Mijzenpolder

Distance: a round trip over the surrounding canals and Het Zwet is about 12 km.

No kayak rentals here. You can rent kayaks in Grootschermer:  "De Jonge Ruiter", Noordeinde 12, 1843 JH Grootschermer. Phone: 0299-672320. 

I drew this map with the help of a 10-years-old map. You can see there are many dams blocking the passage. During my last trip (May 2006) I made some corrections. But it was impossible to pass all the canals. So you may need to make a small detour or carry the kayak across a dam. The sides are low, so this should be no problem. 

GPS Ursemmervaart: Lat. 52.6171, Lon. 4.9318

The Mijzenpolder is situated nearby the better known Eilandspolder on the north side of Schermerhorn. It is a lot smaller and a lot more quiet. You can see and hear an abundance of birds like the black-tailed godwit, redshank, peewit, oyster-catcher, shoveler duck and skylark. However the area has free access all year round, it is advisable not to disturb the birds during the breeding-season. There is little cultivation except for a few houses along the dikes and a farmhouse in the middle of the polder. This farmhouse is situated at the end of the only road in the polder at the place where from the 1000 to 1745 AD the church Mijzenkerkje was. The polder exitst mainly of grassland and because there are almost no trees you can see the surrounding dikes in all directions. The only way to pass through the polder is by kayak. There are two places where you can enter the polder. First  along Het Zwet near the church of Schermerhorn, and second at a pumpingstation between Ursem and Avenhorn. A trip around the Mijzenpolder "Round U.S.A." is about 12 kilometers.

To the south this area connects to the Eilandspolder.

History

In the past the Mijzenpolder and the Eilandspolder formed a peninsula that was surrounded by seawater: Schermer, Beemster and Starnmeer. Between the present Mijzenpolder and Beemster was a creek named Het Zwet, that connected the Beemster to the Schermer. Het Zwet still exists, but is now part of the canals that surround the polders. The The former name of the peninsula was Schermer Eylandt. It existed of peat-swamp just above water-level. Around the year 950 the soil becam dry enough to walk on it. In the villages Heiloo and Limmen many farmersendured hard times because sand from the dunes was blown over their farmlands frequently. The moved to the peninsula and started a new life cultivating the peat-swamp. But peat mostly exists of remains of plants and is like a spounge: As long as it is wet it has a certain volume and carrying capacity. The first farmers started digging canals to let out the water. But the result was that the peat dried out and compacted. Because of compacting and oxidating the soil can lower for as much as two meters. When the land lowered the surrounding water became a threat. Then dikes were made and a polder existed. When the land became lower than the surrounding water it had to be pumped away. Fortunately in that time the windmill that could pump water was invented by Leeghwater. When also the Beemster and the Schermer became polders, the land of the Mijzenpolder and Eilandspolder was higher of that in the surrounding polders. The many canals keep it from further drying out.

To the starting point at the Ursemmervaart

Exit the A7 (Amsterdam - Afsluitdijk) at Avenhorn (N243). At Avenhorn turn right in the direction Ursem. When you see a canal on your left turn left across the bridge named Fenisserbrug, and then turn right along the Ursemmervaart. At the pumpingstation are kayak piers.

To the  startingpunt Schermerhorn

Exit the N243 (Alkmaar - Avenhorn) in the direction Schermerhorn. Drive through the village and turn left at the church. After the bridge across Het Zwet turn right. After 50 meters there are kayak piers on both sides. On our right there is a path through the reed to Het Zwet.

From Schermerhorn to the kayak piers at the Ursemmervaart.

From the starting point Schermerhorn you go straight on into the polder. Turn right at the second canal under the bridge. Then at the farmhouse you keep to the left and go around the farm. There are a few very low bridges. At the intersection you go straight on. Then at the T-junction you turn left and then right. 

Mapmyride: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/netherlands/schermerhorn/379688515

At the starting point near Schermerhorn.

Cows near the farm in the north-west of the polder.

Starting point along the Ursemmervaart.

Near the only farmhouse in the middle of the polder. This is where the former church Mijzenkerk must have been.