Waterland

Just north of Amsterdam there is a beautiful area with many canals and small lakes. Here you don't have the feeling being so close to a big city. In the eastern part of Waterland there are three markes kayak-routes.

Two routes:

Kayak rentals:  

History

Around the year 1000 the area around Amsterdam was a nearly unaccesable swamp. There were dozens of small rivers, vast areas of reed and further away from the water forests. The coastline of the Almere (later Zuiderzee, IJsselmeer and Markermeer) was 7 to 9 miles further to the east than to-day. The island of Marken was still part of the main land. The Ransdorper Die, Holysloter Die and Uitdammer Die formed a main stream towards the Almere. From the 11th century the first land was cultivated. Canals were made to drain the land. The names of several villages still remind to the woods: Katwoude, Schellingwoude and Zuiderwoude (woude = woods). In later times the sea-level raised and the area was flooded several times. The Almere became larger and connected to the Waddenzee, so it was renamed Zuiderzee. Agriculture became more and more difficult. People became sailors and traders. The beautiful gothic churchtower of Ransdorp is proof of the prosperous times, although the money to build a spire on top of it was never raised. To-day the villages in the area are still very small, roads are scarce and narrow. There still is a lot of water to be enjoyed from a kayak. 

Towards Broek in Waterland

1. Round trip passing Monnickendam and Zuiderwoude 18 km. 

A detailed map with 3 routes is available at the local VVV offices (Tourist Information). The red route has a length of 10 km. The blue route has a length of 12 km and makes a round trip passing Broek in Waterland and Monnickendam. The yellow route is has a length of 14 km. 

Mapmyride: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/netherlands/broek-in-waterland/680298251

This trip is for a great part the same as the blue route. Extra is a round through the center of Monnickendam and a round along Zuiderwoude in the direction of Holysloot. It meets the blue route at the Bozen Meertje.

From the starting-point you go to the right (like the blue route). After two bridges you come at the end of the village. Keep to the right. After 1 km you see a sign on you left indicating the nature preserve Varkensland. This spreads out from here toward the Noordhollands Kanaal, which is 3 km to the west. This area is very special because the land is on the same level as the water. Some small windmills keep the land dry. If you want to enter the area, keep in mind that the canals have more mud than water in them. Our trip continues straight on. When you come at the lake you turn right. You pass a small camp-site: De Leek. At the end of the lake you enter the canal on the right. You pass an old bus with big antennas around it. The canal then makes a big bend to the left en you come to Monnickendam. Pass the bridge under road N247 and turn left. The canal is next to the road. At the end of the canal you turn right and follow the bend to the right. Then at the T-junction you turn left. The canal is nice to have a look, but it end at the locks near the harbour. So we go straight on. When tha canal bends to the right you leave the old center. When the canal becomes wider you turn left under the white bridge. You're still on the blue route. After a kilometer you come at a lake, the Ooster Ae. You pass the lake to the far side (south-west). At the other side you enter the canal. At the T-junction you turn left. Now you head for the village Zuiderwoude. Just before the village you turn right under the bridge. Just after the bridge you turn left. Here the canal goes behind the houses of the Dorpsstraat. You pass the wine shop Suyderwou's Wijnloods, where you can buy great wines (open Friday to Sunday). At the last house of the village there is a tea-garden 't Einde. From the garden you have a nice view over the area. At this house you turn right. A little further on you have to carry the kayak across a small road. There are canoe-piers. A little further on you come at another lake, the Holysloter Die. From here you can turn left and make a detour to Uitdam, which is 2,5 km away. This route trurns right however in the direction of Holysloot. Just before Holysloot you turn right into a canal. Follow the canal and you pass a wooden lift-bridge. Then you come at another lake, the Bozen Meertje. You go across enter the canal. Keep following this canal till you reach the first houses of Broek in Waterland. You go under a bridge and turn right. At the end of the canal you come at road N247. Turn left at the T-junction and then right under the bridge. Take the canal to the left and you return at the starting point.

2. Round trip passing Landsmeer, Amsterdam-Noord, Ransdorp and Holysloot 24.5 km.

Mapmyride: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/nl/broek in waterland/441125581317233179

From the starting point head north passed the church-tower. take the first canal to the left at the end of the village. On your right you see the Noordermeerpolder, the land lies well below the water-level. At the next intersection the canal splits: take the left arm away from the dike (not sharp left). Then take the second canal to the left. At the end you go under a footbridge and you turn right at the T-junction. You go straight on under a bridge and cross the Noordhollands Kanaal. After a bend to the left you come at an intersection. You go straight on (30 degrees to the right) and after a short distance you come at a lake. Cross the lake (on your left you see a kayak pier where you can take a break) and enter the canal. At the next intersection you turn left. On your right you see Landsmeer. You go straight on. After a bridge you turn right and left again. You go under the bridge of the Amsterdam beltway. On your right you see Mc Donalds. There is no pier, but it is possible to go to the side here. You go straight on and at the next intersection you turn left. Then you turn left again and after you passed under the highway you turn right again. The straight canal runs along the highway and ends at the Noordhollands Kanaal. Here you turn left. After a short distance the first canal to the right is closed, so you have to take the second one sharp right and sail around the island. Then turn left under bridge marked 25E11 under main road N 247. Just after the bridge you turn right and follow the main canal along the dike. At the wide canal to the left towards Zunderdorp you go straight on. After the bridge you turn left. This is shallow water and the mud may slow you down. At the end of the canal you go under a bridge and turn left at the T-junction. You go straight on towards Ransdorp. Take the narrow canal to the left of the church. You go under 3 low bridges and at the T-junction you turn left. This is a narrow bend, not suitabale for canoes longer than 7 meters. You go under another low bridge and then the canal widens. At the end of the village you take the first canal to the left. You go under a bridge and continue straight on towards the lake Ransdorper Die. Follow the lake to the right. On the other side at the northern point there is a canal that leads to the next lake, the Holysloter Die. Follow the lake and you see Holysloot on your right. Then follow the left side and take the first canal to the left. Follow the canal and you pass a wooden lift-bridge. Then you come at another lake, the Bozen Meertje. You go across enter the canal. Keep following this canal till you reach the first houses of Broek in Waterland. You go under a bridge and turn right. At the end of the canal you come at road N247. Turn left at the T-junction and then right under the bridge. Take the canal to the left and you return at the starting point.

Broek in Waterland

Broek in Waterland

Church of Monnickendam

Monnickendam

Monnickendam

Zuiderwoude

Bozen Meertje

Ransdorp: keep left on the narrow canal under the white bridge.