VVV De Rijp | Land van Leeghwater

They can inform you about what can be seen and experienced in the Land of Leeghwater.

De Rijp
If you walk through De Rijp and see the beautifully restored houses from the seventeenth century, you will understand why Jan Adriaanszn. Leeghwater called this 'The best village in Holland' in the seventeenth century. His birthplace was the most prosperous village of the former Schermer Island in the seventeenth century. It is still one of the most beautiful villages in North Holland and also the cultural heart of the Land of Leeghwater.

The Land of Leeghwater
The Land of Leeghwater is the exceptionally beautiful area located on the northwest side of the National Landscape Laag Holland and lies directly to the east of the city of Alkmaar. This typically Dutch landscape is home to the famous reclaimed land from the Golden Age: the Beemster was the first of the great lakes to be reclaimed in 1612, the Schermer the last in 1635. It is also home to historic villages such as De Rijp, where herring fishing and whaling in the 17th century ensured prosperity, beautiful town halls, (ware)houses and churches. The island on which the villages are located is now known as the water-rich bird meadow area the Eilandspolder. Wonderful walks and cycle rides can be made here on the over old dykes. The Eilandspolder itself only has waterways, accessible for whisper boats, canoes or excursion boats.

The Eilandspolder
In the middle of the Land of Leeghwater lies the Eilandspolder. This protected nature reserve has an area of 1950 ha and a quarter of it is water. It is uniquely located between the historic villages of Graft-De Rijp, Noordeinde, Grootschermer, Schermerhorn and Driehuizen.