Cycling to herring city Enkhuizen

The West Frisian Omringdijk is the only monumental dike in the world. Within this dike you drive through a quiet agricultural landscape of grasslands, waterways and authentic bell-shaped farms.

Herring city Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen was once an important center for herring fishing. Nowadays you will find marinas, the Zuiderzee Museum and lots of fun. The picturesque center is intersected by canals and enclosed by a well-preserved sixteenth-century rampart. At the old harbor you can see the Drommedaris, the sixteenth-century southern gateway to Enkhuizen. You also drive past the seventeenth-century Koepoort that was part of the fortress.

Characteristic villages
Part of the route you drive on or along the centuries-old West Frisian Omringdijk. You look out over the IJsselmeer where you can see nice boats passing by from a bench or just look out over the water. You will also pass through characteristic towns such as Hoogkarspel, Lutjebroek and Hauwert with its fifteenth-century Nicholas Church. Take a seat on the terrace at Hotel Café Restaurant de Vooroever for a fresh coffee and delicious meal.

Lighthouse De Ven
On your route is one of the oldest and most beautiful lighthouses in the Netherlands: De Ven. This white square brick building dates from 1700 and has a height of 17 meters. The lighthouse was built together with two other lighthouses to guide ships safely through the former Zuiderzee. Of these three eighteenth-century lighthouses, only De Ven is still standing proudly. The lighthouse burned on oil until a fire in 1819, after which the new light house was given the so-called Fresnel lens, special convex lenses. Would you like to take a nice bike ride from De Vooroever? Then also drive route 448334.