Migratory bird trail | Stage 4
Stage four of the Migratory Birds Path takes you through Polder Oostzaan. From the starting point, you soon walk through the vast Oostzanerveld with wide ditches, islands, reed beds and swamp forests. Truly beautiful!
After walking for a few kilometres, you arrive in recreation area Het Twiske, which is surrounded by old meadow and marsh nature. Thanks to the many open waters such as the Stootersplas, the area attracts many special marsh and water birds, such as the bittern, shoveler and wigeon. Not surprisingly, Het Twiske has been awarded Natura 2000 status (from the Birds Directive). On the route, you will also come across several bird-spotting spots, so be sure to take a look!
Important information:
- Download the GPX file and/or PDF of the route before heading out.
More stages in Laag Holland:
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Bird view | Het Twiske
At the Stootersplas in Het Twiske, numerous birds can be found all year round.
Bird view | Het Twiske
At the Stootersplas in Het Twiske, numerous birds can be found all year round.
From this viewing point you have an excellent view of a bank swallow wall. You can also see several species of waterfowl and reed birds here, including shovelers, widgeons, tufted ducks and mallards.
Bird-watching wall Het Drijfsijsje | Het Twiske
Located in Het Twiske, this wall offers views of waterbirds, such as widgeon, teal, bittern, nun, tufted duck and kingfisher, especially in winter.
Bird-watching wall Het Drijfsijsje | Het Twiske
Located in Het Twiske, this wall offers views of waterbirds, such as widgeon, teal, bittern, nun, tufted duck and kingfisher, especially in winter.
Due to the many reed beds in the area, many reed birds can also be found during the summer, such as water rail, bearded reedling, moustache, reed bunting, reed warbler and bluethroat. Many species of birds of prey have been seen in the area: hen harrier, kestrel, buzzard, long-eared owl, goshawk, tree falcon and sometimes peregrine falcon and merlin.
Care farm the Marches
Care farm De Marsen, where development of people and nature is central!
Care farm the Marches
Care farm De Marsen, where development of people and nature is central!
You are welcome to visit Care Farm De Marsen to visit its free-range farmyard, and to have a look at its farm shop.
The care farm offers an inspiring workplace for (young) adults with (mental) disabilities. They help take care of the animals and everything that comes with it. The auxiliary farmers are very involved in the farm. They are aware of everything that happens to the animals and work together on the well-being of the chickens, pigs, cows, sheep and horses. To ensure peace and quiet for both our helpers and the animals, it is therefore not possible for visitors to enter the farm. However, you are welcome to visit the farm shop and the free-range farmyard!
At the front of the farm, there is a farm shop selling all kinds of products, including a steady supply of (seasonal) fruit and vegetables, eggs, dairy products and other local delicacies such as honey and jam! In addition, the auxiliary farmers provide weekly freshly made soup and other homemade delicacies such as artisanal cakes, which, combined with tea or coffee, can be enjoyed on the terrace. Meat from their own animals can also be found in the shop. The selection consists mainly of beef and pork.
The farm shop is open on Saturdays between 10:00 - 13:00 and 13:45 - 16:00.
On the free-range farmyard, visitors are more than welcome! There is a children's play area here where there is more than enough for them to experience. Among other things, there is a sandpit, but there are also all kinds of other games to play and a number of chickens scratch around. Besides the free-range yard, you can also find a toilet hut that is open.
Luister | Twiskemolen
The Twiskemolen has stood on the border between the municipalities of Landsmeer and Oostzaan since 1974. Looking at the dates on the mill, it is immediately obvious that the mill is much older.
Listen | Twiskemolen
The Twiskemolen has stood on the border between the municipalities of Landsmeer and Oostzaan since 1974. Looking at the dates on the mill, it is immediately obvious that the mill is much older.
The Twiskemolen was originally built in 1541. Only then it was not in Het Twiske, but about 40 km away in Barsingerhorn. When people were looking for a mill for Het Twiske, this mill - then stored in Nieuw-Vennep - was bought in the late 1960s.
The Twiskemolen is one of the few polder mills in the Netherlands that is still actually in operation and is managed by a volunteer miller. For decades, the monumental mill combined with an electric drive has been pumping the approximately 650-hectare Twiske polder. Did you know that in one minute the mill can grind 20 to 60 cubic metres of water one and a half metres up to the other side of the dike?
Next to the windmill, on the dike, is an information panel where you can read more about the Twiskemolen.
