Heritage Open Day 2023 - Route North

This cycle route has been specially created for Open Monumentendag 2023. You can find more information about the participating buildings on the national website of Open Monumentendag. Here you can also download a program booklet in PDF. Or view all routes of this weekend via Visit Hollands Kroon .

You can use any point on this route as a start or end point.

Short description Wieringen

The former island of Wieringen was created by the uplift of the sandy subsoil in the penultimate ice age. The slope in the landscape is still a reminder of this. The winding roads, high hedges, Wieringer farms, garden walls and duck decoys are all characteristic of the landscape. To the south of the island, a weed dike was built in the 12th century to stop the rising water. This is now a beautiful bike path. With the construction of the Amsteldiepdijk in 1924, Wieringen was no longer an island.

Level gauge house

Quarantine 1, Westerland

The route starts at this house on the Wadden Sea. This gauge house is one of the two gauge houses on Wieringen. The other is in the harbor of Den Oever. Both houses date from 1919. They were built on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat and were used to record the water level. There were more along the cost. After the Second World War, the computer took over the measuring work and most of the houses have fallen into disuse. The gauge housing can only be viewed from the outside.

Mill the Enterprise

Koningstraat 25, Hippolytushoef

The mill was built in 1851 as a corn and hulling mill. It is a wooden octagonal top porter with a stone substructure. In 1930 the mill went out of operation because mills with diesels or electric motors had taken over the function of the mill. The millers are present on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to give you a tour of the mill. Pancakes are baked and there is coffee/tea.

Music School De Grebbe

Koningstraat 25, Hippolytushoef

The ecclesiastical community of Rehoboth built this church in 1890. Together with the former Post Office (number 32) and the notary house (number 31), it still reminds of a street with a'first name\\\' past.

In the 1950s, the church fell out of use. The building was given other uses and underwent various renovations. It has been a residential home since 1980. Part of the old church space is used as a music lesson practice under the name'De Grebbe\\\' - house full of music. Do you feel welcome in a workspace with an unusual interior, full of stories and symbolism!

Every year during the Open Heritage Days, co-owner Karin Smits dedicates a personal monument to someone who has been essential in the development of'De Grebbe\\\'. In 2021 that was master blacksmith Cees Smit, who constructed all the ironwork -inside and outside- to their own design. Last year a mini exhibition was organized in honor of Pieternella [neighbor Nel] Dekker, who lived all her life - she was almost 94 - at number 29.'Neighborhood\\\' is a word that was inextricably linked to her. Open Monumentendag was a good moment to give her a mo(nu)ment.

In 2023, the personal monument will be erected for Franciscus Johannes Martinus ( Frans) Smits , Karin's father. Born in 1932 in Rotterdam and died in 2013 in Wieringen. He was a shoemaker, amateur musician, Sunday painter and writer. And, he had two'right hands\\'. Without his help'De Grebbe\\\' would have looked very different. The personal monument therefore fits in seamlessly with the theme of this year's Heritage Day: \\\'Living heritage\\\' .

Weighbridge

Slingerweg 127, Hippolytushoef

In the large flowering garden of the residents of'Zonnehoek\\\' in Hippolytushoef you can come and see the weighbridge from 1948. The weighbridge house has recently been restored, this time the bar door and frame have been completely renovated in the original style. An expense collected by the proceeds from this garden, such as the sale of fruit, juices, some garden plants, various jams and guided tours (1 hour) through this garden with a historical background.

The window was replaced a few years ago and also returned to its original state. Together with professionals, we are now thinking about the deck of the weighbridge and what is hidden under it...? In this way, an old building on Wieringen will continue to exist and historical awareness and a healthy future go hand in hand. Juices and jams made without added artificial agents are available and are now in the new weighbridge house.

Feel free to drop by during Open Monuments Weekend!

Wieringer farm

Kerkhofsteeg 1, Hippolytushoef

The former Wieringer farm on the Kerkhofsteeg is a national monument. The farm has traditionally always had cows and sheep. Sheep's cheese was made from sheep's milk. The farmer's son drove passengers by horse taxi during the festivities in the village. For local housing he acted as a transporter with horse and carriage. He brought the building materials supplied from the port to the construction site. The residents will open the doors for you this weekend on Saturday and Sunday and will be happy to talk to you about the history of the farm. The Kerkhofsteeg can be reached from the main street.

Hippolytus Church

Kerkplein 17, Hippolytushoef

The Hippolytus Church is named after the bishop of Rome in the ^2nd and 3rd ^century named Hippolytus. The church was originally a 12th century Romanesque building made of tuff. From the ^13th to 15th ^century , the tower was raised using brick. The nave was rebuilt in brick in Gothic style after a devastating storm in 1674. Information about the rich history of the church is available on site.

