Waterland: Villages, Routes and Experiences by the Water

About 15 minutes from Amsterdam, Waterland brings together historic port towns, distinctive villages, green peat meadows and winding ditches. Historic towns, villages and small hamlets tell the story of how life with the water has shaped the region over centuries. Routes through the landscape, village streetscapes and experiences on the water offer different ways to discover this character.

Explore Waterland on Foot and by Bike

Waterland has cycling and walking routes past historic towns and villages, old dikes and open peat meadows. One particularly specific cycling route is the 30.4-kilometre Aeën-en-Dieënroute through the open peat meadow landscape of Waterland-Oost. It passes peat streams, reed-fringed lakes and long, Waterland-style villages; views from the IJsselmeer dike are also part of the scenery. This gives you a sense of the route not only from its length, but also from its changing waterscapes and village views.

For a different way to find your bearings, try the Ilpendam & Watergang walk: it has eleven stops where an audio story plays automatically as soon as you reach each one. The walk is listed as taking 60 minutes. This time estimate answers a different planning question from the length of the Aeën-en-Dieënroute: here, you can plan a walk by duration, while the cycling route can be gauged by kilometres.

Marken can also be explored on foot. The former island is connected to the mainland by a dike; its defining features include wooden houses, drawbridges, boatyards and houses on stilts. The Marker Museum is housed in six historic buildings in the old centre. You can reach Marken by ferry from Volendam; the crossing takes 30 minutes. Check the timetable before your visit.

Broek in Waterland was a seafaring village; its historic streetscape is characterised by wooden houses and a waterside setting. Visitors can stroll along narrow streets and walk by the water. The Broeker Kerk is a historic landmark with a painted ceiling, pulpit and organ. Check access to the church separately before your visit.

Harbours, Ditches and Activities on the Water

Monnickendam’s historic centre combines façades, bridges, churches and warehouses with a harbour connected to the Gouwzee and Markermeer. The Gouwzeeroute takes you by boat to Marken and includes walking and cycling trips between wooden houses built on boatyards and through narrow lanes. It therefore combines a crossing with exploration on foot and by bike.

Waterland’s water-based experiences include sailing on the Markermeer, as well as boat trips, SUP and canoeing through narrow ditches. The Hemmeland recreational area is free to access and offers opportunities for walking, cycling, swimming, surfing and sailing. The options therefore vary by body of water and activity: from sailing on the Markermeer to trips through narrow ditches and recreational activities in the park.

Village History and Regional Culture

Zuiderwoude was founded in the 11th century as a village for draining and cultivating the land and is considered likely to be one of the oldest villages in Noord-Holland. In Watergang, the Reformed church was built in the Gothic style in the 17th century; inside is a small ship. In Ilpendam, the Van-den-Doel House is a Gerrit Rietveld villa from the late 1950s. These places tell Waterland’s story in different ways: from an early village to a church building and a post-war villa.

The Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren covers 400 m² and was built in 2012 around the medieval Speeltoren, dating from 1450. Films cover cheese-making, the origins of Monnickendam and smokehouses, as well as the former tourism industry in Broek in Waterland, the old tram line, the Battle of the Zuiderzee and floods in Waterland. The topics range from everyday regional life to events and changes that have shaped the area.

Cheese-making is also part of the visitor experience: at Jacobs Hoeve in Katwoude, staff dressed in traditional clothing show how cheese is made. For routes, tips and practical visitor information, there are VVV tourist offices in Monnickendam and Marken, as well as the Informatiepunt Marken.

Discover more destinations: Marken, Monnickendam, Watergang, Katwoude, Purmer, Zuiderwoude, Broek In Waterland, Uitdam, Ilpendam

For the wider travel overview: North Holland.