Nieuwkoop: Lakes, Trails and Culture

Nieuwkoop combines the wetlands of the Nieuwkoopse Plassen with waterways, a walking trail and cultural attractions. This offers travellers different ways to shape their visit: nature and water, a walk or a cultural outing.

Landscape and Water

The Nieuwkoopse Plassen is a wetland area with large and small lakes, reed beds, meadows and ditches. Water, reeds and open spaces together shape the landscape. When deciding how to explore, it helps to consider the type of experience you want: a route on the water and a walk offer different ways to discover the destination.

Boat Routes and Cruises

The Otter canoe route through the Nieuwkoopse Plassen can also be travelled by electric boat or SUP board. It starts at Jachthaven Plaszicht. Rederij Nieuwkoop also organises cruises around the Nieuwkoopse Plassen on the traditional salon boats Barbarella and Annabel. The options for exploring the water differ in format: the Otter canoe route can be travelled using several types of craft, while Rederij Nieuwkoop offers cruises on two named salon boats.

Rederij Nieuwkoop also offers tailor-made packages that can combine a boat trip with a museum visit, a walking area or a restaurant. If you would like to combine a cruise with another activity, you can plan around these options and, for example, include culture, walking or a restaurant visit.

Natuurmonumenten’s excursion boat has been adapted for wheelchair users and can accommodate six wheelchairs. When planning your visit, please check the latest accessibility information on Natuurmonumenten’s area page.

Walking Through Nieuwkoop

The Nieuwkoop walking route passes through the historic village centre and partly through the Nieuwkoopse Plassen nature area. It follows the Meijepad through Meijepark and over floating paths across the water. The walk brings together the village centre, the park, paths over the water and a section through the nature area. Unlike a boat trip, you experience these places along a route on foot.

Cultural Attractions

The Nieuwkoop Museum has permanent exhibitions on blacksmithing, the polder, the carpenter’s workshop, archaeology and the Oudhollandse Waterlinie. The exhibits cover traditional crafts as well as the polder and local history. If you would also like to include culture in your trip, a visit to the museum offers a distinct focus alongside nature and walking experiences.

’t Reghthuys also welcomes visitors from outside Nieuwkoop. Hoeve Rijlaarsdam houses a gallery and sculpture garden in a former farmhouse. While the museum focuses on permanent exhibitions, Hoeve Rijlaarsdam brings a gallery and sculpture garden together in a former farmhouse. These offer different kinds of cultural attractions to choose from.

Plan Your Stay

This question connects your accommodation plans with the activities that matter to you on your trip.

Discover more destinations: Nieuwveen, Zevenhoven, Woerdense Verlaat, Noorden, Ter Aar

Go to the main travel overview: Nieuwkoop.