Holiday apartment in Stede Broec – Water, nature and culture

Stede Broec’s highlights include historic waterways, the De Weelen nature reserve and places offering cultural events. A historic boating map shows a waterway between Stede Broec and Enkhuizen. The historic boating map for this route is available from tourist information offices, harbour offices and leisure providers.

Culture and history

Ceres Windmill was built in 1849 with an octagonal cap and numerous other parts from the Zaandijk oil mill De Oude Haas. The mill shop sells flour and baked goods, among other products. Another testament to the region’s history stands in the harbour of Bovenkarspel: De Overhaal is an important industrial monument. Since its restoration in 1993, it has served as a barge and boat lift for recreational use. As early as the 17th century, barges were transferred via De Overhaal from the polder to the harbour on the Zuiderzee.

The Het Postkantoor theatre is located in a monumental building at Hoofdstraat 17 in Bovenkarspel and provides space for theatre performances and film screenings. In Lutjebroek stands the Bessiekerk, a historic building originally constructed in 1862 as a Dutch Reformed church. The Cultureel Centrum Bessie hosts various cultural activities, including courses, exhibitions, lectures, theatre, dance classes and workshops.

Nature and landscape

In Het Streekbos, forests, water, meadows and paths alternate. Visitors can walk, swim, climb and fish there. Het Streekbos also has an accessible fishing spot for people with disabilities.

De Weelen is a nature reserve in West Friesland. Visitors can observe deer and birds there; at the same time, De Weelen offers peace and space for a relaxing walk.

Water and activities

Stede Broec is situated on the Amsterdam–Enkhuizen railway line and has two railway stations: Bovenkarspel-Grootebroek and Bovenkarspel Flora. A cycling tour through the municipality of Stede Broec passes through the villages of Bovenkarspel, Grootebroek and Lutjebroek, among others, and stops at the Blotevoetenpad in Bovenkarspel. Obstacles on the Blotevoetenpad Gouwe Voeten include balancing across tree trunks, a wobbly bridge, and crossing water and a reed ditch.

The Klimpark Streekbos is located in the recreational area of the same name, Streekbos. It is an ecological climbing park that has been operating since April 2015. In addition to the climbing park, there is an 18-hole miniature golf course. For adventures on the water, RIJO Bootverhuur offers motorboats and Canadian canoes for trips through the polder, passing reed beds, meadows and narrow waterways. The trips start in Lutjebroek and can lead through Het Grootslag towards Enkhuizen. No boat licence is required for RIJO Bootverhuur’s motorboats.

Places to discover

Looking up at the sky is also part of what the municipality has to offer: at the Orion public observatory, visitors can discover planets, stars and distant galaxies through a telescope or in the planetarium. Volunteers are also available there to answer questions.

Het Keetje is an orchard and care farm in Lutjebroek. It offers lunch, regional products, a farm shop, a lunchroom with a terrace and an activity garden.

To the main travel overview: North Holland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Wervershoof, Schagen, Niedorp, Andijk, Alkmaar, Naarden.