Along the shores of Lake Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer
Lake Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer has existed for as long as anyone can remember. Throughout the year, residents and visitors alike recreate a lot here. Together, the various (water) activities, catering establishments and beaches make for a wonderful day out.
Several developments have disrupted 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. At various locations, points on the map tell you more about the challenges and developments in this area. Get on your bike and discover for yourself what makes this area so special!
From node 99 to node 24, the route deviates from the junction network. See more details at the description.
This route was developed by Bureau Toerisme Laag Holland, commissioned by the Twiske-Waterland Recreatieschap, the Alkmaarder- en Uitgeestermeer Recreatieschap and the Province of North Holland and is part of the Intergovernmental Programme Vital Countryside.
You are going to see this
Starting point
Castricum railway station
Stationsweg 4
1901 AA Castricum
Navigate to starting point
Second Broekermolen
On Lagendijk stands the beautiful Tweede Broekermolen from 1631. Years ago, this mill - together with four other mills - drained the Uitgeester and Heemskerker Broekpolder.
Second Broekermolen
On Lagendijk stands the beautiful Tweede Broekermolen from 1631. Years ago, this mill - together with four other mills - drained the Uitgeester and Heemskerker Broekpolder.
Unfortunately, four of the five mills have disappeared and the Second Broeker Mill is the only one preserved. Only the watercourses of the four vanished mills are still clearly visible in the landscape. Take a good look around, can you guess where the other mills used to stand?
To this day, the Tweede Broekermolen uses a wooden auger, which can grind 80 to 100 m3 of water per minute from the polder. The mill is also equipped with a so-called light and heavy work with which the wooden auger can be driven at different speeds. This allows the mill to grind water from the polder in both high and low winds. Did you know that the Tweede Broekermolen is also used as a residence in addition to being a windmill?
Monumental Wood Shed | Heritage Park de Hoop
On the Alkmaarder- and Uitgeestermeer lake lies Erfgoedpark de Hoop. Apart from accommodation, catering and water sports, here you will find one of the best preserved wood sheds in the Zaan region.
Monumental Wood Shed | Heritage Park de Hoop
Erfgoedpark de Hoop is located on the Alkmaarder- and Uitgeestermeer lake. Apart from accommodation, catering and water sports, here you will find one of the best preserved wood sheds in the Zaan region.
For years, this shed stood on Zuideinde in Westzaan, but since 2009, this provincial monument has been given a beautiful spot at the Heritage Park.
Today, the story of Cornelis Corneliszoon van Uitgeest - also known as Krelis Lootjes - is told in the woodshed (free admission), among other things. His invention of the sawmill played an important role in the industrial development of our country. In the woodshed, you can also learn more about the origins and habitation history of the OER-IJ and about the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake. With a 'virtual periscope', you can go back in time and see the North Holland landscape as Cornelis experienced it four and a half centuries ago. It is a unique opportunity to see the world through the eyes of this inventor!
Local deepening in Lake Uitgeester
Cycling, the winding cycle path leads you along the shores of the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake. Here, the sound of rustling reeds and rippling water will bring you complete peace.
Local deepening in Lake Uitgeester
Cycling, the winding cycle path leads you along the shores of the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake. Here, the sound of rustling reeds and rippling water will bring you complete peace.
Although on the surface of the lake everything seems in balance, there is still room for improvement under water. Biodiversity under the water surface - mainly due to the limited variation in water depth - is currently not yet optimal. One of the reasons for this is the flat bottom of the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake.
In recent years, a new problem has emerged in this area: excessive growth of aquatic plants. The cause? The increasingly clear water. Thanks in particular to quagga mussels, which filter the water, and earlier deepening of the lake, the water of the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake has become increasingly clear in recent years. This allows sunlight to reach the bottom of the lake more easily, allowing plant seeds to germinate faster and giving free rein to proliferating aquatic plant species. Due to the abundance of water plants, the balance between nature and recreation in the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake is unfortunately disturbed.
To limit this nuisance, Recreatieschap Alkmaarder- en Uitgeestermeer mows the water plants in the summer months. Unfortunately, this is not a structural solution. To promote biodiversity, limit future (boating) problems and improve the quality of the bathing water at Dorregeest, there are plans to deepen part of the lake stepwise to depths of 5, 8, 10 and 12 metres. These deepenings are expected to improve the natural value of the lake and allow rampant aquatic plants to give way to other aquatic plant species, allowing biodiversity to expand.
Besides improving natural value and increasing biodiversity, these floors also help improve water quality at swimming locations around the lake. You can read more about this later!
't Kombof
't Kombof is a café-restaurant with a beautiful waterside terrace where it is pleasant to linger in summer and where the fireplace is lit daily in winter and on cold autumn days. The cuisine combines French and Dutch influences.
't Kombof
't Kombof is a café-restaurant with a beautiful waterside terrace where it is pleasant to linger in summer and where the fireplace is lit daily in winter and on cold autumn days. The cuisine combines French and Dutch influences.
