Uitdam: Dike, Water and Village History

Uitdam lies by the water and is shaped by its history of dams, the dike and its paths. Key features include the village’s island-like setting, the paved walking and cycling path on the Uitdammerdijk, the history of the Hervormde Kerk Uitdam and the Aandammerroute. Together, they offer different perspectives on the landscape, local history and routes.

A waterside setting in Waterland

Uitdam was built on a dam and is surrounded by water on all sides. This gives the village an island-like character, but it is not actually an island. Its waterside setting is therefore part of the village’s identity, without Uitdam being equated with an island.

The wider Waterland landscape is green and rich in water. Low-lying meadows, ponds and long ditches shape it, along with winding dikes and bridges. Cows, reeds, farmhouses and old villages are also part of this regional landscape. Uitdam’s waterside setting is thus part of a broader area shaped by pastures, waterways and settlements.

Paths along the dike and through the village

A paved shared walking and cycling path runs along the crest of the narrow Uitdammerdijk. In Uitdam, the cycle path follows the road; south of the village, the route returns to the dike. The dike crest, the road section in the village and the path south of the village are therefore distinct parts of the route described. This change is a useful landmark when planning a walk or bike ride.

Village history and monuments

Uitdam originated as a village in the 13th century, when a dam was built. It was constructed where a small peat stream flowed into the Zuiderzee. The village’s origins are closely connected to the water and the dam, which also shape its appearance today.

The Hervormde Kerk Uitdam was built in 1937 behind the former Zuiderzee dike. It replaced a wooden church dating from 1844. The two construction dates establish a clear timeline for the church building: the wooden structure was followed by the new building in 1937. The church is a municipal monument. The dike near Uitdam is also protected as a monument, in this case a provincial monument.

Maritime history

A notable chapter in the village’s history is the large ship camels. Uitdam’s residents built them and filled them with ballast water to lift ships over sandbanks. This example shows how local history was shaped not only by the dam and the church, but also by shipping and the ways people worked with the water.

Aandammerroute and reed-lined ditches

You can start the Aandammerroute in Uitdam. Outside the villages, the Aandammerroute follows narrow agricultural ditches lined with reeds as a paddling route. These reeds provide shelter for reed birds. Unlike the paved path along the dike crest, the route passes through a lower landscape shaped by ditches and reeds. The two routes offer complementary perspectives on Waterland: the path over the dike and the ditch landscape outside the villages.

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

For the broader travel overview: Waterland.