Discover Wijdewormer: Polder Landscape and Culture

Wijdewormer combines the open expanse of a polder landscape with an unusually vivid cultural history. The Wijde Wormer was drained in 1626; to this day, the openness of the polder shapes the character of the area. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can choose between historical discoveries, landscape experiences and various ways of getting around.

Polder history along straight roads

The historic ribbon development in the Wijde Wormer still preserves many elements of its original formation. The two straight roads laid out in the Wijde Wormer area provide orientation: the Noorderweg and the Zuiderweg. They make the distinctive, deliberately planned structure of the polder landscape visible, without implying any specific route or distance to individual sights.

At Ringdijk 2/4 stands the wooden dike house, or polder house, dating from the 19th century. It is a Rijksmonument, a listed national monument, and one of Wijdewormer's prominent historic buildings. The Stolp farmhouses offer further insights into the region's architectural history: the house at Noorderweg 102 dates from 1913/1914 and is a municipal monument. The Stolp farmhouse “Waterloo” at Zuiderweg 36, built in 1911, has the same status. At Zuiderweg 45 there is a Stolp farmhouse built in 1881/1882, together with its associated bridge; it is also a municipal monument.

Mills, depot and local culture

A particularly striking historical detail is the relatively small, octagonal Nekkermolen. It was built in 1631 to drain the polder. Elsewhere, the focus turns to everyday and regional history: Het Depot of the Stichting Behoud Cultuurhistorie Wijdewormer displays cultural-historical objects such as traditional costumes, as well as material on the history of the Wijdewormer and its surroundings. Together with the farmhouses, this creates a picture that considers not only individual buildings but also makes the development of the polder and its cultivation comprehensible.

Nature and trails for different kinds of holiday days

Nature, agriculture and recreation meet in the area of Wormer- en Jisperveld, Engewormer and Wijdewormer. Part of this area is designated as Natura 2000 and/or forms part of the Natuur Netwerk Nederland. For longer hikes, the Trekvogelpad passes through Wijdewormer. There are also unmarked walking trails in Neck, some of which run through pastureland. Those who prefer to travel by bicycle can include the Wiedewater cycling route in their plans: it follows cycle paths and country roads through a bird-rich peat meadow landscape.

Wijdewormer is therefore well suited to travel plans that combine culture and landscape. Depending on the day's mood, families can focus on historic buildings and the history of the polder, or choose trails through the open landscape. When looking for accommodation, it is therefore worth deciding first what mix you want: should the trip focus mainly on cultural history, walks and hikes, or a combination with cycling tours? You can then choose the right holiday apartment in Wijdewormer based on the location that suits your personal travel plans, without prematurely combining individual experiences into one circular route.

More destinations

If you would like to add more places to your travel plans, you can find Wormer, Jisp and Oostknollendam here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Wormerland.