Round Houtrak and Zaandam

Your route starts at ParkCafé - Herdenkingspark Westgaarde. From here you can easily cycle into Het Houtrak. It is part of the Spaarnwoude nature and recreation area. Here you cycle through a mosaic of woods, flowery bushes and streams. Today you cross the IJ twice with a ferry, nice! Zaandam originally consisted of two parallel dikes on either side of the Zaan. Paths were laid at right angles to this, into the field, where the many mills that this area once had were located. You also cross the Zaan with this route. Between bicycle junctions 68 and 73 paper mill De Schoolmeester. It is the last paper mill in the world that grinds on wind power. It was built in 1692 and is still used to make paper in a traditional way every day.