On Saturday, the church opens its doors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Sunday from 1.30 pm to 5 pm.

Organ playing in the Hippolytus Church

On Sunday afternoon September 10 from 2 - 4.30 pm an organ recital on the recently restored Knipscheer organ. Participating organists are Jan Dekker, Jos Glim, Ralph Hania, Titia Lont and Kors Jan Snoeij.

Every half hour a new performance starts by one of these participants.

Exhibition in the Hippolytuskerk

This year's exhibition is organized by the 15-year-old Quilt Group'Colourful\\\' from Oppenhuizen (Friesland). Quilts consist of 3 layers of textile: a top of pieces put together (the patchwork), an interfacing and a backing. These 3 layers are quilted through using basting stitches in a line pattern.

This exhibition can be visited on both days:

- Saturday, September 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m

- Sunday, September 10 from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Villa Zuiderzee works

Gemeenelandsweg 12, Hippolytushoef

This detached villa was built for a member of the management of the Zuiderzee Works. Southwest of the villa is a double garage, which belongs to the second executive villa at number 8. The brick facades are provided with a white stucco layer, which was not originally on. Some windows have been renewed. Visitors can only view the building from the outside.

Wieringer Island Museum Jan Lont

Stroeerweg 39, Hippolytushoef

On the former Zuiderzee island of Wieringen, near the Wadden Sea, is the farm of the last resident and owner Jan Lont, now the Wieringer Eilandmuseum. Experience the Wieringer farmer's and fisherman's life here with your children. Access on Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. E

Heathen Chapel

Stroeerweg 39, Hippolytushoef

According to tradition, Willibrord founded a wooden church on this location around 700 AD. Around 1100 the first tuff church was built on this site. The chapel was demolished in 1878. It is therefore not known what exactly this chapel and any predecessors may have looked like. In 2006, a group of residents took the initiative to build a sober and compact chapel on this special location. The Heidense Kapel is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Airplane crash site Vatrop

Vatropperweg 16, Den Oever

On Wednesday morning, November 3, 1943, the American Thunderbolt fighter with pilot Ivan Moon took off from Debden airfield in England. That morning 500 bombers and 18 fighters took off from all over England. They had to protect American bombers against attacks by German fighters. These bombers had to bomb shipyards and submarine bunkers in Wilhelmshaven. Over the Dutch Wadden Sea, the American Air Force came into battle with the German Luftwaffe. After a dogfight that could be viewed from the ground on Wieringen, Moon's plane crashed near Vatrop. The fighter jet with pilot drilled into the ground just behind a double house. Pilot Moon was killed. The memorial pole can be visited every day. Information board available.

Michael's Church

Kerkweg 22, Den Oever

Michael's Church dates from the early 12th century; a fortress church, built with tuff and one of the oldest churches in our country. Before this church was built, there was a wooden church. A sign in the church indicates that this church'was desecrated by pagan Normans\\\'. The first mention of the existence of Wieringen dates from the late 8th, early 9th century. During that period, the Vikings moved further and further into Europe. Wieringen had an important strategic position for the Vikings because it was relatively high. The church is named after Saint Michael. The church used to also serve as a shelter for people and livestock during floods. Over the centuries, the church has been renovated and restored more than once, including in the 19th century by Pierre Cuypers, the architect of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Much of the work was funded by residents of Wieringen and a lot of work was done by volunteers.

Windmill de Hoop

Hofstraat 57, Den Oever

Molen de Hoop was built in the second half of the 17th century, probably around 1654, as a flour mill. There are indications on maps that there has been a mill on the same place since 1541. The mill fell out of use in the 1920s-30s because machine-driven mills took over. In 1941 a wooden blade broke, after which the mayor ordered the removal of the other blades as well. The mill has since fallen into disrepair. In 1952 the mill was bought by the Oud-Wieringen Foundation, after which a restoration of the sick cross followed; in 1960 the mill was again fitted with an upper shaft and in 1977 the mill was fitted with blades. In 1991, the Wieringer Molens association acquired the mill, after which a major restoration by volunteers followed in 1993 - 1997. The entire hood was replaced. The milling seats were rebuilt between 1997 and 2001, but it was not until 2015 that the mill was upgraded and produced flour for human consumption again. Since 2001, the mill has been running regularly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and grinds grain in a few churches a month using traditional methods. The mill is open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The millers are happy to give you a tour. Pancakes are baked and coffee/tea is served.

