Nieuwkoop: Experience Nature and History

The Nieuwkoopse Plassen combine a typically Dutch landscape with the character of a low-peat marshland. They are an important habitat for purple herons, green-winged orchids and northern water voles. Water lilies, yellow water lilies and water soldiers can also be found in and around the lakes; mammals in the area include otters, roe deer and foxes. In Nieuwkoop, a watery landscape, plant life and wildlife habitats come together.

Nature and trails around Nieuwkoop

As a nature destination in the Groene Hart, Nieuwkoop offers opportunities for walking, boating and cycling. If you want to explore the lakes by water, there are various routes and options. The Nieuwkoopse Plassen Otter Canoe Route is 8.5 kilometres long and can be followed by canoe, electric boat or SUP board. As route conditions can change, it is advisable to check them before setting off.

The Nieuwkoopse Plassen are also the focus of Natuurmonumenten’s excursion boat. The boat has been adapted for wheelchair users and can accommodate six wheelchairs. Check with the operator before your trip about any accessibility arrangements you may need.

For a cycling tour, consider “Smakelijk Fietsen – De Smaak van Veenweiden.” The route, which is around 40 kilometres long, launched in July 2026; sections of it can also be ridden. It passes farms, farm shops, terraces and other welcoming places in the municipality of Nieuwkoop and the surrounding region. As participating businesses may change, check the details of the stops in advance.

Museums and history

Permanent exhibitions at Museum Nieuwkoop offer insights into blacksmithing, the history of the polder, a carpenter’s workshop, local archaeology and the Oude Hollandse Waterlinie. The museum also explains how today’s peat-meadow landscape came into being and how it has developed over the centuries. You can allow around 45 minutes for a visit; the duration may vary. You can combine it with a cycling tour along the Nieuwkoopse Plassen.

Smederijmuseum Nieuwkoop explores the history of Nieuwkoop’s blacksmiths and the lives and work of the blacksmiths and their families. During a guided tour, blacksmithing is demonstrated using historical methods; the living quarters are also part of the tour. The museum thus complements the story of the landscape with the history of a craft and the daily lives of the people who practised it.

At Cultuur Historisch Museum Ter Aar, a permanent exhibition tells the story of Ter Aar and its surroundings. The collections cover agriculture and horticulture, peat extraction and the canning industry. Guided tours are available for groups, schools and families of at least ten people. Arrange a group visit with the museum before you arrive. Boat trips for groups are also possible aboard the restored Kagenaar “Vrijwilliger” at the museum; these must also be arranged in advance.

A special view over the surrounding area

The Reghthuystoren is the tower of the former house of Nieuwkoop. This slender brick building dates from 1627 and has a balustrade and an ornately designed wooden octagonal upper section with an open, pear-shaped finial. Groups can climb the tower by appointment. From there, you can look out over the surrounding countryside; on clear days, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht may also be visible.

Nieuwkoop offers everything from routes on the water and cycling trails to exhibitions about the landscape and local history. To combine nature and culture, you can pair a visit to Museum Nieuwkoop with a cycling tour along the lakes. Which of these aspects you would like to focus on is a good starting point for planning your trip and looking for a hotel.

Discover more destinations: Nieuwkoop, Nieuwveen, Woerdense Verlaat, Ter Aar, Zevenhoven, Noorden, Waddinxveen, Zederik.

Back to the regional travel overview: South Holland.