Holiday apartment in Nieuw-Loosdrecht – Lakes, heathland and Sypesteyn

Nieuw-Loosdrecht combines a watery landscape, rural paths and impressive reminders of the past. In the surrounding area, the Loosdrechtse Plassen lakes offer water sports amid tranquil nature, as well as opportunities for hiking, cycling and canoeing. At the same time, paths lead through heathland and countryside, while Sypesteyn, the Sijpekerk and several memorial sites each add their own distinctive character.

Lakes, routes and heathland for active days

The Vuntus offers a particularly tangible experience on the water: here, a 4.8-kilometre canoe route winds through a network of lakes, ditches, meadows, reed beds and swamp forests. The Doortraproute Loosdrecht leads through Nieuw-Loosdrecht and the countryside and heathland of the rural surroundings. The Hoorneboegse Heide is another nature reserve.

The sixth stage of the Westerborkpad passes the Jeugdalijah Memorial.

History and garden culture in Nieuw-Loosdrecht

The Nieuw-Loosdrechtsedijk, which still exists today, forms part of the dike surrounding Loosdrecht’s star-shaped drainage landscape, Het Stergebied. Kasteel Sypesteyn is located on this road. At the Kasteel Museum Sypesteyn, visitors can see four centuries of portraits of Henri’s ancestors, as well as a large porcelain collection containing a great deal of Loosdrechter porcelain. Sypesteyn is also home to 35 species of stinzen plants that bloom in early spring.

The Sijpekerk was built sometime between 1400 and 1450, replacing a smaller chapel. Its ecclesiastical treasures include three copper crowns, an old oak pulpit, the Belleman, two mourning shields from 1725 and an old baptismal font that was already mentioned in the 1400 deed of foundation. These items can be viewed during an open day.

Memorial sites with different stories

The Joods monument in Nieuw-Loosdrecht commemorates 23 Jewish children and their leaders from Jeugdalijah Loosdrecht who died during the Second World War as members of the resistance or in concentration camps. Its design is restrained and clear: the monument consists of a horizontal memorial slab made of white natural stone bearing a Star of David. It was unveiled on 11 August 1987.

The war memorial in Nieuw-Loosdrecht is a stone sculpture depicting a dying male figure with a dove on his right arm. It commemorates the residents who died as a result of the war during the years of occupation. In particular, the memorial remembers ten people who were shot by the occupying forces on 20 March 1945, 50 metres from the monument.

The steel artwork is called Gedeeld verleden and Masa lalu bersama. It consists of ten plaques and fifteen vertical rods of varying heights. The work commemorates Moluccan marines who fell victim to acts of war, as well as the history of many Moluccans: their journey to the Netherlands, the impossibility of returning and their struggle to build a home for themselves.

Natural ice rink on the Nieuw-Loosdrechtsedijk

De Lange Akker is a natural ice rink on the Nieuw-Loosdrechtsedijk, opposite house number 195. After paying, members of the club have access to De Lange Akker and to the natural ice tracks on the Loosdrechtse Plassen lakes created by the club.

More places

Nederhorst Den Berg, Kortenhoef, Breukeleveen, Oud-Loosdrecht, ’S-Graveland, Ankeveen, Loosdrecht

For the higher-level travel overview: Wijdemeren.