Open Monument Day 2023 - Route East

This cycling route has been specially created for Open Monument Day 2023. You can find more information about the participating buildings via our website https://www. Visithollandskroon.nl/te-doen/open-monumentendag-in-hollands-kroon/ . Here you can also download a program booklet in PDF and view the other cycling routes.

You can use any point on this route as a starting or ending point.

Short description Wieringermeer

The Wieringermeerpolder was drained in 1930. The government provided a spatial planning for the four centers of Wieringerwerf, Kreileroord, Slootdorp and Middenmeer. The distribution of plots by the Zuiderzee Works Department was structured with the now characteristic Wieringermeer farms.

Consort Leemans

Noorderdijkweg 26, Wieringerwerf

If you stand at the lock, you can clearly see the difference in height between the Wieringermeerpolder and the IJsselmeer. The Wieringermeer is one of the deepest reclaimed lands in the Netherlands, up to 6.60 meters below sea level. Together with the Lely pumping station, the polder was drained from February to August 1930. The pumping station is named after Chief Inspector General of Rijkswaterstaat WF Leemans.

The two centrifugal pumps are both connected to a diesel engine. There was room for a third pump, but it was never installed.

Dike warehouse

Noorderdijkweg near 24, Wieringerwerf

In the municipality of Hollands Kroon there are two dike warehouses on the Noorderdijk on the edge of the IJsselmeer. They are unique objects in a landscape shaped by active water management. The dikes along the IJsselmeer tell the story of the polder and its shelter from the water. The dike warehouses played an important role in this. Sandbags and other tools were stored in case (emergency) work had to be carried out on the dike.

Nowadays, the dike warehouses no longer have this function. In 2020, the Hollands Noorderkwartier Water Board started looking for a suitable repurposing of the dike warehouses. The plan of'Culture Matters\\\' was chosen as the winning plan by the jury. Culture Matters will take care of three dike warehouses on the North Holland IJsselmeer coast. Two warehouses are being restored and transformed into sustainable, self-sufficient guesthouses. One, the warehouse on the old Wieringermeerdijk, is activated as a (water) education house, where the multifaceted story of people, land and water will come to life and speak. This is done, among other things, by creating a podcast and a pod walk through the area, which uniquely seek and offer the connection between the story on the one hand and the location itself on the other. So it really will be the Talking House.

The pod walk and first episode of the podcast will be festively launched at the dike warehouse on Saturday, September 9 at 12 noon. Read more about the plan at https://dijk.nl/ .

On Saturday and Sunday of Open Monument Day, the doors of the dike warehouse are open for you and fresh juices and snacks are served. There will be short presentations about the history but also about the future plans for the dike warehouse. Feel free to come by!

Hole in the dike

Noorderdijkweg near 24, Wieringerwerf

During the Second World War, part of the dike along the IJsselmeer was detonated. This caused the Wieringermeer to flood again. The nature reserve 'De Wielen' was later created at the location of the hole in the dike, opposite the Dijkgatbos along the Noorderdijkweg in the Wieringermeer.

An access path has been created on the old dike, which was breached at the time, with a viewpoint at the end. From this point you have a view of the place where the dike breach occurred.

The viewpoint is always open. The gravel path to the viewpoint is wheelchair friendly. There are several information boards.

This location is part of the Story Route IJsselmeer Coast and is called'The dike jumps\\\'. Watch the informative video on location.

Former Reformed Church

Brink 55, Slootdorp

In 1932 the church building with sexton's house was built for the Dutch Reformed Church

Slootdorp built. In 1946, the damage caused by the flooding of the Wieringermeer (inundation) was repaired by architect G. van Hoogevest in Amersfoort. He probably also made the original church design.

The hall church is covered with a low gable roof with the ridge line in an east-west direction and has a tower on the west. All roof shields are covered with black Dutch tiles. The church has four bays, divided by three oblique buttresses.

The (encapsulated) tower centrally located on the front facade has a steep and overhanging gable roof covered with black Dutch tiles. The canopy main entrance to the church with double wooden doors is located centrally in the front facade. A stone commemorating the construction has been bricked in to the right of the main entrance.

