Holiday apartment in De Ronde Venen among lakes, nature and forts

De Ronde Venen combines reclaimed peatland with the Vinkeveense Plassen. The lakes are divided into three lakes, while extensive meadows with high water levels provide a habitat for meadow birds. Between polders, waterways, nature reserves and historic buildings are numerous routes and destinations that reveal the region’s different sides.

Nature and water

Botshol is a protected bird area with peat lakes, narrow ditches, reed beds and swamp forest. Outside the breeding season, visitors can hike, cycle and canoe there. The approximately 14-kilometre Botsholroute runs through this area. The hiking trail follows narrow dikes, passes through reed beds and crosses areas inhabited by meadow birds.

Waverhoek is also one of the municipality’s distinctive nature reserves. The 60-hectare bird area borders Botshol and the Vinkeveense Plassen. A 2.5-kilometre hiking trail runs around Waverhoek. The area is freely accessible year-round; dogs and bicycles are not allowed there.

The Vinkeveense Plassen form a distinct focal point of the region. Excursions by sloop, snorkelling over flooded legakkers, catamaran sailing and diving are suitable for the respective water activities there. Visitors can also picnic on one of the twelve sandy islands. Various boats and watercraft are rented at the lakes, including sloops, canoes, SUP boards, sailboats and pedal boats.

Routes through polders and villages

The Fortenfietsroute De Ronde Venen uses the cycling junction network and can also be ridden in sections. As a cycling route starting in Vinkeveen, it leads through the Stelling van Amsterdam, through peat meadow polders, past the Vinkeveense Plassen, through deep polders and along the Amstel, Waver, Winkel and Gein rivers. The Burgemeestersroute is more than 50 kilometres long and runs through picturesque villages and past special places. Along the way, it follows charming streets and passes characteristic buildings, providing interesting information about former mayors.

Another cycling route is the Mühlenroute. It follows the banks of the Angstel, through picturesque Gein and through the northern, rural part of the Vecht. Along the way, it passes ten windmills.

Several routes of different lengths are available for hiking. The Bellopad is a 19-kilometre hiking trail between Mijdrecht and Abcoude and passes four former railway stations. The Rondje Mijdrecht hiking route is also a 6-kilometre running course; the main course starts at the town hall. The eighth stage of the Waterliniepad runs from Abcoude to Weesp and is 13.2 kilometres long.

Culture and history

The Stelling van Amsterdam is a defensive line of ramparts, forts, dikes and locks constructed between 1880 and 1914. Six of the line’s 43 forts are located in the municipality of De Ronde Venen. Fort bij Abcoude was built between 1884 and 1887 and was the first fort constructed as part of the Stelling van Amsterdam. It can be explored on foot and visited with a guide who shows visitors the unique brick buildings.

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is also part of the region’s architectural history. It was designed by Alfred Tepe and built in 1883. The church building and its associated rectory were designated Rijksmonumenten on 8 June 2000. Another historic trace is Spoorhuis Vinkeveen: it opened on 1 December 1915 as a railway station on the line between Nieuwersluis and Uithoorn.

The Polder Museum preserves a large collection of documents and objects relating to the region’s history. Visitors are received there by prior appointment; there are no fixed opening hours.

Agriculture and regional produce

Stadsboerderij Hartstocht combines agricultural activities with a farm shop. It sells organic Blaarkop beef from cows and oxen, as well as raw milk directly from the cow. Stadsboerderij Hartstocht can also be visited for guided tours and agricultural educational activities.

Other places

For more options, you can also open the destination pages for Vinkeveen, Mijdrecht, Abcoude, Baambrugge and De Hoef.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Utrecht.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Veenendaal, Rhenen, Houten.