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

The river De Vecht was created around 600 BC and was called'Fectio\\\' in Roman times. In the Middle Ages, the Vecht was a shipping link between (the predecessor of) the Zuiderzee and the river Rhine. This important connection made the river part of the Dutch Waterline. The area really flourished in the Golden (seventeenth) century. Then the beautiful country estates were built, which are situated around the river. You can see three of those country estates during this beautiful bike ride, which starts in Weesp. Windmill T Haantje is located near the place where you can park your car for free. From 1626 a seesaw mill that drained the Kostverlorenpolder stood on this spot. Around 1705 this polder was merged with a number of other polders under the name Community Polder. The large Community mill (further on the route) that was built in 1708 made the seesaw mill superfluous and it was converted into a flour mill. In 1820 an oil mill called De Haan was built on that spot. In 1828 this mill was also converted into a flour mill and in 1896't Haantje was sold to a cocoa manufacturer. The mill was restored in 1964, 2001 and 2002. You won't find the Fort on the Ossenmarkt much further, which was built to protect the railway line between Hilversum and Amsterdam. A bombproof tower with a circular moat and a drawbridge was therefore built on the Ossenmarkt in 1859-1861. The fortress towers above everything from the Ossenmarkt. Fort Uitermeer is located on the river Vecht and between forests and meadows. The fortress is part of the New Dutch Waterline. The tower fortress is an important eye-catcher in the area and also offers beautiful views over 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 designation'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 impressive sight. It was built in the seventeenth century, has three windows wide and consists of two floors. The grounds around the house are a rectangular plot of land, overgrown with trees. Elongated cultivation beds have also been constructed. House Vegtlust, which was built in the eighteenth century and is close to Bijdorp, has also been repurposed. Six apartments are located in this building. Because this is also private property, Vegtlust cannot be visited either. Finally, before returning to Weesp, you will arrive at Castle 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 clashes in 1672 during the French War. Then a square castle arose, which had a hexagonal tower at each corner. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the castle was renovated and acquired its current appearance.