Old school

Zwinstraat 66, Den Oever

Studio1931 is located in the Old School from 1931. During the Open Monument Weekend, 12 artists will present their work based on'Between Sweet and Salt\\\'. They made this work in response to the special environment between the sweet IJssel and the salty world heritage of the Wadden Sea. Come and have a look at the old school! The residents welcome you.

Historic Corner

Havenkade 3a, Den Oever

There are floating jetties in the Historische Hoek that are specially intended for sailing fishing vessels that have been designated as a Sailing Monument. The Havenboet was officially taken into use in 2021 by Shelter Nautical Heritage Wieringen.

Wieringer Skuutje WR60

The WR60 is the only remaining Wieringer Skuutje of a fleet of many of these fishing boats. A Skuutje has a much sharper head and butt than a Aak, even sharper than a Botter. The WR60 (9.80 m long and 3.30 m wide) was probably built around 1840, more than 180 years ago, at the Alkema shipyard in Makkum for fisherman Jan Tijssen from Den Oever, a time when there was still no electricity, petroleum and telephone existed and Wieringen would be an island for another 84 years!

Wieringer Barge WR4

Around 1900, Mr. Ten Bokkel had ship carpenter Nijdam from Van Ewijcksluis build a larger barge than he already had. That was the WR4. In the spring, Ten Bokkel used it to fish for herring and anchovies, in the summer for mullet and flounder. In autumn and winter on crickets and cockles for the Belgian and English market and also on mussels for Germany. Seagrass has never been fished with this ship. De Aak was restored in 2000 - 2004, with wet bun and hand-sewn sails of flax cloth (linen).

Viking Information Center

Havenweg 1, Den Oever

An exhibition space has been set up in the Viking Information Center in which, of course, the two Viking treasures of Westerklief are central. Furthermore, the stories behind the remarkable finds are told on the basis of mostly original objects from the Viking age (ca. 800 - 1100 AD). There is also information about the origin of Wieringen in the penultimate ice age and various fossils from that time can be viewed. The VIC is open on Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 pm. The annual Viking Days are also organized there. From 12 to 5 pm you can visit the Viking village, where you can experience how the Vikings lived, lived and worked. There are various demonstrations such as bronze vulture, blacksmith, leather worker, woodworking, needle binding, cooking, archery, sword and ax fighting.

Viking days

Opposite Havenweg 1, Den Oever

A tent camp is built during the annual Viking Days. Here you can experience and learn all about the Vikings all weekend. There are all kinds of activities to watch, such as bronze casting and wood and leather working. The handmade products are for sale on site.

To really get a feel for Viking life, try your hand at archery, hammer throwing, bread baking and felting. These are also fun activities to do with kids.

Demonstrations are given by the group'Fight like a Viking\\\' from Alkmaar. This year you can also participate in a workshop where you will have the opportunity to experience what it is like to fight like a Viking.

The Viking Days are the entire weekend. Definitely fun to visit with kids!

Wierdijk

Opposite Stroerdijk 1, Hippolytushoef

Wieringen was once an island. To protect the people against the Zuiderzee, a dike was built from the Haukes to Den Oever. This old sea dike was made around 1600 and is covered with pressed seaweed. Weed is a specific type of seagrass. Dikes have been protecting North Holland against the sea since the year 1000. The dikes are reinforced with a strip of seaweed: an egg belt. For a long time, weed dikes formed the most important sea defenses between the Zuiderzee. Around 1100, however, the coast was more often affected by ebb and flow. The built weed belts could no longer stand without support, which is why poles were placed in front of the weed belts.

But in 1732, the ships of the West India Company brought shipworm, which began to attack the poles. During strong storms the poles snapped like matchsticks and it was finally decided to support the sea belts with stones. With the reclamation of Waard Nieuwland and the Wieringermeer, the function as a dike ceased to exist. Where the civil road now runs, the sea used to be. The intersection of the dike is still clearly visible here.

In 2021, the province of North Holland will have repaired the historic Wierdijk in several places, thus securing it for the future. A new bike path has been built.

Nicholas Church

Westerlanderweg 63, Westerland

The Westerlanderkerk, or Nicolaaskerk, is named after Saint Nicholas. He is the patron saint of fishermen. Already in writings from the 9th century this church was referred to. The original church probably stood on this site on a raised cemetery.

The tower consists of three parts separated by a brick toothed cornice. The belfry with clock by J. Godefrdi dates from around 1510.

The nave was built in 1828 against the older tower. It is built in early neo-Gothic style. The pulpit dates from 1828 with a copper crown.

At the initiative of the local population, the nave of the church was thoroughly restored in the period 1982-1985. The tower was completely restored in 2012-2013, largely financed from funds and the rest from savings of the Stichting Dorpshuizen Westerland.