Westzaan

A round trip passing Zaandam and Zaandijk of 17 km. No kayak rentals.

To the starting point: From Amsterdam take the A8 in the direction Zaandam and then the direction Alkmaar. Take exit 3 Zaandijk-West and follow the N515 in the direction Westzaan. Turn left into the village. Then take the first street to the right and then left again around the church without a tower. You´re in the Torenstraat now and the starting point is at the canal on your right.

From Alkmaar follow the N264 along the canal Nauernasche Vaart. Turn left at the roundabout and then turn right into the village. Then take the first street to the right and then left again around the church without a tower. You´re in the Torenstraat now and the starting point is at the canal on your right.

GPS: Lat: 52,463510, Lon: 4,770700

Mapmyride: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/netherlands/westzaan/677491541

From the starting pont turn left. You go under a bridge and you come at De Weel. Turn right in the direction of the locks Weelsluis, but take the first canal to the left. This is a wide canal that leads to the south of the polder. In the distance you see the cranes of the Amerikahaven. Keep following the canal. At a dike it bends to the left. You pass some houses and on your right you see the locks towards the Noordzeekanaal, You keep following the main canal into Zaandam. At a T-junction you turn right and at a small lake you turn left. You go under a bridge where you see an office building of the Rabobank in the distance. Follow the canal passed the railway station of Zaandam. Keep heading north along the railway. You pass the stations Koog Bloemwijk and Koog a.d. Zaan. You go under 2 rather low culverts (numbered 352). Then you go under a bridge of highway A8. When you come at an allotment garden there is a very low bridge. But you can go around the garden by turning right and then left twice. Then keep going straight on through Zaandijk until you reach the slope of highway A8. Turn right on the lake and take the third canal to the left and then turn left again. You go under a bridge and then turn left again. Then turn right and after a bridge take the third canal to the right. You go under a bridge again, and then you go straight on until you reach the houses. Turn left at the T-junction and turn right at the next T-junction. Keep going straight on and turn right under a bridge to return to the starting point.

From the Polder Westzaan you can paddle to the Zaan passing the locks Mallegatsluis. It is not possible to carry the kayak passed the locks. The locks are operated from 9 am to 7 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm.

Westzaan

Polder Westzaan

Allotment garden in Zaandijk.

Along highway A8

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