Cycling and walking route through the Eilandspolder
The Eilandspolder is the historic green heart of North Holland and has remained remarkably intact. Long ago, this polder was an island located between the big waters like the Schermer and the Beemster.
Soil subsidence forced residents to embank their 'Schermereiland'. Still today, the ground level of the polder is higher than that of the reclaimed land around it.
Along the way: antique court houses
Before you start walking, cast a glance at the antique court houses. These courthouses, where justice used to be administered, were used as town halls until 1970. The larger of the two is the oldest and dates from 1632. The smaller one was built in 1652 and used to stand on a different site, but was later added to the big house.
Along the way: two kinds of polders
You walk on the border between two not very similar ...
Soil subsidence forced residents to embank their 'Schermereiland'. Still today, the ground level of the polder is higher than that of the reclaimed land around it.
Along the way: antique court houses
Before you start walking, cast a glance at the antique court houses. These courthouses, where justice used to be administered, were used as town halls until 1970. The larger of the two is the oldest and dates from 1632. The smaller one was built in 1652 and used to stand on a different site, but was later added to the big house.
Along the way: two kinds of polders
You walk on the border between two not very similar polders, created in different times. Polder the Mennigweer, the oldest piece. That was already reclaimed around the year one thousand. Back then it was raised bog, a huge bult peat formed by plant remains piled up over thousands of years. Originally, forest grew there. To make the wet peat suitable for agriculture, it had to be drained by a system of ditches. As a result, the land subsided and became lower and lower and thus became boggy again. The difference in level between water and land is now no more than ten centimetres and here and there the land is even lower than the ditches. To the right is the Noordeindermeerpolder, formerly a lake in the peat island. It was drained with windmills in 1644, a technique greatly improved by Leeghwater at the time. It became a 'modern' polder with straight plots and with farms in the polder rather than on the edge. The clay soil also yields more here.
Important information:
- This route through Eilandspolder is offered by Landschap Noord-Holland and is both a walking route (6 or 9.5 km) and a cycling route (14 km). Download the PDF file for more information and the walking routes.
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Starting point:
Raadhuis GrootschermerScheepjeserf 1
1843 JE Grootschermer
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Starting point
Town hall in Grootschermer
Scheepjeserf 1
1843 JE Grootschermer
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Bird watching screen | Eilandspolder
The Kerkemeertje is a shallow bird pond where there is a bird-watching hut. A boot path runs through the Owl Grove and there is also a viewpoint there.
The Eilandspolder nature reserve
In the middle of the Land of Leeghwater lies the Eilandspolder. The protected nature reserve has an area of 1950 ha and a quarter of it consists of water. It is uniquely situated between the historic villages of Graft-De Rijp, Noordeinde, Grootschermer, Schermer
The Eilandspolder nature reserve
In the middle of the Land of Leeghwater lies the Eilandspolder. The protected nature reserve has an area of 1950 ha and a quarter of it consists of water. It is uniquely situated between the historic villages of Graft-De Rijp, Noordeinde, Grootschermer, Schermer
The extensive peat meadow area has a marshy and nutrient-rich peat soil and is very popular among various bird species. In spring, you will find meadow birds such as the black-tailed godwit, lapwing and oystercatcher, but rare marsh birds such as the bittern and reed warbler can also be seen in the reedbeds. The spoonbill is also a welcome guest in spring. In the winter months, wigeon and teal feel completely at home here, enjoying the tranquillity and abundance of food.
Discover the Eilandspolder nature reserve by walking, cycling, rollerblading, sailing or - in winter - skating. There are various routes that take you past the most beautiful spots.
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