Holiday apartment in Noorden – Water, Nature and History

Noorden combines the watery landscape of the Nieuwkoopse Plassen with routes for active days and notable historic sites. From Noorden, a red route leads to the Nieuwkoopse Plassen, while monuments and the Sint-Martinuskerk in the village provide further cultural points of interest.

Waterways and nature of the Nieuwkoopse Plassen

The extensive lowland peat area is important for purple herons, early marsh orchids and northern water voles. At Nikano in Noorden, you can rent canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and electric boats. The red canoe route to the Nieuwkoopse Plassen also starts there. Nikano also offers SUP lessons, complementing the boat rental with an introduction to this sport. The two red routes have different starting points: one leads from Noorden to the lakes, while the other begins at Nikano. The water-based activities differ in their format: at Nikano, boat rental and SUP lessons are offered together, while the red route and the canoe route follow separate courses.

For cyclists and walkers, Het Zonneveer operates a ferry in summer between the village centre of Noorden and the Hollandsekade at De Meije. The Groene Jonker – Kromme Mijdrecht – Noorden walking route passes through Noorden, Groene Jonker, Kromme Mijdrecht and Noordse Dorp. The ferry operates only in summer, making it a seasonal option for cyclists and walkers; this season should be taken into account when planning a trip around Noorden.

Farmhouses, monuments and local history

The village’s history can be seen in specific buildings. Simon van Capelweg 28/30 is a Rijksmonument, a fisherman’s house or farmhouse possibly dating from the 17th century. Voorweg 5 is also a Rijksmonument and a farm dating from the early 19th century. Voorweg 38 is a municipal monument and a former farmhouse or former smithy dating from around 1800 to 1830. The three addresses represent different construction periods and former uses in the village.

Until 1911, the residents of Noorden earned their livelihoods by cutting reeds, peat extraction and similar activities. In 1883, the village acquired the neo-Gothic Sint-Martinuskerk. The local history thus spans work in the peat landscape and a church built in the late 19th century.

Castles, forts, beach and parks in the surrounding area

In the vicinity of Noorden are Nijenrode and Ridderhofstad Oudaan, both castles; Nieuwersluis is a fort there. In the wider regional area, there is Slot Zuylen as a castle, Almeerderstrand as a beach, and the parks De Hoge Dijk, Keukenhof and Voordaan. The regional buildings stand alongside a beach and three parks as varied destinations outside the village.

Discover more places

For further orientation in the region, you can also discover Nieuwveen, Zevenhoven, Woerdense Verlaat, Nieuwkoop and Ter Aar.

To the overarching travel overview: Nieuwkoop.