Whale route
The Whale Route offers views of old and new land, with forts and cheese-cover farmhouses hidden in the greenery.
The walk starts in De Rijp, one of the prettiest villages in North Holland. This was once a bustling fishing town known for its herring fishing and whalers. Men sailed from Zaandam with a large fleet towards Greenland, where the booty was brought in. Back in Zaandam, baleen, teardrop and meat were taken on smaller boats to De Rijp, where the raw materials were processed. The village was full of teardrop smokehouses and it reeked quite a lot of offal, a big contrast to today's village, where there is the tranquillity of the countryside.
After the village walk through de Rijp, the circular walk becomes an exploration of the tight Beemster polder. You alternate between straight roads and the meandering ring dyke of the Beemster, which contrasts beautifully with the jagged peat meadows all around. Via Rechtestraat, the oldest street in the village, you walk into the polder.
Ov...
The walk starts in De Rijp, one of the prettiest villages in North Holland. This was once a bustling fishing town known for its herring fishing and whalers. Men sailed from Zaandam with a large fleet towards Greenland, where the booty was brought in. Back in Zaandam, baleen, teardrop and meat were taken on smaller boats to De Rijp, where the raw materials were processed. The village was full of teardrop smokehouses and it reeked quite a lot of offal, a big contrast to today's village, where there is the tranquillity of the countryside.
After the village walk through de Rijp, the circular walk becomes an exploration of the tight Beemster polder. You alternate between straight roads and the meandering ring dyke of the Beemster, which contrasts beautifully with the jagged peat meadows all around. Via Rechtestraat, the oldest street in the village, you walk into the polder.
Walk along the wormerweg towards Spijkerboor and restaurant 't Heerenhuis. This is where the water board's 'heemraden' and 'ingelanden' used to meet. Now you can eat and drink there, but you have to take the ferry back and forth.
At the end of the farmland path is Fort Spijkerboor. This fort dates from 1913 and is strategically located at a junction of several waterways and dike roads.
The Westdijk takes you back to the starting point in de Rijp. At Kleine Dam stands the old town hall from 1630, designed by Leeghwater. Behind the wooden swing bridge over the Tuingracht looms the Grote Kerk, already built in 1638.
Important information:
- For this route, follow the posts with the red markings/arrows. Check the specific route description on the Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland website.
- This is a route of the Twiske-Waterland recreation board.
Tip: Do you encounter a defect along the way? Then report it very easily in the Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland app or via www.meldpuntroutes.nl.
You are going to see this
-
TOP De Rijp
TOPs, short for Tourist Transfer Points, offer a convenient start to your exploration of the rural area. Each TOP provides parking facilities, after which you can explore the area by bike, on foot or even by boat
TOP De RijpTOP De Rijp
TOPs, short for Tourist Transfer Points, offer a convenient start to your exploration of the rural area. Each TOP provides parking facilities, after which you can explore the area by bike, on foot or even by boat
On the information kiosks at each TOP you will find various routes that lead you to the most beautiful spots, peaceful surroundings and beautiful nature of Laag Holland. During your tour, you will pass surprising resting points and cosy catering establishments, and the TOPs show you the way to find them. You can recognise the TOPs by their green information columns.
The Land of Leeghwater, named after the famous Golden Age hydraulic engineer Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater, comprises the peat meadow area of the Eilandspolder amidst the Schermer and Beemster reclaimed land. De Rijp, originally located on the Schermer Island, moved to the banks of the Beemster Lake in the 15th century, where it became a prosperous village and is known as 'the best village in Holland'. Leeghwater's birthplace is still praised for its beautiful architecture and urban planning, and is designated a protected village conservation area for its well-preserved historical value.
-
-
20
-
Museum Jan Boon
The Walhuis dates from 1725. Here you will find a small exhibition of records of Jan Boon, the last shipowner of De Rijp.
Museum Jan BoonMuseum Jan Boon
The Walhuis dates from 1725. Here you will find a small exhibition of records of Jan Boon, the last shipowner of De Rijp.
The Boon family was mainly involved in fishing, both whaling and herring fishing. After more than 100 years of vacancy, it was decided in 1983 to restore the former barn - the Walhuis (1725) - and give it a socio-cultural purpose. Here you will find an exhibition on the life and work of Jan Boon junior.
About Museum Jan Boon
Jan Boon's estate included not only various business assets, but also movable and immovable property that could be counted as private property of the Boon family. These items included documents of a personal nature, such as letters, a family bible, various household effects and a large collection of nautical maps by renowned Dutch cartographers. Some of the items were kept in the Society's premises and others in a barn (now the Walhuis) by the water. The condition of the items was, in many cases, downright poor. Stamps and parts of texts had been cut away, probably at the hands of the children of the various directors. Moreover, mould and mice and insects did not improve the condition of these documents. Documents were also given to third parties for inspection without any records.
After the foundation of the Rijper"Museum In 't Houten Huis" in 1937, it was decided to loan several pieces to the museum. Part of this collection is on permanent display there in the "living room" to this day.
-
-
40
-
12
-
66
-
39
-
38
-
10
- 20
- 40
- 12
- 66
- 39
- 38
- 10