Zevenhoven: Nature, Cycling Routes and Village History

Nature and the seasons

Groene Jonker is a nature area rich in water, with a large expanse of water, reed beds and wet grasslands. Water levels change with the seasons: in winter, the water is higher and the surroundings are wetter; in summer, water levels are lower and the area is drier. The natural water level encourages young, vigorous reed beds. Both the seasonal changes in moisture and the growth of the reeds are part of this landscape’s character.

Walking and cycling

The De Groene Jonker bird-watching excursion starts in Zevenhoven and lasts 2.5 to 3 hours. As the path may be wet, waterproof walking shoes or boots are recommended. For your planning, these are two distinct points to note: the duration gives you a time frame, while the footwear recommendation relates to the possibility of a wet path.

The Groene Jonker walking route starts at the De Roerdomp car park at Hogedijk 2–10 and ends at Hogedijk 5 in Zevenhoven. For this route, the specific starting and ending points help with navigation; the bird-watching excursion, by contrast, focuses on the duration and the note about the path.

The Zevenhoven Route is 30 kilometres long. The Zevenhoven Route passes through Nieuwkoop, Zevenhoven, Nieuwveen and Noorden and is marked with hexagonal signs. The distance provides a specific guide for planning your trip; the places and markers listed offer additional guidance on the route.

Churches, grotto and polder history

The church at Dorpsstraat 12 was built in two phases. Its oldest part dates from the early 19th century, and its tower from 1937. The sequence shows the difference between the older part of the building and the tower, which was built later.

It is thought that the first church in Zevenhoven stood on the same site as the present Dutch Reformed church at the junction of Dorpsstraat and Stationsweg. Behind the Johannes Geboortekerk is a Lourdes grotto. It contains an almost life-size white replica of Our Lady of Lourdes dating from 1913. Another testament to the area’s polder history is the raised mill remnant at Hogedijk 26, built for water management in the Zevenhoven polder.

Market and coffee room

The village market is a small-scale event held every Saturday morning on Jonge Zevenhovenseweg in Zevenhoven. It offers locally made products. As dates may change, check before your visit to make sure the Saturday market is taking place.

De Landkruidenier in Zevenhoven has a coffee room with indoor and outdoor seating. It serves coffee, soft drinks, farm ice cream and homemade cake. The product selection may change; if you are looking for something specific, it is best to check in advance. The market and coffee room are different places to visit: the market features local products, while the coffee room offers a break with drinks and cake.

More destinations

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

Return to the main travel overview: Nieuwkoop.