Bike route along the Alkmaardermeer and historic De Rijp

This bicycle route takes you through a typical Dutch landscape full of water, windmills and wide views. From Uitgeest and Akersloot you cycle along the Alkmaardermeer, where sailing boats and water birds provide a lively backdrop. Along the way, you cross the water with a ferry - an extra experience entirely appropriate for cycling in this watery area. The route winds further through the peat meadows of the Eilandspolder, a unique nature reserve with numerous ditches and reed beds. Sometimes you even encounter a small self-service ferry to cross a narrow canal. A highlight along the way is the historic village of De Rijp, once a prosperous place thanks to whaling and herring fishing. The charming streets, wooden houses and monumental churches still exude the atmosphere of the Golden Age. You also pass quiet dike roads and through characteristic villages such as West Graftdijk and Markenbinnen.