The Eilandspolder
This certainly is one of the most beautiful kayak-areas in the country. There are three marked routes, the Eendenroute (Duck route) 7 km, Kievitroute ( Peewit route) 8 km, and Lepelaarroute (Spoonbill route) 7 km. But of course you can make your own trip and paddle around for a whole day. It is also possible to paddle around the Ringvaart (25 km), but this is not so interesting as you see mostly reed. There are 3 places with kayak piers where you can carry the kayak across the dike.
Kayak-rentals:
 | Bewegeon, Noordeinde 12, Grootschermer. Phone: 06-26438805 (Mr. Jos Bruijns). |
| Café- Restaurant De Vriendschap, Driehuizen 13, 1844 KL Driehuizen. Phone: 0299-672050. |
| Camping Tuinderij "Welgelegen", Raadhuisstraat 24a, 1484 EN Graft. Phone: 0299-673032. |
| Boerderij Schermereylandt,
Oostdijkje 7, 1483 AA De
Rijp, Phone: 0299-673757. |
Starting point near Schermerhorn.
GPS Schermerhorn: Lat. 52.598100, Lon. 4.876200. Driehuizen: Lat. 52.578200, Lon. 4.804000.
| Mapmyride Eendenroute: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/netherlands/schermerhorn/267284650 |
| Mapmyride Kievitroute: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/netherlands/schermerhorn/256381405 |
| Mapmyride Lepelaarroute: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/netherlands/schermerhorn/493927150 |
Starting point Schermerhorn
A good starting-point is near Schermerhorn at the Museum Windmill. Coming from Alkmaar you pass the exit Schermerhorn and turn right just across the bridge. This is a dead end and there is no sign. At the end of the road you see a kayak-pier on your left.
Starting point Driehuizen
Another good starting point is in Driehuizen. Enter the village across the bridge and then turn right. Just outside the village you see the kayak pier on your left. From this point you can paddle towards De Lei or to the left behind the houses of Driehuizen. Restaurant De Vriendschap can be reached from the water. Their speciality is pancakes.
The area once was an island situated between the Schermer and Beemster. These are now polders reclaimed from the sea. The land-level of this area is much higher, although you don't get that impression when kayaking on the many canals. De Rijp once was a sea-port from where whale hunters sailed to Spitsbergen.
From the Ringvaart in the east you can enter De Rijp through a canal. There is one very low bridge. There are locks near the town hall. If you don't want to pass them you can carry the kayak across the road towards the polder. Turn right for about 100 meters.
North of Schermerhorn this area connects to the Mijzenpolder.
A good map for canoeing in the area is: Topografisch Kaart van Nederland BLAD 19 WEST (1 : 50000). Also recommended is the guide-book "Gids voor de Eilandspolder" by Frans Buissink (only in Dutch). It contains many good photo's and a detailed map of the area. Available from VVV tourist infromation, and from the Museum Mill just outside (west) of Schermerhorn.
Schermerhorn in the distance.
De Rijp.
Grootschermer.
Graft
