Dutch Waterline from Weesp via's-Graveland to Loenen and back

The river De Vecht originated around 600 BC and was called'Fectio\\\' in Roman times. In the Middle Ages, the Vecht was a shipping connection between (the predecessor of) the Zuiderzee and the river Rhine. This important connection made the river part of the Dutch Waterline. In the Golden (seventeenth) Century, the area really flourished. Then the beautiful country houses were built, which are situated around the river. You can view three of these country estates during this beautiful cycling tour, which starts in Weesp. Mill T Haantje is located near the place where you can park your car for free. From 1626 there was a seesaw mill on this spot that drained the Kostverlorenpolder. Around 1705, this polder was merged with a number of other polders under the name of the Community Polder. The large community mill (further along the route) that was built in 1708 made the seesaw mill superfluous and it was converted into a corn mill. In 1820 an oil mill with the name De Haan was built on that spot. In 1828 this mill was also converted into a corn mill and in 1896't Haantje was sold to a cocoa manufacturer. The mill was restored in 1964, 2001 and 2002. You will not find the Fort on the Ossenmarkt much further, which was built to protect the railway line between Hilversum and Amsterdam. In 1859-1861, a bombproof tower with a circular moat and drawbridge was therefore built on the Ossenmarkt. From the Ossenmarkt, the fortress towers above everything. Fort Uitermeer is located on the river Vecht and between forests and meadows. The fortress is part of the New Dutch Waterline. The tower fort is an important eye-catcher in the area and also offers beautiful views of the Naardermeer and the many country estates in the area. When you arrive at Loenen aan de Vecht you have already seen a lot of the polder. After the activity on the water, quiet lakes and many birds, Loenen aan de Vecht is a nice change. Oud Oever is a country estate located along the east bank of the river Vecht. This country estate has the predicate'Rijksmonument\\\'. This includes a main building, historic garden and park layout, a garden dome, a gardener's house/horse stable/coach house and several entrance gates. Loenen aan de Vecht is also the location of Huis Bijdorp. This house is inhabited and cannot be visited, but it does offer an imposing sight. It was built in the seventeenth century, is three windows wide and consists of two floors. The area around the house is a rectangular piece of land, overgrown with trees. Elongated breeding beds have also been laid out on it. House Vegtlust, which was built in the eighteenth century and is located close to Bijdorp, has also been given a new destination. There are six apartments in this building. Because this is also private property, Vegtlust cannot be visited. Finally, before you return to Weesp, you will arrive at Kasteel Nederhorst. The history of the fortress goes back at least to the thirteenth century, but there may have been a fortification even before that time. Strategically positioned, the castle was set on fire during skirmishes in 1672 during the French War. Then a square castle arose, which had a hexagonal tower on each corner. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the castle was renovated and got its current appearance.