Cultural treasures in the land of Leeghwater

  • The Netherlands
  • North Holland
  • Alkmaar
  • 40.19 km (Approximately 02:21 u)
  • Cycling route 537964
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Cultural treasures in the land of Leeghwater

  • The Netherlands
  • North Holland
  • Alkmaar
  • 40.19 km (Approximately 02:21 u)
  • Cycling route 537964
The hydraulic engineer Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater radically changed the landscape around Alkmaar in the course of the 17th century. He drained the lakes around the city on behalf of a number of prominent citizens of Alkmaar. Are you curious what the polder land so close to Alkmaar looks like now? Then follow this cycle route and discover it for yourself. 

Sights to admire
The starting point of this cycle route is at Alkmaar Central Station. Feel free to come to Alkmaar by train and start your bike ride as soon as you leave the station. You cycle through the pleasant center of Alkmaar to the polder De Schermer. Along the way you can enjoy the beautiful squares and historical monuments in Alkmaar. You will also cycle past the museum windmill in Schermerhorn and past the sculpture garden of Nic Jonk. Both sights are absolutely worth it. So be sure to get off your bike here and browse around.

Back to Alkmaar
A little further in Graft you will find the smallest sweet shop in the Netherlands'Bram an Aagje\\\'. You then cycle along the Alkmaardermeer to Heiloo, where you will find a pilgrimage chapel. You cycle back to the starting point in Alkmaar via the stately estate of Nijenburg. There you can settle down on one of the many terraces.

On the road in the cheese city
Alkmaar is known as a cheese city and that is of course not for nothing. For centuries, the world-famous cheese market has been held here on Friday mornings in spring and summer. You should really see this real Dutch tradition on the Waagplein with your own eyes. In Alkmaar you can also enjoy centuries-old buildings that take you back to times long past, interesting museums and many more great sights.

Directions

# Description Distance
VVV Alkmaar (CT21R, 1811JN, Alkmaar, North Holland, The Netherlands) 0.00 km
50
50 (1823CD, Alkmaar, North Holland, The Netherlands) 0.65 km
2
2 (1829DE, Alkmaar, North Holland, The Netherlands) 2.05 km
78
78 (1841JD, Alkmaar, North Holland, The Netherlands) 4.42 km
79
79 (1841, Alkmaar, North Holland, The Netherlands) 6.05 km
Ondermolen C (1636 VL, Alkmaar, North Holland, The Netherlands) 9.73 km

Sights

Ondermolen C


1636 VL Alkmaar
http://www.allemolens.nl

The most famous windmill type in the Netherlands. Windmills were used not only to produce flour from cereals, but also to reclaim polder areas. Natural energy. The most famous windmills can be found in Kinderdijk, really set up as a polder model. A must see!

Museummolen

De Museummolen
1636 VL Alkmaar
http://www.museummolen.nl

The Museum Mill is one of the eleven remaining mills of the former windmill complex of the Schermerpolder in a still virtually untouched open polder landscape in the central part of North Holland. good to follow. The atmosphere around living, working and living in / with polder mills is also exhibited here in an excellent way. Admire this technique of our water management and the development of the great reclaimed land from the Golden Age. In which the Dutch successfully built their future and that has proven its class for centuries.

Bovenmolen E

Bovenmolen E
1636VJ Alkmaar
http://www.allemolens.nl

This polder mill was built around 1633 in the village of Schermerhorn. Originally, this mill was part of six mills that drained the inner basin of the Schermer, but that task was taken over by auger mills in 1850.

Raadhuis Graft

25-27
1484 EN Alkmaar
http://www.raadhuisgraft.nl

This unique town hall dates from the year 1613 and was designed by an unknown architect. The world famous town hall is built in the so-called Dutch Renaissance style and radiates enormous wealth. Graft was a prosperous village, mainly because of the herring fishing and the cultivation of hemp. The lavish decoration on both facades is a reminder of this. On top of the gables are shield-bearing lions with the coat of arms of the then reigning stadholder, Prince Maurits. Next to the town hall is the restored tombstone floor of the former Reformed church of Graft. This church was demolished in 1951.

Noordermolen

Noordermolen
1921CG Castricum
http://www.allemolens.nl

Polder mill De Noordermolen probably dates from 1589. The mill was built to drain the Groot-Limmerpolder after the former mill was destroyed during the siege of Alkmaar.

Landgoed Nijenburg

278a
1851 BG Heiloo

Huis Nijenburg and the associated lands have been the property of the Van Egmond van de Nijenburg and Van Foreest families since the mid-16th century. Gerard van Egmond van de Nijenburg built the current house at the beginning of the 18th century, using the remains of an older building on this site. In 1928 the families sold it to Natuurmonumenten because they could no longer maintain it. Natuurmonumenten ensured that the estate was preserved and became one again.

Molen van Piet


1811 DP Alkmaar
http://www.molenvanpiet.nl/

In the middle of Alkmaar you will find the Molen van Piet. This tower mill was built in 1769 and from then on the mill served as a flour mill for centuries. Since 1993 that function has been discontinued. Now the blades only turn 'for the prince'. From a formal point of view, the name of this mill is 'De Groot', but the windmill is never actually referred to as such. The name 'Molen van Piet' refers to Cornelis Piet, a miller who had the lower floors of the mill converted into a house in 1884.

Provided by:

Bureau Toerisme Laag Holland