The Ripe & Graft
in the Land of Leeghwater
De Rijp - Birthplace of Jan Leeghwater
De Rijp and Graft are historic villages in the Land van Leeghwater, where the past is still visible in town halls, churches, timber-framed facades, warehouses and quiet streets. Take a stroll through De Rijp, the birthplace of Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater, and discover the traces of shipping and trade in Graft. Together, these villages tell the story of water, trade and prosperity on the former Schermereiland.
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Museum in the Wooden House
Museum in the Wooden House
In this museum, you’ll discover the story of the former Schermereiland and the villages shaped by water, trade and industry. Temporary exhibitions and historical artefacts provide deeper insight into the area’s rich past.
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De Rijp town hall
De Rijp town hall
This historic town hall, dating from 1630, was designed by Leeghwater. It now houses the De Rijp Tourist Information Centre, with the original Waag on the ground floor.
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Cultural highlights of De Rijp
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Museum Jan Boon
Museum Jan Boon
This museum offers a glimpse into the life of the Boon family, a prosperous family of shipowners and merchants. In the historic family home, you can see how wealth, trade and everyday life in De Rijp were intertwined.
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Great Church
Great Church
Behind the high walls, you’ll find special features such as the Rijper Glazen, the floor of tombstones and the historic organ. The church tells us a great deal about the prosperity, faith and community life of days gone by.
Graft - A tiny village, but a big history.
Graft is one of the smallest villages in Laag Holland, yet rich in history. In the village, the Renaissance town hall, the preserved gravestone floor and Bram & Aagie’s little shop are reminders of a past shaped by seafaring, industry, faith and village life. It is precisely its compact scale that makes Graft so special: behind every façade lies a story.
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Graft town hall
This small Renaissance-style town hall illustrates just how important Graft used to be as an independent and prosperous community. Its ornate façade, its former role as a seat of justice and its location in the historic village centre make it a distinctive landmark in the village. Today, it serves as a museum and a wedding venue.
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Marble floor
The preserved floor of gravestones serves as a reminder of the church that once stood here and of the people who were part of the village’s history. The church was demolished in the 1950s due to disrepair, but the gravestone floor has been preserved. Press the button on the information kiosk and listen to the most fascinating stories about the people of Graften who found their final resting place here.
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Bram & Aagie
Graft used to be home to many baker families of various faiths, the vast majority of them Baptist. This little shop - just 5.5m2 - was one such Baptist shop. Bram and Aagie van Petten ran the shop and in 2006 grandson Jaap reopened it selling real old Dutch confectionery.
More Land of Leeghwater?
De Rijp and Graft are lovely starting points for discovering more of the Land van Leeghwater. Combine your visit with a route through the Eilandspolder, discover the windmills and land reclamation works of the Schermer, or take time out for a break at a local restaurant or terrace.
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Schermer
De Schermer originated in the seventeenth century when a large lake was drained using dozens of windmills. Today, you can still see the tight parcelling of land, ring dykes and historic mills that remind you of this impressive feat of Dutch water management.
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Eilandspolder
The Eilandspolder is a watery nature area where ditches, islets and grasslands alternate. This landscape shows what North Holland looked like before large polders changed the area. A place where nature, silence and cultural history come together.