Uithoorn between the Amstel, polders and forts

Uithoorn combines the Amstel with polder landscapes, green paths and traces of its defensive history. Along the Waterlijn, walking and water sports meet a riverside landscape; routes lead to the old town centre, gardens and historic forts. This makes it easy to plan a stay around a wide range of interests.

Explore the town centre and countryside on foot

The Oude Dorp route is three kilometres long and takes about an hour. It leads through the old centre of Uithoorn and the Thamerdal neighbourhood, with its first post-war extensions. Along the way are several monumental trees, the Sint-Jan de Doperkerk and the former inland harbour. The route is accessible to wheelchair users up to the steps at the crossing of Koningin Maximalaan.

For a longer walk, consider the seven-kilometre Wandeling door groen Uithoorn. It starts at the Tuin van Bram de Groote and leads through the Zijdelse Zomp swamp forest, along the banks of the Zijdelmeer and on the towpath beside the Amstel to Fort aan de Drecht. The Quackelroute connects Uithoorn and De Kwakel via quiet residential streets, dikes and historic lines. Water, old defences and characteristic village streets are among the sights along the way; local path conditions may vary.

The Quackelroute starts at the Aan de Zoom stop, the first stop on line 25 when it enters Uithoorn from Amstelveen. As public transport connections may change, check the current service in advance. The Fortenroute offers another way to explore the area: it leads to scenic and historic attractions, as well as the repurposed forts at the Drecht and near De Kwakel. Both are part of the Stelling van Amsterdam.

Water, polders and gardens

The renovated Waterlijn along the Amstel is an important recreation area for walkers and water sports enthusiasts. New jetties have been added to the moorings for visiting boats in Uithoorn. Excursion boats from Amsterdam and historic vessels can moor by arrangement with the harbourmaster. Aemstel Boating rents out several sloops from a departure point on the Amstel in Uithoorn, including boats for six or eight people and a Langweerder 6.50 Classic for eight. Fortvarend offers SUP lessons and equipment hire; the launch point is on the Amstel in Amstelhoek, opposite the harbour of Uithoorn.

The Zijdelmeer is one and a half kilometres long and covers 30 hectares. It is part of the protected Uithoorn nature area and can be explored on foot, by running, by bicycle or on inline skates. The Uithoornse Polder, viewed from the Bruggetjes Route, is an old peat polder landscape with its medieval field pattern still intact. The area visible from the route is a meadow bird habitat connected to the NatuurNetwerk Nederland. The Vuurlijn also tells the story of the landscape: it consists of a chain of old polder dikes, with a grass embankment, earth ramparts and a covered connecting path.

The Tuin van Bram de Groote evolved from an English landscape garden into a garden with plant species native to the area, while its distinctive trees were preserved. Garden features include an ornamental garden with a flower meadow and flowerbeds, an orchard, a small swamp forest, a toad pond, a herb garden, a berry corner and around ten beehives. Free visits are possible on the first Sunday of each month from April to September, from 1 pm to 4 pm. The entrance is on Elzenlaan, by the Landschap Noord-Holland work hut; bicycles can be parked there. As the schedule may change, check the date before your visit.

Forts, art and local history

Fort aan de Drecht dates from 1911 and is part of the Stelling van Amsterdam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Kehlkasematt houses an exhibition about the fort and the World Heritage Site; its availability may vary. Het Pannenkoekenfort serves pancake dishes at the fort, while the Wijngenootschap Vinocerf hosts wine tastings and sells wine.

In the green rampart surrounding Fort bij De Kwakel is a concrete gun emplacement facing the road to Vrouwenakker. In Oranjepark, near Emmalaan, stands Levenskracht, a bronze artwork by Sjra Schoffelen from 1967, featuring human figures. Also in Oranjepark, the bronze monument Aarde en Water II commemorates the 1980 liberation celebration, held 35 years after the liberation.

The Museum- en Expowagen De Kwakel en Uithoorn is a mobile museum, or exhibition vehicle. It can be visited and entered on national holidays; visiting dates may vary. The local story also includes the history of the market: Uithoorn’s Thursday cheese and butter market dates back to 1858 and ended in 1960.

Things to do in De Kwakel and the surrounding area

The De Kwakelse Polder Experience offers two guided tours with different focuses. The first follows the Stellingdijk, visits the forts and gives visitors a chance to look inside Fort De Kwakel. The second starts at a horticultural nursery with greenhouses and outdoor cultivation, lasts three to three and a half hours, and then continues by bicycle through the Uithoornse Polder to the source of the Amstel.

Poldersport offers Poldersurvival, Zeskamp, human foosball, Highland Games and Kidz Survival, as well as canoeing, archery and Quakelgolf. The 27-hectare nature park in Libellebos is home to a herd of large grazing animals; visitors can play, cycle and walk there. Kinderboerderij De Olievaar offers a chance to see various animal species and has, among other things, a playground, a water play feature, a butterfly garden and a vegetable garden. Bamboelabyrint Nirwana offers more activities, including a 2,500-square-metre bamboo maze, a tea garden, a willow tunnel and the De Ruïne van Steenwyck play mound.

The routes, landscapes and cultural sites described here offer practical starting points for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: De Kwakel, Uithoorn, Den Helder, Huizen, Bussum, Aalsmeer, Beverwijk, Drechterland

For the broader travel overview: North Holland.