dates place the house both in its original construction period and in a later phase of alteration. For comparison, consider the house at Den Ilp 45: it is an example of a central-corridor house with brick decorations dating from 1911. In a central-corridor house, the hallway is in the middle of the house.

Other examples add to the variety of architectural forms. The two-story egg-storage building “Ons Voordeel” at Den Ilp 111 dates from 1924. The semi-detached house at Den Ilp 31–32 features traditionalist forms from around 1925. Within just a few decades, these buildings therefore bring together a timber house, a central-corridor house, an egg-storage building, and a semi-detached house, each with its own date.

More Ideas in the Surrounding Area

Near Landsmeer, the “Historisch rondje Landsmeer” route passes unique places of historical, cultural, and natural interest. It offers a different focus from the boat trips through Ilperveld: one centers on a journey through the moorland, while the other takes in historical, cultural, and natural places in the area around Landsmeer.

Discover more destinations: Landsmeer

Go to the main travel overview: Landsmeer.