Holiday apartment in Uitgeest on Lake Uitgeestermeer

In Uitgeest, the expansive Lake Uitgeestermeer, historic forts, windmills and waterside paths come together. Lake Uitgeestermeer covers 660 hectares. Its shores feature areas for day recreation, small beaches and marinas available for sailing, rowing, surfing and motorboating. The lake is also connected to 350 kilometres of sailing routes.

Water and paths

The connection between the lake and the landscape is also evident on the Pontjesroute ferry route. It includes four ferry crossings. At two of these crossings, visitors operate the ferry themselves using a hand winch. The Dorregeesterpolderroute runs along the shores of Lake Uitgeestermeer. Near this route, there is a viewpoint with a panoramic view over the water.

Culture and history

One prominent historic site is Fort aan den Ham. It is one of the 42 forts of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996. The fort was built between 1896 and 1903 in the Zaandam sector. It is located in the vicinity of Uitgeest and offers exhibitions, guided tours, reenactments and activities for people of different ages. Fort Krommenie bij, the ruins of Kasteel Oud Haerlem and Fort Markenbinnen are also located nearby.

The audio tour at Fort K’IJK takes approximately 30 minutes. It is available in English, German and Dutch. The viewpoint at Fort K’IJK is free of charge and can be reached via the entrance of the tearoom. Kerkbuurt is home to houses and buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, including the Dutch Reformed Church, the Church of Our Lady of the Nativity and the Regthuys.

Windmills and heritage park

The historic windmill landscape includes De Kat windmill, which is open to visitors on Saturdays from 11:00 to 15:00 when the sails are turning, as well as by appointment. The De Kat watermill, formerly also known as De Zien, is at least the third mill at this location. It drained and continues to drain the De Zien polder and was most probably established there in 1567.

De Dog windmill is an eight-sided, post mill built in 1896. Together with an electric pumping station, it drained the 645-hectare Castricummerpolder at the Schermerboezem. The Tweede Broekermolen is an eight-sided hollow-post mill probably built in 1631. Together with four other mills, it drained the approximately 1,805-hectare Uitgeester- en Heemskerkerbroek polder at the Schermerboezem. The Tweede Broekermolen is not accessible because it is inhabited.

Erfgoedpark De Hoop is located at a historic site on the edge of a nature reserve, directly on Lake Uitgeestermeer. This industrial heritage park in Uitgeest is home to De Corneliszoon, a wood-sawing windmill. It is intended to power a band saw, a circular saw and other small woodworking machines. The recurring children's event Huttenweek Uitgeest is also among the site's listed activities; the edition prepared for 2026 is the 51st organised Huttenweek.

Nature and surroundings

The surroundings of Uitgeest include several landscape and park areas with different names. Park Bloemberg, Park Westerhout and Park Waterland are located in the vicinity of Uitgeest. The De Kruisberg hill is also located there. These places complement the paths running directly along Lake Uitgeestermeer and the viewpoint on the Dorregeesterpolderroute with additional destinations in the surrounding area.

On the respective offer page, you can check the exact location, type of accommodation, occupancy, included services, price components, and booking and cancellation conditions. Pay attention to which of this information is specifically stated and whether the conditions suit your plans. This keeps the selection focused on the details of the individual offer.

More about the local page: Uitgeest.

Other places: Purmerend, Wervershoof, Edam-Volendam, Wieringermeer, Zandvoort, Muiden, Castricum.

To the overview of the wider travel region: North Holland.