Water cycling: lakes and rivers route

From Alphen aan den Rijn you will take a beautiful cycle route through the Hollandse Venen, a water-rich lowland around the Nieuwkoopse Plassen, among others. They form some of the last extensive lowland peat areas in the Netherlands. First you cycle to the Westeinder Plassen for a cup of coffee at Café Op de Hoek in Kudelstaart. Then you follow the beautifully winding peat river the Kromme Mijdrecht. Further on you will see the lock in Woerdense Verlaat, which dates from 1448. You cycle back to Alphen aan den Rijn along the winding river De Meije. You also pass Mill 1, or the Ondermolen at Aarlanderveen. This is part of the only mill quadrangle in the world that is still in operation: the Aarlanderveen is not kept at the right level from a distance, but by a real level miller.