From the city to the dunes

Get a breath of fresh air with the salty sea air caressing your hair and a fantastic nature reserve that is unparalleled. The Schoorlse Duinen have a beautiful view over the North Sea, but the extensive landscape of fields, dunes and forests also offers peace and quiet. The heathlands, which can also be found in this area, are unique in combination with the dunes. Nowhere in the Netherlands are they wider or higher than here. With a bit of luck you will see a sand lizard foraging between the dunes, hear a pheasant or a nightjar whistling and enjoy tens of thousands of blooming orchids or 800 different types of mushrooms. The old canals, cozy courtyards and narrow streets of Alkmaar provide a nice contrast. When visiting Alkmaar, don't miss a visit to the traditional cheese market: this is what made the"Cheese City\\\" famous! The atmosphere in the historic center is picturesque and authentic, with hundreds of beautiful municipal and national monuments. The city center and the Westerhoutkwartier are a protected cityscape for good reason! Visit Piet's Mill, or De Groot mill. As an old rampart mill, the octagonal tower mill still dominates the cityscape. In 1884 Cornelis Piet bought the mill and had a house built at the bottom of the flour mill. A member of the Piet family still runs the mill. Then you pass the Varnebroeker mill, a small water mill that had a predecessor that drained the Maalwater polder. The mill is characteristically located in a meadow and therefore has great landscape value. The mill will be restored in the first half of 2013, so that it can once again contribute to the water management of the Baafjespolder. You cycle through an area with flower bulb fields. Through the sea of colors you arrive near Egmond aan den Hoef, where the Koffiemolen (hull/remains) is located. This octagonal belt mill was built in 1899 for grinding corn. A first look at the mill immediately tells you that it is no longer suitable for grinding.