Under Sea Level Trail

(36.7 km)

Cycling below sea level? Many people don’t dare think about it, they’re afraid they’ll get soaked. Not a completely unfounded fear, because if we were living in the Middle Ages then that it is quite likely that would happen.

The many names that end here in ‘braak’ (break), for example, refer directly to the many spots where the dykes broke through. Here, meadow streams grew into flood channels and inland seas. Now there’s little of that left to see because many of those lakes were reclaimed. Just like the Beemsterpolder, part of which you will pass during your bike tour.

In Edam, the constant threat from water never prevented the construction of imp…

The many names that end here in ‘braak’ (break), for example, refer directly to the many spots where the dykes broke through. Here, meadow streams grew into flood channels and inland seas. Now there’s little of that left to see because many of those lakes were reclaimed. Just like the Beemsterpolder, part of which you will pass during your bike tour.

In Edam, the constant threat from water never prevented the construction of impressive buildings. In this old trading city, the rich merchants of the time liked to show off their wealth. Many of those old merchant houses still adorn the old city centre, untouched by time. Sometimes grateful use was made of all that water. As with the Stelling van Amsterdam: a unique defense line around Amsterdam used to protect the city. Along the trail you pass three of its forty forts: Fort near Edam, Fort Benoorden Purmerend and Fort Kwadijk. At the Visitor’s Centre the Breek in Oosthuizen you reach the lowest point of North Holland: more than six meters under sea level. Stop here for a cup of coffee and to stretch your legs. And your feet will stay dry because with the coming of the Afsluitdijk the Zuiderzee was tamed.

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 transportation from Amsterdam CS. Bus line 314 in the direction of Hoorn. Get off at 'Bus station Edam'. 

From the bus stop to the bicycle rental: Walk in the direction of restaurant Hof van Holland. Walk over the bridge and take a right onto the Lingerzijde. Follow the road to the left and stay on the Lingerzijde, this road leads to the Kleine Kerkstraat. Take a right at the end of this street onto the Spuistraat and right away take left to the Spui. Take the first street to the left onto the Grote Kerkstraat. After one minute you'll see the bicycle rental on your left. 

From the bicycle rental to the first junction: Return to the restaurant Hof van Holland. On this streetcorner you will find junction 95.  

Neem alvast een kijkje

Dit ga je zien

95
94
13
28
04
09
11
10
33
83
64
97
95
  • 95
  • 94
  • 13
  • 28
  • 04
  • 09
  • 11
  • 10
  • 33
  • 83
  • 64
  • 97
  • 95