Holiday apartment in Wijdemeren between lakes, nature and cultural heritage

Wijdemeren is a landscape where forests, reedlands, water and cultural heritage alternate. Between lakes, meadows and historic estates, there are numerous walking and cycling routes; at the same time, the landscape is ideal for peaceful walks and bike rides. Included services, price components, and booking and cancellation conditions can also be compared there.

Nature and landscape

The Loosdrechtse Plassen comprise the lakes around Loosdrecht, including Wijde Blik, Vuntus, Loenderveense Plas and Breukeleveense Plas, as well as the herb-rich meadows around the Weersloot. The Loosdrechtse Plassen offer opportunities for water sports, walking, cycling and canoeing. A 4.8-kilometre canoe route on the Vuntus leads through lakes, ditches, meadows, reed fields and swamp forests.

The Ankeveense Plassen form a labyrinth of peat excavations, narrow waterways, islands and open water. The area is a refuge for numerous reed, water and marsh birds. The Ankeveense Plassen walking route is an approximately 11-kilometre circular trail through a water-rich Dutch landscape with opportunities for birdwatching. The path is mostly unpaved and can become very muddy in wet weather.

The Kortenhoefse Plassen also show how the landscape was shaped by peat extraction. Their Legakers and peat excavations are still visible today. The Kortenhoefse Plassen canoe route is marked with blue arrows and yellow signs with black numbers and takes approximately three hours.

Water and routes

The recreational islands in the lake district of Wijdemeren have jetties and landing harbours where boats can moor. There are five public recreational islands on the Wijde Blik, where boats may moor for up to three periods of 24 hours. The Fietsboot operates on the Loosdrechtse Plassen and is also accessible to walkers and people in wheelchairs or using mobility scooters. A pedestrian and bicycle ferry connects Nederhorst den Berg with Nigtevecht.

Additional routes open up the landscape on foot: a nine-kilometre walking route between ’s-Graveland and Kortenhoef follows the old church path Oppad and the Kromme Rade. Another walking route is 17 kilometres long and passes through the ten ’s-Gravelandse Buitenplaatsen.

Culture and history

Fort Kijkuit is a fort of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie. The powder house contains an information point, and there is also a viewpoint and an accessible fort site. Picnic tables are available on the grounds, along with a landing stage for boats.

The Kasteel Museum Sypesteyn displays portraits of ancestors, a large collection of Loosdrecht porcelain, furniture, glassware, sculptures and clocks from the 18th century, as well as an armoury. The historic garden reflects old Dutch garden architecture. In early spring, 35 species of Stinzen plants bloom there. The ’s-Gravelandse Buitenplaatsen preserve 400 years of garden history with stately country houses, beautiful gardens and parkland forests in a varied landscape.

The history of Kortenhoef includes Molen Gabriël, the only surviving mill in Kortenhoef. Historically, together with two other mills, it ensured that Kortenhoef remained dry. Near Nederhorst den Berg, the polder mill drained the approximately 473-hectare Stichts-Ankeveensepolder. The O.L. Vrouw Hemelvaart church on Dammerweg in Nederhorst den Berg was inaugurated in 1890. Dorpzicht was built around 1630 and is considered the oldest farmhouse in Nederhorst den Berg.

At the Gooi en Vechtstreek Visitor Centre, Speelnatuur van OERRR offers children activities including building huts, playing at a water pump and their own safe area for smaller children.

Local features

In Nederhorst den Berg lies Pluktuinderij Aardbei & Zo, a pick-your-own garden for unsprayed strawberries, herbs, vegetables and fruit. The produce can be paid for in the farm shop.

More local pages: Nieuw-Loosdrecht, Oud-Loosdrecht, Loosdrecht, ’S-Graveland, Nederhorst Den Berg, Kortenhoef, Ankeveen, Breukeleveen.

For the broader travel overview: North Holland.