The austere, largely intact interior of the church has exposed trusses, a wainscoted roof, an original pew plan, an original pulpit and original stained glass consisting of rectangular panes in various colors. The outline of the tower is recognizable in the interior.

In 2004, construction work took place next to the church building on the Brink, and homes were built. This is visible in one of the photos.

The church has served as a cultural center since 1998. In 2019, a permit was granted for the construction of six care homes. The church has therefore been completely renovated, while retaining the characteristic elements of the monument. The organ has also been preserved. The Pioneer House has now been opened and offers a home and daytime activity to people with intellectual disabilities.

The church building with the sexton's house has the status of a national monument. The organ is excluded from monumental protection.

In Wieringermeerpolder, a Catholic, Reformed and Reformed church was built in every village (except Kreileroord). These were the three largest faiths in the pillarized Netherlands. The Catholic church on the Brink in Slootdorp was demolished in March 2010. The reformed church has been repurposed as a cultural center since 1998 and has been used for (care) homes since 2019. The Protestant Langewegkerk is the only church building in Slootdorp where services are held.

Collection of the Roza Family

Uncle Keesweg 22, Wieringerwerf

There is plenty to see in the Roza family yard: an open garden with pond, seating areas and vistas, a collection of children's crockery, a doll's pram collection, anthroposophical dolls, old-timer tractors, antique tools, household supplies from a bygone era, etc.

In the farm you can view the display case with handmade anthroposophical dolls by Anneke. Or you can stroll through the barn where Gerrit has his museum with antique tractors, tools and household supplies.

During Open Monuments Weekend you are very welcome to visit the Roza family on Saturday and Sunday. They are happy to give you a tour, come by and enjoy!

The Culture Shed

Loggersplein 1, Wieringerwerf

The Cultuurschuur is the cultural heart of Wieringerwerf. The history of the polder is intertwined with the building. The water level after the dike breach at the end of the Second World War is made visible on the facade. Murals (sgraffito) throughout the building tell the history of the Wieringermeer in ten scenes in 1930-1955.

Historical Society

The Historical Society Wieringermeer is located in De Cultuurschuur and has an extensive collection. Historical films are continuously shown in the cinema. The Society has an exhibition about life in the Wieringermeer.

The volunteers of the Historical Society are happy to welcome you to De Cultuurschuur. The exhibition is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Coffee and tea are served.

New exhibition Sgraffito

On September 9, a new interactive exhibition will be opened about the fortunes of the Wieringermeer, linked to the unique sgraffito collection. This exhibition is the result of a partnership between the De Cultuurschuur Foundation and the Historical Society Wieringermeer and took shape around the circulation at the top of the central hall of De Cultuurschuur, opposite the sgraffitos.

How did the Wieringermeer come into being, how was it populated, flooded towards the end of the war and how did the brave polder subsequently rise again? Who played a role in this, what is typical of the Wieringermeer and how will this develop in the future?

Do soil drilling, drain the polder, hear the shock and displacement caused by the inundation and experience how high the sea can really reach.

An interesting source of knowledge for every visitor to this special area, especially for those who explore the polder by bike during the Open Monument Days.

So come and have a look at the loft of De Cultuurschuur to appreciate the landscape you will be cycling through even more!

Cycling route

A cycling tour has been planned that departs from De Cultuurschuur to, among other things, the Dijkmagazijn, where the story of water management will be told.

The Domain Office

Ir. Smedingsplein 1, Wieringerwerf

The former domain office is stately and a characteristic building in Wieringerwerf. The coat of arms of Heemraadschap de Wieringermeer still hangs on the facade. This reminds us that the Heemraadschap was responsible for water management in the polder until 1994. The wide black border represents the solid dikes of the Wieringermeer that dried up in 1930. The gold and the ears of corn symbolize the fertile soil and the herrings the original state, the sea. The coat of arms was officially unveiled on April 1, 1950.

The office is built in the style of traditionalism with the use of stylized neo-baroque details, including the stairs of the main entrance and the window closure of the risalite. After the dike breach in 1945, the building was restored to the original design without significant changes.

When the water board left the building, a fountain was donated to the residents of Wieringerwerf which can still be seen diagonally opposite the building. In 2013, apartments were created in the building.

During the Open Monuments Weekend, the building can only be viewed from the outside .