Monnickendam, Volendam and Marken

Behind Central Station you take the Buiksloterwegveer across the IJ. Molen d\\\'Admiraal, dating from 1792, is located in North Amsterdam. It is the last chalk and trass mill in the Netherlands. From 1792 onwards, tuff was ground into trass, which was mixed with lime to make mortar. From 1900, chalk was ground for the paint industry. The mill still grinds on a voluntary basis.

You continue cycling along the water, first along the Noordhollandsch Kanaal and then along the Broekervaart. You cross the extensive polders north of Amsterdam until you arrive in Monnickendam.

In Monnickendam, the city walls were replaced in 1575 by a rampart with four gates and four bastions. A walking path now runs around most of the historic city over the remains of the ramparts. In the protected cityscape of beautiful Monnickendam you will find dozens of national monuments.

Volendam is a village with many faces. The fishing village on the Gouwzee is known for its traditional costumes, fishing boats and picturesque village center. It is also known for the music it produces: traditional folk songs but also modern music, such as that of BZN, The Cats, Nick & Simon and Jan Smit. In 2000, the village was in the news due to the fire in Café De Hemel, in which 14 young people died and 180 others were seriously burned or injured. The village is also known for large-scale drug use among young people.

In Volendam you can take the Volendam-Marken ferry to Marken. The island has been connected to the mainland by a dam since 1957, and is now a peninsula. In the 14th century, the residents built mounds here to protect themselves against the water: the so-called 'yards'. They also built houses on stilts. Almost all of Marken is a protected cityscape and there are dozens of national monuments in the picturesque village.

You cycle back over the dam that connects Marken with the mainland. The last part of your ride takes you along the banks of the IJmeer to your starting point in Amsterdam.