Walking through Spaarndam and along Mooie Nel

Spaarndam is a beautiful old village, ideal to explore on foot. In the countryside you walk along the banks of Mooie Nel and pass two forts from the Defence Line of Amsterdam.

Beautiful Nel
From Haarlemmerliede you walk up the dike. Soon you pass the Fort bij Penningsveer that was completed in 1901. A little later you see Mooie Nel. This lake was originally called'Mooie Hel\\\', a name that was later corrupted to Mooie Nel. On the right you look out over the vast lowlands, on the left you have occasional views of the lake. You also pass the Slokop: a thatched polder mill from 1877.

Fort
On the western bank of the Spaarne lies the oldest part of Spaarndam. Here you can see the Kolksluis from 1280: the oldest still working lock in Europe! Around the lock you look out over a beautiful area of centuries-old buildings. Café Spaarndam is also located here, time for a break! Along the Spaarne and Mooie Nel you walk beautiful kilometers to Fort aan de Liebrug, the last sight on your route.