Ossenzijl – Nature, Water and Canoe Tours

In Ossenzijl, nature and water experiences come together with individual places of interest in the village. The Informatiecentrum Weerribben is a tourist information centre that provides information about the surrounding nature reserve. From here, you can plan your stay around different interests: trips on the water, a canoe route, route stages or special places each offer their own highlights.

Nature and Water in the Weerribben

In the Weerribben landscape, swamp forests, bodies of water, birds and extensive reed fields shape the scenery. Peat extraction transformed the landscape into a wetland area with valuable peatland nature. At the Informatiecentrum Weerribben, you can get information about the nature reserve; a 16 km canoe route also starts there. This lets you include both information about nature and a specific water route in your travel plans.

Trips in a covered excursion boat, an electric whisper boat or a canoe in Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden depart from the information centre. Recreatiecentrum De Kluft in Ossenzijl rents single and double kayaks, as well as Canadian canoes for two or three people. The options differ by type of boat; the number of people each rental canoe is intended for is also specified. This lets you plan according to the kind of water experience you want.

Stages and Waterways

Routes also lead to Ossenzijl: the 18th stage of the Zuiderzeepad covers 20.1 km from Vollenhove to Ossenzijl. The sixth stage of the Stellingenpad runs from Blokzijl via Baarlo to Ossenzijl. The two stages therefore differ in their starting points and routes; the Zuiderzeepad also has a specific distance that can help with planning.

The village lies on the Ossenzijlersloot. Via the Linde, this waterway connects the IJsseldelta with the Friese Meren. Together with the boat trips and canoe route, this gives Ossenzijl a clear connection to the water, while the Zuiderzeepad and Stellingenpad stages place the village as a destination along their respective routes.

Windmill, Rijksmonument and Observatory

In summer, the Paaltjasker Tjasker Kalenberg N in Ossenzijl is used to supply water to the reedland behind it in the Weerribben. Its function links an engineering structure with the care of the reed landscape. The building of the Vrije Zendingsgemeente at Hoofdstraat 10 is protected as a Rijksmonument. The reason is a single-manual organ dating from the mid-18th century, whose origin is unknown.

Another place to visit is Sterrenwacht de Weerribben at Oudeweg 113. It can be reached on foot and by bicycle. So, in addition to water activities, Ossenzijl offers individual places with different themes: landscape management at the windmill, a protected building with a historic organ, and an observatory.

Open Kano Festival and Travel Planning

The annual Open Kano Festival (OKF) takes place in Ossenzijl. The programme includes short and longer tours, as well as active workshops and demonstrations. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates and current programme in advance, as they may change.

If you are looking for a hotel in Ossenzijl, first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: water trips and the canoe route, a stage ending in Ossenzijl, or visits to the individual places each offer a different experience.

Discover more destinations: Belt-Schutsloot, Blokzijl, Giethoorn, Steenwijk, Kalenberg, Paasloo, Kallenkote, Steenwijkerwold

For the higher-level travel overview: Steenwijkerland.