Holiday apartment in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel – history and waterscapes

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel as a base for your stay, Ouderkerk aan de Amstel offers administrative, local and religious history. Until the 14th century, Ouderkerk was the administrative centre of Amstelland. The Historisch Kwartier forms the heart of the protected villagescape and is one of the oldest places in Amstelland.

Historic sites between the village centre and the Bullewijk

The Sint Urbanuskerk stands near the confluence of the Bullewijk and the Amstel. As a well-preserved neo-Gothic church from the third quarter of the 19th century, it is a characteristic part of the early work of P.J.H. Cuypers. The war memorial of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel stands at Dorpsstraat 14 and was unveiled on 4 May 1951.

Beth Haim brings together a particularly rich history. The site was acquired in 1614, and the cemetery was officially put into use in 1616; it is still used by the Portuguese-Israelite community in Amsterdam. Beth Haim contains around 28,000 graves across four hectares and is registered as Rijksmonument 31967. The cemetery is freely accessible to visitors all year round; independent visits are possible, and guided tours can be booked by arrangement. A historic tour leads through four centuries of Jewish history. Paths, stairs and bridges make the entire cemetery accessible. The visitor app includes the “Rabbijnen route” and the “Koopliedenroute”, as well as 76 stories linked to graves or locations in the cemetery.

Museum experiences and distinctive local history

The Amstelland Museum also combines local history with engaging details. It is housed in six former deaconry houses dating from 1733 and presents a permanent exhibition on the history of Ouder-Amstel. Visitors can pump out water themselves; the water surface fills up again as soon as they stop. The Rodeamentoshuis, dating from 1705, is also located on the banks of the Bullewijk. In this house, bereaved relatives make seven circuits around the coffin of the deceased.

Holiday apartment in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel for active days

There are various outdoor options around Ouderkerk: the Ouderkerkerplas recreational area offers beaches, a day campsite, a nature zone, a horse-riding route, and several walking and cycling paths. A boat ramp and waterside areas are used for surfing, canoeing, sailing small boats and diving. The De Zwaan windmill once maintained the water level in the 356-hectare Klein-Duivendrechtse- and Binnenbullewijkerpolder. The “Historische Wandelingen” complement the range of activities with three signposted walks in the village and immediately outside Ouderkerk.

The surrounding area can also be explored by bicycle according to different themes. The “Rondje groen Amstelland” route uses the pont de Smient and pont Nessersluis ferries. It starts at the Kerkbrug over the Bullewijk and offers a view of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel there. This puts cultural destinations, walks, water activities and a cycling route side by side for your planning – a useful basis when choosing the location and pace of your holiday apartment according to the experiences you want.

You can also include Duivendrecht as another destination in your travel plans.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ouder-Amstel.