Discover Noordoostpolder: Holiday Rentals, Schokland and Tulips

Noordoostpolder lies on the bed of the former Zuiderzee and has been dry for more than 80 years. Schokland is a particularly striking testimony to the history of the landscape: the former island has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995 and was the first site in the Netherlands to be added to the World Heritage List.

History and Culture

In the reclaimed landscape, Schokland remains recognisable through its contours, four protected dwelling mounds of former villages and more than 160 archaeological sites. Near Kuinre, the remains of two castles with moat structures and ramparts have been preserved. The lords of Kuinre built the castle around 1150; from there, they undertook raids on the Zuiderzee and controlled shipping to the Hanseatic cities.

The region's architectural history also has a setting of its own. Museum Nagele is housed in a former church designed by T. Taen and T. Nix. The permanent exhibition presents the design history of Nagele's architecture, complemented by changing exhibitions on architecture and visual art.

Water Management and Trails

Waterloopbos is a historic open-air laboratory in a polder forest. Models of hydraulic engineering structures now lie there as ruins along marked walking trails. More than 200 studies of hydraulic engineering structures were carried out in the former open-air laboratory. Waterloopbos is freely accessible from sunrise to sunset.

The 1.2-kilometre-long Deltawerkroute also passes through this area. It starts at the car park and is easily accessible for wheelchair users and people with mobility scooters. This makes it possible to compare different trail lengths and types when planning your day.

Schokland is accessible year-round for walking and cycling; no admission is charged for this. The audio walk “De laatste lichtwachter” leads from Middelbuurt to Zuidpunt, after which you can make your own way back. It is suitable for families with children aged around 10 and over. In the Schoterveld nature and recreation area, various sand sculptures can be seen during an annual walk, with the theme changing every year.

Nature and Activities

Noordoostpolder has three dedicated mountain bike routes, each with its own challenges and distances. All three are located in the forest. Kuinderbos is also situated to the north-east of Noordoostpolder and is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. This includes special plants, fungi, butterflies and birds of prey, as well as mammals such as the pine marten.

For cycling tours, Noordoostpolder has six bicycle stations with electric rental bikes. Visitors can reserve them via the Deelfiets Nederland app. The bikes can be returned at another station in the region, including in Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden and Giethoorn. Three Tourist Transfer Points, known as TOPs, serve as starting points for walking or cycling tours.

The following places are directly part of Noordoostpolder: Bant, Emmeloord, Marknesse, Rutten and Kraggenburg.

Tulips and Family Attractions

During the tulip season, the Tulip Festival Noordoostpolder offers signposted routes through the tulip landscape by bicycle or car. In Marknesse, De Tulpenpluktuin has a viewing tower overlooking the tulips. For a fixed fee, visitors can pick a bucket of 30 colourful tulips themselves.

Pantropica is a fully covered, wheelchair- and child-friendly tropical park that is open seven days a week. It features jungle trails, thousands of butterflies, enormous palms, animals and adventure attractions such as a suspension bridge and a cave.

Speeltuin Buitengewoon De Voorst has a free, enclosed playground with a go-kart track, zip line, sandpit and bouncy castle. Netl offers day visitors activities such as swimming, walking, outdoor play, sports and an obstacle course in surroundings with dunes and bamboo forests.

Regional Experiences

At Wijngaard Maronesse in Marknesse, visitors can take guided tours and attend wine tastings featuring the polder wines produced there. Apple-picking days in September and October are a family activity in Noordoostpolder. In autumn, destinations for day trips include Vink Fruitboerderij in Kraggenburg, among others.

To the higher-level travel overview: Flevoland.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Zeewolde, Almere, Dronten.