Tour of Heemskerk, Noorddorp and Beverwijk

The variety of plant and animal species makes the North Holland Dune Reserve a rare area in Europe. This nature reserve runs from Wijk aan Zee to Bergen, an elongated strip of about 20 kilometers with a width of 2.5 kilometers. This route takes you through the wooded southern part. At one of the entrances you will find a ticket machine where you can buy a day ticket (rate 2015: € 1.80 pp) with PIN or credit card. The website of operator PWN explains how you can buy a ticket using your smartphone.

The eastern part of the route takes you through the polders and parks around Beverwijk and Heemskerk. Nice to get a breath of fresh air, especially if you have the wind at your back. You pass two old estates. The first is Akerendam, a seventeenth-century estate that was founded by the Amsterdam merchant and shipbuilder Jan Bicker. It was a real country seat: like many of his wealthy fellow citizens, Bicker wanted to escape the stinking city during the summer. The country house was renovated in the French style in the mid-eighteenth century.

At Heemskerk you cycle past Assumburg Castle. The castle probably dates from the thirteenth century, the current building was built in 1546. Although the castle looks solid, the walls are thin. This so-called backstage castle was not used as a fortress, but as a living space for the nobles. After 1867 the castle stood empty, the paneling and utensils were transferred to nearby Marquette Castle. Next to the castle there is a show garden designed in French classical style that can be visited.