Holiday apartment in Schermerhorn – Mills, polders and village history

Schermerhorn combines an open polder landscape with an impressive history of mills and fascinating insights into village life in earlier times. Dykes, waterways and expansive views characterize the surrounding area. At the same time, the village is home to several cultural and historical attractions, including the Grote Kerk, the Museummolen and ’t Regthuysje. This creates a destination where peaceful experiences of the landscape, activity and vivid history can be combined.

Church, windows and village history

The Grote Kerk Schermerhorn was built as a basilica in the Gothic style between 1634 and 1636. Its interior still contains eleven unique windows that are among the UNESCO Top 10. There are also two models of warships: the 1663 model has 64 cannons, while the smaller model has 68 cannons. A guided tour of the tower leads up 133 steps to a 33-metre-high balustrade. From there, the views extend eastwards to the IJsselmeer and westwards to the North Sea.

’t Regthuysje was rebuilt in 1766 and originally served as a courthouse from which justice was administered for the entire region. Het Kleinste Huisje van Schermerhorn tells the story of living and everyday life in the village around 1900. Together, the two sites complement a visit to the church with smaller, immediate insights into the region’s past.

A special experience among the mills

The Museummolen Schermerhorn is open daily from 1 April to 1 November. Visitors can watch a film about how the mill works and the land reclamation process, walk through the mill and view its centuries-old mechanism. The life of a miller’s family in a mill is also presented in an engaging way. The three best-known mills of the Schermer mill complex stand in Schermerhorn; together with 49 other mills, they drained the Schermer.

Poldermolen O has stood as a polder mill in Section O near Schermerhorn since 1635.

Those interested in historic buildings and working technology will therefore find more than just a single attraction in Schermerhorn.

On foot, by bicycle or on the water

A short walking route, 17 kilometres long, runs through the Eilandspolder. Routes connected with Schermerhorn and the Schermer polder can be explored on foot, by bicycle or on the water. In the area around Schermerhorn, a cycling route along the junction network also passes all 15 mills in the Schermer. The different route lengths and modes of transport help you plan your holiday days according to your preferred pace and interests.

The volunteers from Het Kleinste Huisje organize informative boat trips through the Eilandspolder. In the area around Schermerhorn, the VVV in De Rijp, located in the historic town hall at Kleine Dam 1, provides background information, routes and tips for exploring the Schermerpolder and its mill landscape. This allows you to combine cultural activities, days of cycling, walks and experiences on the water without losing sight of the special features of the polder landscape.

Suitable accommodation for your plans

When choosing a holiday apartment in Schermerhorn, you can consider which of these experiences should take centre stage. Church windows, ship models, mill machinery and village history are ideal for a culturally focused holiday. Those who prefer to stay active can include the 17-kilometre walking route, the cycling route to the 15 mills or explorations on the water in their plans. Accommodation in the village provides the thematic setting for days spent getting to know Schermerhorn and the Schermerpolder step by step.

Other places in the region

Alkmaar, Oudorp, Driehuizen, Koedijk, Stompetoren

To the higher-level travel overview: Alkmaar.