Tour of Waterland and the Zaanse Schans

In Waterland you cycle past endless fields, lined with straight ditches, channels and waterways. In the past, arable farming was virtually impossible here; The area was too wet and swampy for that. There was a lot of trade in the markets with dairy products. Polder mills provided dry feet, such as the Twiskemolen near junction 19. This ground sailor was built in 1572 and was originally located in Barsingerhorn, where it drained the Hooglandspolder. In 1974 it was moved to its current location. Here he had to drain the Polder Oostzaan. Who knows, you might be lucky and see the mill in action. You cycle back via the Zaanse Schans, a beautiful historic row of windmills that you first admire from across the water.