Route from the peninsula of Marken

You start a bicycle route with a boat crossing. For 30 minutes sailing you pay eur 9.50 p\/p. Marken is a peninsula surrounded by the Gouwzee and the Markermeer. Nowadays it is possible to reach Marken by land, but until 1957 Marken was an isolated island. First in the Zuiderzee, later the IJsselmeer. The island of Marken was first inhabited in the thirteenth century by monks from Friesland. They lived from multiculture and agriculture. After the crossing, you will arrive in the picturesque village of Volendam. Many famous musicians and sportsmen were born here. The town of Purmerend is surrounded by reclaimed land, such as the Purmer, which was reclaimed in the 17th century. The town became the market center of the area. Purmerend is therefore called market town especially after the many cattle markets. Along straight fields and ditches, the route heads towards the Stootersplas. Due to the abundance of water, there are many marsh, reed and water birds, such as the bittern, shoveler, bearded reedling and wigeon. Around the water are meadows that include Scottish Highlanders, foxes and ermines, and forests that include the great spotted woodpecker, jay and nightingale. The area is also home to birds of prey, such as the hawk, buzzard and kestrel. On the north side of Stootersplas a concrete nesting wall has been built where the bank swallow can dig a nest out of clay. Because the lake was excavated to a depth of over 30 meters, the bottom consists of sandy soil and the water is exceptionally clear. In the 1960s, a great deal of sand was extracted from beneath the peat for the construction of the Coentunnel line. Via Monnickendam it goes back to the peninsula via the Zeedijk.