Along the Meije

Nieuwkoop is located in the polder and is a peat bog area that arose from the 16th century. It occupies a small part of the Nieuwkoopse Plassen nature reserve. The lakes are widely used for recreation on the water, with a large marina nearby, you will especially see cabin boats in this area. The water is quite pure and has strong vegetation. Water gentian and water lily, but also water hemlock floats and fields of crab warbler are no exception. A great diversity of wetland birds lives in and around the banks and the meadows. The increasingly rare black tern, but also the great and lesser reed warbler and the mustache like to breed here. Fish eaters such as the purple heron and the cormorant survive on what the puddles have to offer. The small, winding peat river Mije leads through the polder and the meadow area and gives extra atmosphere to the area, in which many centuries-old, characteristic farms can still be seen. The route, which is offered to you by the South Holland Tourist Board, starts at the Tourist Transfer Point (TOP) in Nieuwkoop. You can also get some more information about the history of the area and the flora and fauna present at VVV Nieuwkoop. The Westveense Mill is located near the small village of Woerdense Verlaat. The mill was built in 1676 and until 1975 operated solely on wind power. The mill underwent a large-scale and major restoration in 2009 and 2010: the lower tower was straightened, the tube repaired, the wall plate and the kingpin chipped, the scoop wheel and the wheel well deepened and narrowed and many other parts were replaced, including three catch pieces, the cross arm of the water wheel, two jibs, braces, steps and stringers. The restored seesaw mill still drains the Westveen polder on a voluntary basis and can generally be visited on Saturdays. Molen Morgenster, located on the other side of Nieuwkoop in the village of Aarlanderveen, is a completely different kind of mill. This eight-sided tower mill from 1870 ground grains until 1945, but has since fallen into disrepair. An established committee prevented the mill from being demolished and had the mill restored. The mill now serves as a residence.