De Woude is an island in the Alkmaardermeer. Two aspects are particularly important when deciding whether the destination is right for your stay: the landscape, with its reeds, birds and walking trails, and the village’s history, which can be traced through its buildings and a church. Getting there is also part of the planning: De Woude is accessible only by ferry.

Getting there and activities on the water

De Woude is accessible only by ferry. Check the ferry timetable again before your trip and factor it into your travel plans. The Alkmaardermeer around the island is ideal for sailing. De Woudhaven, a marina on the eastern side of the Alkmaardermeer, is located near the village. This means there are two distinct planning considerations: the ferry concerns access to the island, while sailing is an activity on the lake.

Walking and nature

The Oost- en Westwouderpolderroute is a 5–7 km circular walking trail on De Woude. The Saskerleidijk Woudhaven walking trail leads from the first section of the dike to the Saskerlei. When choosing a route, you can consider two different features: the Oost- en Westwouderpolderroute is a circular trail 5–7 km long, while the Saskerleidijk Woudhaven walking trail leads from the first section of the dike to the Saskerlei. There is also a small beach on the Saskerlei. The reed beds there provide a refuge for many birds and geese, among others. De Woude also has a nature area with some rare meadow birds.

Village history and architecture

The timeline begins with the island itself: De Woude was formed around 1800, after the Markervaart was dug. The original wooden church dates from 1838. The lock and swing bridge at Woude 1 are municipal monuments dating from 1887. The history of the village thus brings together the island’s formation and various buildings from the 19th century.

Het Dampje is a protected watercourse in the Westwouderpolder, northwest of De Woude. The village’s appearance is also shaped by wooden Zaan-style houses. Individual buildings thus stand alongside an architectural style that characterizes the village as a whole.

The Kemphaan is a faithful replica of De Woude’s original wooden church. The church dates from 1838; today, the Kemphaan is used as a village hall for social and cultural activities. To understand its history, it is important to distinguish between the replica and the original church building: the Kemphaan recalls the former church, but today serves the stated role as a village hall. This connects the building’s history with its current social and cultural use.

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