Discover Oosterleek: Churches, History and Trails

Oosterleek is a destination for you if you would like to combine local history, distinctive architectural forms, and active days. Churches, archaeological traces, and the Westfriese Omringdijk route offer different perspectives on the village. This allows you to choose between short stops, walks, cycling tours, and a more in-depth exploration of historical remains when planning your trip.

Churches and Archaeological Traces

The Hervormde Kerk in Oosterleek was built around 1690. The Oosterleker Kerkje also has a special function: the municipality of Drechterland designated it as an official wedding venue. Archaeology is another part of the village’s tangible history. Immediately south of Zuiderdijk 33, a small medieval burial ground was discovered during drainage work. Following Christian tradition, the deceased were buried with their heads facing west. There is also a poem next to the lighthouse near Oosterleek.

West Frisian Architectural Forms

Historic residential and agricultural building forms add to the impressions from the church and archaeology. Huis Oosterleek is a now-rare type of West Frisian longhouse farm complex: its elongated floor plan has no corridor, and the rooms are arranged one behind another. In the 17th century, a longhouse stood on an archaeologically investigated plot in Oosterleek. The excavated longhouse consisted of an unheated front house, a heated chamber behind it, and a cowshed at the rear.

Cycle Route, Dike and Short Stop

The Westfriese Omringdijk route offers a clearly traceable sequence for active days. By bicycle, it first passes Oostergouw, then De Weed, and subsequently goes through Oosterleek. A large part of the route runs along the Markermeer. The Westfriese Omringdijk is 126 kilometres long and walkable for most of its length. If you would like to combine cycling and walking, the Vuurtje van Leek is located south of Oosterleek on the Zuiderdijk at Leekerhoek. It is suitable as a short stop of 10 to 20 minutes for cyclists and walkers. The different scales help you choose between a brief stopover and a longer stretch of the route.

Places to Visit in the Surrounding Area

There are also various destinations around Oosterleek: the Westfries Museum, the Jan Pieterszoon Coen monument, the Oosterkerk and Westerkerk, as well as Mandela Park, Julianapark, Wilhelminapark, and Snouck van Loosenpark. The selection therefore ranges from museums and monuments to churches and parks, complementing the historical themes found directly in Oosterleek.

Choose the Right Holiday Apartment in Oosterleek

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in Oosterleek, you can use your preferred daily rhythm as the starting point: should churches, the burial ground, and longhouses be the focus, or are the cycle route and the short stop at the Vuurtje van Leek more important? This keeps your decision closely aligned with the experiences you would like to discover during your days in Oosterleek.

More Places to Consider for Your Planning

To explore more places, you can also consider Wijdenes, Schellinkhout, Hem, Westwoud, Venhuizen, and Hoogkarspel.

For the overarching travel overview: Drechterland.