Holiday apartment in Koedijk: Among mills, waterways and walking trails

Koedijk brings together milling history, protected village landscapes, waterways and walking trails. When you choose a holiday apartment in Koedijk, these different impressions can shape the character of your stay: you can give greater or lesser emphasis to culture, nature observation or active walks according to your personal interests. The character of the village is particularly evident at De Gouden Engel, in Oostwijk and along the four walking trails starting from Koedijk.

Holiday apartment in Koedijk with culture and local history

The upper floor of the mill barn at De Gouden Engel houses a permanent exhibition by the Koedijk Historical Society. The De Gouden Engel complex also includes a restored grain mill dating from 1866. Maalderij De Gouden Engel in Koedijk is housed in the De Gouden Engel post mill, where grain is ground into flour using wind power. Maalderij De Gouden Engel has a small exhibition of archaeological finds made in Koedijk. The name De Gouden Engel derives from Koedijk’s traditional Saint Nicholas celebration, the Gouden Engelfeest, which was held on the last day of the year. For groups of at least 10 people, guided tours of De Gouden Engel can be arranged on request on Fridays or Saturdays.

Oostwijk: Village landscape, ditches and waterways

Oostwijk in Koedijk is an officially protected village landscape with 38 pre-war houses. The housing association Goed Wonen developed Oostwijk from 1920 onwards as a neighbourhood for gardeners. Het Laantje, the ditch alongside Het Schipperspad and a northern ditch in Oostwijk are remnants of drainage and cultivation ditches dating from around AD 1000. The old peat river around Oostwijk is part of the protected area because vegetables and fruit were transported mainly by waterway at that time. The traditional cabbage sheds in Oostwijk represent the cultural and social-historical connection with the Vaartuinders in the Rijk der Duizend Eilanden.

Four walking trails from Koedijk and the Kleimeer area

Four walking trails start at the Koedijk starting point: the blue, yellow, green and purple trails. The 5.6 km green walking route from Koedijk runs on both sides of the Noordhollands Kanaal and crosses it at the Koedijker Vlotbrug, a distinctive wooden bridge dating from 1821. The 6.2 km purple walking route from Koedijk follows the edges of the protected Kleimeer nature reserve and passes the recreational lake De Zomerdel. The 8.2 km yellow walking route from Koedijk runs through open grassland along the Saskervaart and passes the old development of Koedijk over a grass embankment. The protected Kleimeer nature reserve lies near Koedijk and features wet meadows, high water levels and many birds. Kleimeer is not open to the public; the area can only be accessed during guided excursions. It can be experienced from the surrounding walking and cycling paths and from two viewpoints.

Practical information for your stay

There is only limited parking at De Gouden Engel; additional parking spaces are available at the sports fields of SV Koedijk. During Koedijk’s traditional Gondelvaart, bare cargo barges are transformed into theatrical performances that pass along the Noordhollands Kanaal at dusk on the third Saturday of August each year. The different route lengths help you adapt your plans to your preferred length of day. When choosing accommodation in Koedijk, milling history, the village landscape, waterways and walking routes can each provide a different focus.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to extend your travel planning beyond Koedijk, you can find more places under Oudorp, Schermerhorn, Driehuizen, Stompetoren and Alkmaar.

For the overview of the wider area: Alkmaar.