Assendelft route

The walking route starts at node 25 on the kanaaldijk near TOP Buitenhuizen. You soon walk past a special piece of nature in this area: the Buitenhuizen breakwater. Years ago, this little nature gem was created because the old dyke could not hold back the raging waters of the river IJ. Such dike breaches could create deep gullies around which the new dike was then built. This left puddles and pieces of swamp, like the Buitenhuizerbraak today.

Now it is home to all kinds of birds in the reeds, but the spoonbill also likes to come here to spoon for sticklebacks. The Buitenhuizerbraak is also home to many unusual flora such as marsh helleborine and reed orchids, as well as fauna such as the root vole and water shrew. And in winter? Then you have a good chance of spotting the pink-footed goose!

The route then leads you a short distance through the ribbon village of Assendelft. Originally, the village was divided into several hamlets such as Noordeinde, Kerkbuurt and Zuideinde. Later, Langeheit and what remained of the village of Buitenhuizen were added. This walk takes you through Buitenhuizen and Zuideinde. Soon you leave the Dorpsstraat and walk along a paved path straight into the vast polder landscape. Grazing cattle, twittering birds and cute meadow windmills, this is real Holland!

Another special place this route visits is De Watertoren. This water tower is the oldest preserved water tower in North Holland. Want to see the water tower from the inside? You can! This is the place to be for dinner, meetings, weddings, parties and various arrangements. Walk along the Nauernasche Vaartdijk along the water to Nauerna. On the way you will pass the lock, the marina and the Nauerna pumping station. From this point you walk back to the starting point of the route!

Important information:

• For this route, follow the posts with sea-green markings/arrows.
• Dogs are not allowed on the farmland paths on this route.
• This is a route of recreation authority Alkmaarder- and Uitgeestermeer.

Tip: Do you encounter a defect along the way? Then report them very easily in the Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland app.