Ouder-Amstel: Cultural Heritage and Waterscapes

Ouder-Amstel showcases cultural history and water-shaped landscapes from several perspectives. In Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, Beth Haim, the Amstelkerk and the Ouder-Amstel Museum lead visitors through different chapters of regional history. Around the Ouderkerkerplas and the Ronde Hoep polders, recreation and landscape take centre stage. In Duivendrecht, historic trails and a cultural venue add to what the area has to offer. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can shape your trip around history, activities on the water or outdoor pursuits.

Beth Haim and Historic Ouderkerk

The Portuguese-Israelite Cemetery of Beth Haim was founded in 1614 and is still in use. The four-hectare site is a Rijksmonument, a Dutch national heritage site. On the undisturbed grounds beside the Amstel are around 30,000 graves, which tell the story of the history and culture of Portuguese Jews in the Netherlands. Beth Haim is open to everyone year-round; religious holidays may be exceptions. You can visit the cemetery independently or join a guided tour by appointment. Its distinctive approach to history sits alongside the churches, museum and historic trails of the region.

The centre of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel has been designated a protected village landscape since 1990. Its characteristic townscape includes buildings around a waterside square at the confluence of the Amstel and Bullewijk. The Amstelkerk stands on the site of the oldest church in Amstelland. The neoclassical building was constructed in 1775 as a Dutch Reformed church. Highlights of the interior include the pulpit, the gentlemen's pew and the Flaes organ from 1865.

The Ouder-Amstel Museum is housed in old deacon's cottages on Kerkstraat in the centre of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. Old maps, models, everyday objects and photographs convey the history of the region. A particular focus is the relationship with water. The museum and the village landscape thus offer different perspectives: historic objects on the one hand, and the buildings at the confluence on the other.

Waterscapes and Outdoor Trails

The Ouderkerkerplas recreation area includes beaches and a day campsite. Surfers, canoeists and small-sailboat users can make use of a boat ramp and a waterside surfing area. Birdwatching is another option: bird lovers can spot thousands of wigeon there. Access restrictions may vary by season.

The Ronde Hoep polders are part of the Groene Hart and are an almost untouched example of how people settled uncultivated land in the early Middle Ages. Walkers and cyclists use the landscape. The Gemaal Ronde Hoep pumping station was built by the polder near Ouderkerk aan de Amstel in 1913. Its old diesel engine and almost all of its original equipment, including measuring instruments and tools, have been preserved.

Three historic walking routes have been created and signposted in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. They are easy to follow and marked with signs; check the signposting on site. The Duivendrecht historical walking route introduces visitors to the area's history through information boards at places of historic interest. The Duivendrecht cycling route passes through the Groot Duivendrechtse Polder and follows the Amstel to Ouderkerk; it also passes Duivendrecht's sights. Routes may change, so it is advisable to check the information before setting out.

Planning for Culture and a Place to Stay

De Kleine Kerk in Duivendrecht is a cultural venue for film, music, theatre and singing. Together with the historic walking routes, it reveals a different side of the area from the cemetery, church and museum in Ouderkerk.

Discover more destinations: Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, Duivendrecht, Beemster, Stede Broec, Zaanstad, Haarlem, Langedijk, Hoorn.

For the regional travel overview: North Holland.