Cycling through the wetland area

Nieuwkoop is located in the polder and is a peat-pocked lake area that originated in the 16th century. It covers a small part of the Nieuwkoopse Plassen nature reserve. The lakes are often used for water recreation, with a large marina nearby, you will mainly see cabin boats in this area. The water is quite pure and has strong plant growth. Water gentian and water lily, but also drifts of water hemlock and fields of crabgrass are no exception. A wide diversity of marsh birds lives in and around the banks and meadows. The increasingly rare black tern, but also the great and small reed warbler and the mustache like to breed here. Fish eaters such as the purple heron and the cormorant survive on what the lakes have to offer them. The small, winding peat river the Mije leads through the polder and the meadow area and adds extra atmosphere to the area, where many centuries-old, characteristic farms can still be seen. A well-deserved break has also been taken into account. In Nieuwkoop, De Boom is ideal for a relaxing moment. With delicious coffee or tea you can relax in the beautiful conservatory and become a human being again. A wide choice of flavors and a hospitable welcome ensure a nice relaxing moment. During your bike ride, near the place where you can park your car for free, you can admire the Spengense Mill. The seesaw mill was built in 1841 to drain the Spengen polder using wind power. Another mill is the Westveense mill. This seesaw mill from 1676 was built to drain the Westveense polder, which is 145 hectares in size. A storm in 1837 destroyed the mill, but it was restored. The mill was also restored after it gradually subsided in the mid-twentieth century. A new large-scale restoration in 2010 made the mill, which came to a standstill after 2008, operational again. The last sight of interest is the Achtkante / Nieuwe Ziendemolen (hull/remains): an octagonal upper porter dating from 1809. The mill was dismantled around 1920, leaving the current mill remains. Yet the mill ruins still dominate the relatively open and original polder landscape. In short: the Nieuwkoopse Plassen natural monument and the surrounding water-rich region are well worth exploring by bike!