Kampen - Room for the river

Zalk nature development in the floodplains (between nodes 3 and 76)
In the context of the Rijkswaterstaat project"Room for the river\\\" floodplains are being redesigned in 5 different places due to nature compensation. In the Zalkerbosch, the existing hardwood floodplain forest will be expanded by 5 hectares. Ooibos originated naturally along rivers. Ewe is an old word for wet terrain near a river. Softwood riparian forests occur in many humid places along the rivers. These forests are dominated by willows. Hardwood riparian forests are forests of the higher, drier parts of the floodplains and often consist of oak, elm and ash. These are much rarer in the Netherlands. The Zalkerbosch is one of the few locations in the Netherlands where this still occurs. It is even considered to be the best developed hardwood floodplain forest in the Netherlands.

Reevediep (between junction 44 and De Chalmotweg)
The Reevediep is one of the largest"room for the river\\\" measures in the Netherlands. Not only in terms of space requirements, but especially in terms of the contribution made to flood risk management in the area from Zwolle, Hattem, Elburg to Kampen and Zwartewaterland. The Reevediep creates a more than 6 km long connection between the IJssel and the Veluwerandmeren. The approximately 350 hectares of new nature that will be created will mainly consist of wet nature that enhances the character of the river delta, such as reed marshes and open water.

Chalmotweg
Residents of this area have always had to deal with high water. Characteristic farms from that time are therefore built on mounds. This area used to be regularly flooded by the IJssel and the former Zuiderzee. On the other side of the road, the last major expansion of the city of Kampen has been realized, the Onderdijks residential area.

Wheels or vortexes (between De Chalmotweg and junction 40)
You regularly see wheels (or vortices) along old river dikes. These beautiful still waters are the remains of dike breaches, sometimes caused by drifting ice. This has created deep holes, up to 10 meters deep. The sand from the vortex was deposited behind the vortex. When the dike broke, the force of the water was so great that the dike could no longer be closed. A new piece of dike was then built around the chamber. There are three gullies here along the Venedijk Noord. Four more can be found south of the high water channel along Venedijk Zuid.

De Enk nature reserve (between Rijksweg N50 and junction 69)
Here you can see reed beds of nature reserve De Enk with the viaducts of the Hanzelijn and the Rijksweg N50 (the point where the Reevediep crosses this infrastructure) in the background. De Enk nature reserve is a remnant of an old estuary of the former Zuiderzee. The Zuiderzee regularly invaded the area. The area, which was isolated for a long time, is part of the approximately 350 hectares of new nature that is being created in the Reevediep. In the spring, the black tern is a loyal visitor to De Enk. Birds naturally build their nests on floating water plants, but here, as elsewhere in our country, they are given a helping hand by placing artificial nesting rafts.

Zwartendijk (past junction 69 at the Bovenbroeksweg)
Zwartendijk is an old seawall that protected Kampen against the former Zuiderzee. There have been many dike breaches here, as can be seen from the many gullies. They are silent witnesses of disasters that have happened here in the past.

Nature compensation (beginning Buitendijksweg)
In addition to meadow birds, a number of other protected bird species also benefit from the mandatory nature compensation. These are the barn owl, long-eared owl, little owl, buzzard and house sparrow. Measures have been taken in the immediate vicinity of the Reevediep to compensate for the habitat that is being lost for these species. Consider, for example, the construction of flowery grassland and rough strips in the vicinity of the Buitendijksweg that should serve as a feeding area for owls and buzzards, but also consider placing nest boxes at farms and homes for the house sparrow.

New swamp area (halfway Buitendijksweg)
In anticipation of the construction of the Reevediep, 8 hectares of reed marsh were already created here in 2014. Ultimately, this should grow into a marsh area of more than 40 hectares where special reed birds such as the great reed warbler, the strangely honking bittern and china grouse, but also the lake bat feel at home. The fact that the marshland is special is evident from the fact that Brussels has awarded a LIFE+ subsidy for the construction of the marshland. Residents and holidaymakers will be able to fully enjoy the new nature in a few years' time through the construction of a navigation channel and various walking, strolling and cycling paths.

Black-tailed Godwit looking for a farmer (intermediate junction 67 and 68)
Many animal and plant species will benefit from the construction of the Reevediep, but unfortunately this does not apply to the meadow birds. Because part of the open grassland area southwest of Kampen is being lost, a new home has to be found elsewhere for bird species such as the black-tailed godwit, lapwing and common redshank. With the special action"Grutto seeks farmer\\\" farmers in the region have been called upon to organize and manage part of their land as an optimal habitat for meadow birds. Farmers in Kamperveen are also participating!

The city gates of Kampen
This is the Broederpoort, one of the three gates that have survived from the medieval defenses around the Hanseatic city. Built in the 15th century, just like the Cellebroederspoort, the most important gate on the city side, located further on. In the 16th century, foreigners were only allowed to enter the city through the gate, with its thick insulating walls it also served as a refrigerator for a while! In the winter, large pieces of ice from the canal were stored in it, until the summer they could use it to cool meat and fish.

The old tile
It takes a while to find it, but it's really there. On the Broederbrug there is a tile with the inscription"KP7\\\", the 7th church point. If you look around here, you will see no less than 7 churches. Freedom of religion has led to the fact that every Christian movement was allowed to build its own church in Kampen. That is why there are 10 churches and 2 theological universities a stone's throw from each other.

Kamper sturgeon (near junction 41)
On the east side of the river you can see a large fish on the water in the summer months, just in front of the station. This is the famous Kamper sturgeon. A fish up to six meters long and equipped with a bell. Once intended as a main course for the bishop who would delight Kampen with a working visit in the 17th century, but just when the cook wanted to fillet the sturgeon, the bishop turned out to be unable to attend. The chance that they would ever catch such a big fish again was very small. The people of Kampen therefore decided to put a silver bell on the sturgeon and throw it back into the IJssel. They hoped they could hear where he was. Sadly, they never heard from him again!

Mill Bridge
We cycle here under the Molenbrug. This is the southernmost of the three bridges over the IJssel near Kampen, where the summer bed lowering begins. Over a length of 7.5 kilometers from the Molenbrug to the Eilandbrug, the river will be deepened by an average of 2 metres. This summer bed lowering ensures that the IJssel can discharge more water at high tide. The Molenbrug is located right next to the mill D\\\'Olde Zwarver, which explains the name of the bridge, but this bridge is usually called"the new bridge\\\".

Route offered by: Isala IJsseldelta