Around 1,800, after the digging of the Markervaart canal, the island of De Woude was created. To provide the workmen with something to drink, a café was built on the island. In the intervening years, that café has grown into what it is today: a restaurant with around 80 seats, a terrace with over 150 seats and café Bakboord. There are also two private jetties for passers-by and a marina with around 35 moorings.
The restaurant has a nostalgic, cosy atmosphere. Summers are often marked by many cold beers on a sunny terrace. Or with a bottle of cool rosé and a delicious menu. In winter, the fireplace burns and you can warm up after a lovely walk with chocolate milk or a glass of mulled wine. They also serve a nice game meal with a good glass of wine in the winter months.
The kitchen combines French and Dutch influences and changes its menu four times a year. From October, traditional game is on the menu. Of course, various regional dishes are also on the menu. How about the smoked polder eel, Wouder stew, lamb shank or fresh asparagus. The restaurant also has a number of vegetarian dishes on the menu.
The Forest Harbour
The Woudhaven is a recreational harbour on the eastern edge of the Alkmaardermeer, near De Woude. The harbour is located on the western and eastern banks of the Markervaart canal.
The Forest Harbour
The Woudhaven is a recreational harbour on the eastern edge of the Alkmaardermeer, near De Woude. The harbour is located on the western and eastern banks of the Markervaart canal.
The facilities consist of a grassy jetty on the eastern shore and a jetty system on the western shore located on an island. There is a drinking water intake point and waste water station on the island and a snack bar is located on the roadside.
Woudhaven is located on the N246 and there is a large car park with a trailer slipway located right next to it. At the northern edge of the Woudhaven, the Markervaart canal flows into the Noordhollandsch Kanaal.
Need more information? Then check out the website!
The Saskerlei
A unique spot in the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake is the Saskerlei. This outer dike spit of land existed before the Schermer and Heerhugowaard were drained in the 17th century. Today, the Saskerlei is the last piece of peatland in the lake.
The Saskerlei
A unique spot in the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake is the Saskerlei. This outer dike spit of land existed before the Schermer and Heerhugowaard were drained in the 17th century. Today, the Saskerlei is the last piece of peatland in the lake.
The natural transition between land and water was almost everywhere here centuries ago. This allowed animals to easily walk and crawl in and out of the water. Due to the reclamation around the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake and the dykes constructed for this purpose, many of these transitions have disappeared. One of the few places where this natural transition and the salt in the soil are still present is the Saskerlei. Its unique natural features, such as the salty peat and sea clay in the soil, make the Saskerlei a fine habitat for various species of plants and animals.
Unfortunately, wave action causes the Saskerlei to quickly wash away, resulting in the loss of many special plants. For instance, the continuous wave action in recent years has led to the disappearance of the originally slightly higher edge around the Saskerlei. As a result, fresh water from the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer Lake continuously flows into the reed vegetation, where it used to be fed mainly by rainwater. This continuous inflow of fresh water is causing the unique conditions on the Saskerlei to disappear, rapidly eroding its natural value. Without intervention, this piece of land will disappear within 20 years.
To protect the Saskerlei and improve nature in and around this area, a six-hectare reed field with water creek will be developed against the Saskerlei. Both for nature and cultural history, this development is of great importance.
A future paradise for plants and animals
The number of marsh plants and animals around the Alkmaarder and Uitgeestermeer lake is currently on the low side for a lake of more than 600 hectares. In order to increase this population, the new nature reserve will be designed in such a way that animals living in reed marshes, such as the bittern, root vole, water shrew and various reed birds will be able to live here unconcerned. The development of a shallow, relatively wide and winding creek will also create an ideal habitat for frogs, toads, salamanders and other animals.
New land to protect the Saskerlei
The new nature reserve is not only important for nature development. It is also necessary for the preservation of the Saskerlei. The construction of the new piece of nature reserve will protect the Saskerlei from the strong wave action of the lake. To provide proper protection, the edge of the rietland must be strong and powerful. For this purpose, a half ring dyke of soil lined with granite will be constructed. Two openings in the ring dyke should ensure that the water in the creek, due to the wave action of the lake, keeps flowing, thus providing continuous variety in the creek. All this is good for the small animals that live in the 'blubbery' edges of the creek, as well as serving as food for the birds, frogs and toads. Finally, the creek provides a nursery for fish, toads and frogs.
Rest point: East Phalia
Rustpunt Oost Phalia in the Schermerpolder is the perfect stopover for your walking or cycling route. Here you can enjoy a delicious lunch with stunning views over the Schermer meadows.
Rest point: East Phalia
Rustpunt Oost Phalia in the Schermerpolder is the perfect stopover for your walking or cycling route. Here you can enjoy a delicious lunch with stunning views over the Schermer meadows.
This rest point can be found opposite the ferry towards Akersloot. At the resting point you will find a picnic table, kettle and Senseo coffee machine. A great place to take a short break and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. You will also find plenty of living and playing space at the rest area, such as go-karts for children, (farm) animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, aviary with birds, goats, etc.), the possibility to park your car, a shop with gifts and regional products and the opportunity to take shelter from the rain.
