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  • Molen de Nachtegaal
  • Foto van de Schermermolen

Windmill Trail

(55.0 km)
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The Windmill Trail is a bike tour that takes you over old sea beds. Yes, that’s right, because in the seventeenth century two old inland seas were drained and turned into flat, fertile agricultural land.

Remnants of that time still stand unchanged on the landscape: the polder mills. During the reclamation, the water was pumped out of the polder and moved it to a higher level on the ringvaart (ring canal).

During this trip you will begin to realize just what an amazing accomplishment this was for Dutch engineers, led by hydraulic engineer Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater, four hundred years ago. And even though you can’t see the seas any more, there are several indications that they were once here, such as the dykes that were built around the former Schermer island in the twelfth century. Nowadays they form a beautiful dividing line between the old land with its winding streams and historical villages and the sharp geometric new land on the other side.
During this t…

Remnants of that time still stand unchanged on the landscape: the polder mills. During the reclamation, the water was pumped out of the polder and moved it to a higher level on the ringvaart (ring canal).

During this trip you will begin to realize just what an amazing accomplishment this was for Dutch engineers, led by hydraulic engineer Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater, four hundred years ago. And even though you can’t see the seas any more, there are several indications that they were once here, such as the dykes that were built around the former Schermer island in the twelfth century. Nowadays they form a beautiful dividing line between the old land with its winding streams and historical villages and the sharp geometric new land on the other side.
During this trip you also see two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Beemster polder and the Stelling van Amsterdam (Defense Line of Amsterdam) as you pass no less than three forts. In the village of Graft-De Rijp there are still plenty of reminders of the old fishing era, when adventurous herring fishermen and whalers sailed through the Beemstermeer towards the Zuiderzee and the high seas.

How it works
You cycle the trail with the help of the so-called junction system. A junction is a uniquely numbered spot where two cycle paths cross each other. The trails in this book are set out on the basis of these numbers. The only thing you have to do is follow the numbers in the sequence in which they are presented. You can recognise the junctions by the green and white signs along the way.

How do I get there?
Public transport from Amsterdam CS. Busline 301 in the direction of Purmerend Overwhere or De Rijp. Get off at: Stadhuis Purmerend. 

From the bus stop to the bicycle rental: Step off the bus and turn left. Follow the sign in the direction of the train station. The bicycle rental is here.
From the bicycle rental to the first junction: Cycle under the railway line and follow the signs in de direction of junction 25. 

Neem alvast een kijkje

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    Molen de Nachtegaal
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Dit ga je zien

25
49
46
43
60
61
62
58
80
76
77
78
79
52
02
01
27
28
29
07
06
05
04
49
25
  • 25
  • 49
  • 46
  • 43
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 58
  • 80
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 52
  • 02
  • 01
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 07
  • 06
  • 05
  • 04
  • 49
  • 25

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