Vital Countryside
Laag Holland
On the road from city to country - Extraordinary Vital Countryside Laag Holland
Laag Holland is rich in nature! Green meadows criss-crossed by ditches and canals, vast peat meadows and endless water. Visitors and residents enjoy this special landscape every day, but Laag Holland has not always looked like this. Over the years, the area has changed a lot, due to the influence of nature, but especially also by human hands. These cycling and walking routes through North Holland take you through the past and present of this beautiful landscape and show you what is being done today to preserve this beautiful nature. What are you waiting for? Discover the cycling and walking routes for yourself!
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On a bird safari in Waterland-East
Immediately north of Amsterdam lies the vast peat meadow area Waterland-East. Among meadow birds such as the black-tailed godwit and lapwing, this is a popular breeding area. Yet here too, the meadow bird is under pressure. Various parties have joined forces to optimise conditions for meadow birds in Waterland-East. Curious about what is being done to achieve these goals? Then discover this cycling tour north of Amsterdam.
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Experience the living bog
Drought is becoming an increasing problem. So too in peat meadow area the Ilperveld. Drought is causing the peat here to sink as much as one centimetre a year. Can you imagine? Soil subsidence brings major consequences, such as more CO2 emissions and damage to our infrastructure. Cycling through the landscape, this beautiful cycle route in North Holland tells you what it means to maintain an important peatland area, and what challenges are involved.
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Future-proof farmers in Amsterdam North
Amsterdam Noord is rich in local produce. Several farms have been located here for many years. Modern problems make keeping cattle or growing fruit and vegetables increasingly complicated, so many farmers work together to make their farms future-proof, so that the landscape is preserved for the future. You will discover how the farmers do this during the cycle route along the farms in Amsterdam-Noord.
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Meadow birds in the Wormer and Jisperveld
Every year, the number of meadow birds in the Wormer- and Jisperveld declines. Special nature management has ensured that numbers have stabilised in recent years. Only unfortunately, this is not enough. To create the ideal habitat for meadow birds, various parties have joined forces. Accurately managing grasslands plays an important role in this. Curious how these parties manage the peat meadow area? Then quickly discover this cycle route in the Wormer- and Jisperveld!
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Miracle crop in the Burkmeer polder
Most of Laag Holland consists of peat grassland. If the groundwater level is too low, this peat soil subsides, releasing various gases such as CO2. Nature management organisations, governments and local farmers work together to find a solution to this growing problem. This includes looking at traditional and alternative methods. Wondering how Lisdodde can contribute to this problem? Then read the story of the Burkmeerpolder during this unique walk through North Holland.
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Wormer and Jisperveld; a meadow bird paradise
One sees the number of meadow birds in the Wormer- and Jisperveld declining every year since the end of the last century. To ensure that the peat meadow area remains a walhalla for meadow birds, various parties are working closely together. In this, careful management of the grasslands plays an important role. Walking through the Wormer- en Jisperveld in North-Holland, you will learn more about the meadow birds in this peat meadow area and the management of this unique landscape.
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Along the shores of Lake Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer
The Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake has existed for as long as anyone can remember. Various developments have upset the balance between nature and recreation here in recent years. To restore this balance, several developments are taking place in the area. This cycle route takes you from Buitenpoort Castricum (station) along the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer and the beautiful area around it.
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Bird watching in the polder
Between Castricum, Heemskerk and Uitgeest stretches a beautiful green and watery area. Over the centuries, this area has changed a lot. Yet many places in the landscape still refer back to the past and the history of this area is still clearly visible. While walking, the points on the map tell you more about the past and present of this area.
Through Amsterdam's farmland - Honeyguide x Extraordinary Vital Countryside
We invited Honeyguide ambassadors Anne-Floor & Amanda to discover Laag Holland with the cycling route through Amsterdam Noord. They cycled the route and described their experiences in a blog. They take you through the farming landscape and the local delicacies they encountered along the way. Curious? Discover the route for yourself!
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Honeyguide x Extraordinary Vital Countryside
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WestphilWalks through Laag Holland - WestphilWandelt x Extraordinarily Vital Countryside
Last April, Laura & Adriaan of WestphilWandelt set out on a hike in through the Wormer and Jisperveld in North Holland. They walked the route and described their experiences in a blog. Their blog takes you along the walking route and the beautiful locations they encountered along the way. Get inspired and set out on your own soon!
Blog: Walking and boating through the Wormer- and Jisperveld.
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WestphilWandelt x Extraordinarily Vital Countryside
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Tips on the go
Have you found the route you want to go cycling or hiking? Great!
Then it's almost time to get started, but we'd like to give you some tips for along the way after the walking and cycling inspiration.
Bike rental
Easily rent your (electric) bike from one of the rental companies in the region. Do you travel to Laag Holland by public transport? Then hire an OV-fiets with your personal OV-chipcard to travel further into the region! This way, you will discover the beautiful cycling routes in Noord-Holland in no time.
Parking
Are you coming to Laag Holland with your own transport? Toerist Transfer Points (TOP) are handy points where you can leave your car to further explore the North Holland region on a beautiful cycling or walking route. Find the nearest TOP for your chosen route here. No TOP nearby? Then park your car at one of the P+R locations in the region.
Food & drink
Chances are that you will get hungry along the way. Fortunately, Laag Holland is full of nice restaurants, lunchrooms, tea gardens and other catering establishments to boost your energy levels so that you can continue cycling or walking. Find the best restaurants on your route here!
Rest stops
Sometimes there is no restaurant nearby to take a break. Not to worry, as many farmers have created a Rest Point on their property. Here you can take a break, recharge your bike and use the sanitary facilities.
These routes were developed by Bureau Toerisme Laag Holland, commissioned by Recreatieschap Twiske-Waterland, Recreatieschap Alkmaarder- en Uitgeestermeer and the Province of North Holland and are part of the Intergovernmental Programme Vital Countryside. Within the Inter-administrative Programme Vital Countryside (IBP-VP), administrators, civil servants, social organisations, entrepreneurs and other parties involved work on the challenges in the rural area in innovative ways. In Laag Holland, projects and tests are being carried out at various locations around subsidence, biodiversity, climate adaptation and meeting the growing natural needs of recreationists. Seven newly developed cycling and walking routes along the Alkmaarder- and Uitgeestermeer, the Burkmeer, Landelijk Noord, Waterland-Oost, the Ilperveld and the Wormer- and Jisperveld in North Holland will introduce holidaymakers to these special areas and the work being done to preserve them.