Had a breakdown on the road or need to recharge your electric bike? Then Rustpunt Oost Phalia is the place to be. You can fix a flat tyre or recharge your electric bike here. Ideal to have a Rustpunt nearby!
Ferry Akersloot
The Akersloot ferry crosses the North Holland Canal and connects the banks of Akersloot and Zuidschermer.
Ferry Akersloot
The Akersloot ferry crosses the North Holland Canal and connects the banks of Akersloot and Zuidschermer.
Rates and sailing times
The ferry operates from Monday to Sunday. For up-to-date information on fares and sailing times, visit www.castricum.nl/veerponten.
Ticket sales
Tickets are sold for cyclists, moped riders and pedestrians at the ticket machine on the shore. Motorists buy their ticket on the ferry itself; this is to avoid a queue of cars in front of the ferry. In all cases, payment can only be made by PIN.
Recreation ground Dorregeest
After a beautiful tour around the Alkmaarder- and Uitgeestermeer, you cycle past the Dorregeest recreation area. At this recreation area, feel free to put your bike aside for a lovely stop along the lake.
Recreation ground Dorregeest
After a beautiful tour around the Alkmaarder- and Uitgeestermeer, you cycle past the Dorregeest recreation area. At this recreation area, feel free to put your bike aside for a lovely stop along the lake.
Years ago, this land, consisting of dune sand from the former beach ridge and clay and peat, was extremely suitable for flower bulbs. The construction of the A9 in 1955 transformed this section into a recreational area. The construction of the A9 in 1961 transformed this section into a recreational area. On a hot (summer) day, it is therefore always pleasantly crowded here and many people seek cooling in the water. Unfortunately, the water quality here is regularly insufficient due to blue-green algae and sewage in particular. Blue-green algae gets more chances to grow in summer due to the high nutrient content of the water (phosphate). In addition, heavy rain outside, which we are likely to experience more and more frequently in the future, causes the sewers to overflow. This increases the risks of polluted (swimming) water in the lake.
To enhance this beautiful (swimming) spot for the future, it is important to improve the water quality and respond to the changing climate. A swimming bay fed with clean water from a deepened part of the lake offers the perfect solution. This way, this part of the lake can be protected from the surrounding dirtier water and the bay can be fed with clean water. But where does this clean water come from? This is where the floor comes in handy again! The clean water from the deepening can be pumped to the swimming bay to be made at Dorregeest, so that clean swimming water can be taken here. So deepening the lake is not only good for biodiversity and navigability, but also nice for swimmers. Nature and recreation in balance!
The Hooge Weide
To create a paradise for meadow birds, the Castricummerpolder is largely managed by the Hooge Weide Foundation.
The Hooge Weide
To create a paradise for meadow birds, the Castricummerpolder is largely managed by the Hooge Weide Foundation.
To achieve this, the land was excavated a few years ago and sown with an herb-rich grass mixture. Thanks to the high water table and the shallow pools, meadow birds can find food here effortlessly. Moreover, meadow birds find a safe resting place in the shallow puddles and electric fencing, which keeps out foxes, provides extra safety.
To ensure that the (meadow bird) chicks can grow up in peace and quiet and are strong enough to fly to southern Europe and North Africa by the end of June, the foundation takes the meadow bird into account during the management work. For example, the grass is lightly fertilised with farmyard manure in February, the grassland is levelled, and mowing is carried out only after the meadow birds have left. The 'neighbours', consisting of farmers, Landschap Noord-Holland and the province of Noord-Holland, also contribute to meadow bird conservation. They help by removing trees and shrubs, where predators can hide, and by keeping the surrounding grassland open and expansive
Description
Route description from node 99 to node 24:
- Turn left at junction 99 and follow the cycle path. At the end of the cycle path, go straight ahead into Mozartstraat.
- In Mozartstraat, take the second left onto Professor ten Doesschatestraat and follow this road to the roundabout.
- At the roundabout, take the third exit onto Breedweerlaan. On Breedweerlaan, take the second right onto Anna Polakstraat.
- You stay on Anna Polakstraat for only a short while. After about 50 metres on Anna Polakstraat, you cycle against a cycle path (toll path). Take this cycle path and cycle straight through the meadows to the edge of Uitgeest.
- Arriving in Uitgeest, take the right turn to De Vrede. At the end of this road cycle right into Anne van Renesselaan.
- After about 75 metres on Anne van Renesselaan, take the first left onto De Krijgsman. This road will lead you to the Zientunnel.
- Cycle through the Zientunnel. At the end of the tunnel, cross Geesterweg to J.E. de Witstraat.
- On J.E. de Witstraat, take the second left into Hogeweg. On this street, take the third right into Verzetstraat 1940 - 1945.
- At the end of this street, turn left into Middelweg. Follow this road to Dokter Brugmanstraat and turn right into the street here.
- At the end of Dokter Brugmanstraat, take a left turn onto Langebuurt. Follow this road to Melddijk. Turn right onto Melddijk and cycle to junction 24. From junction 24, the route can be followed by following the signposted junctions.
- 22
- 99
- 24
- 84
- 87
- 88
- 57
- 55
- 54
- 02
- 20
- 21
- 22