Herring & Hemp Trail

(13.0 km)

Between Amsterdam, Alkmaar, Hoorn and Purmerend you will find a beautiful peat meadow area that lends itself well to a voyage of discovery. This area used to be a prosperous island and that is why it is called the Eilandspolder. Come and relax here.

The starting point of this route is on the edge of the village of De Rijp and the hamlet of Klaterbuurt. Here, you can settle down at one of the cozy vafés or restaurants to start the day with a cup of coffee. Then you set course from to Grootschermer through the Eilandspolder. In this wetland you can spot all kinds of protected bird species such as the curlew, black-tailed godwit, lapwing, spoonbill and reed warbler. In the dyke village of Grootschermer you can stop to admire the Dorpskerk (church) and the Raadhui (historic town hall).

On the way from Grootschermer to Driehuizen a…

The starting point of this route is on the edge of the village of De Rijp and the hamlet of Klaterbuurt. Here, you can settle down at one of the cozy vafés or restaurants to start the day with a cup of coffee. Then you set course from to Grootschermer through the Eilandspolder. In this wetland you can spot all kinds of protected bird species such as the curlew, black-tailed godwit, lapwing, spoonbill and reed warbler. In the dyke village of Grootschermer you can stop to admire the Dorpskerk (church) and the Raadhui (historic town hall).

On the way from Grootschermer to Driehuizen and Noordeinde, you can look out over the Schermer polder, the last large polder to be reclaimed in North Holland. From Noordeinde you walk through Graft, which was once prosperous due to the herring fishing and hemp cultivation, and De Rijp. On the last part of the route, admire the beautiful stained glass windows of the Grote Kerk (church) in De Rijp. This is a true work of art, especially in the summer months!

During your walk, take some time to stroll through the picturesque villages you pass. Look around and feel the history of the area. Admire beautiful buildings from days gone by such as historic town halls, take a look in Graft's smallest shop for a bit of old Dutch candy or visit the various museums on the route. Just like going back in time. Along the way you will come across plenty of nice restaurants for a refreshing drink or tasty lunch.

Please note: this trail is not accessible during the bird breeding season from March 15 to June 15.

Useful information:
Free parking is possible on the Jan Ploegerlaan. Then start your route by turning right at the VVV de Rijp onto the Rechtestraat.

Dit ga je zien

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