Oosterleek can be explored through specific details from several periods: the Hervormde Kerk was built around 1690, while a medieval burial ground and a 17th-century longhouse offer archaeological insights. There is also a now-rare longhouse farmhouse, a poem by the lighthouse and a cycling route through the village. This combination brings together cultural history and opportunities for cyclists and walkers.

Churches, Burial Finds and Longhouses

Oosterleek’s Hervormde Kerk was built around 1690. The Oosterleker Kerkje has been designated an official wedding venue by the Municipality of Drechterland. This offers a concrete point of reference for couples considering a wedding in Oosterleek.

A small medieval burial ground was discovered during drainage work just south of Zuiderdijk 33. Those buried there were laid to rest with their heads facing west, in accordance with Christian tradition. Both the discovery site and the orientation of the graves are therefore part of the history of this burial ground.

Huis Oosterleek is a now-rare type of West Frisian longhouse farmhouse. It has an elongated floor plan, no hallway and rooms arranged in a row. This sequence of rooms is what characterises the house type described: the rooms lie along the elongated floor plan rather than being arranged around a hallway.

A longhouse that stood on an archaeologically investigated plot in Oosterleek in the 17th century had an unheated front section, a heated room behind it and a cowshed at the rear. The two longhouse topics answer different questions: Huis Oosterleek focuses on the now-rare house type and its floor plan, while the 17th-century house is described in terms of the specific sequence of front section, room and cowshed.

A poem stands beside the lighthouse near Oosterleek. It adds a literary touch to the architectural history and archaeological finds.

Cycling Route and Walking Paths

The Westfriese Omringdijkroute cycling route first passes Oostergouw, then De Weed, and then runs through Oosterleek. Much of the route runs along the Markermeer. This gives cyclists both a specific sequence to follow and an indication of the landscape along much of the route.

In the wider region, the Westfriese Omringdijk is 126 kilometres long and can be walked along most of its length. The Vuurtje van Leek makes a good short stop. It is located on the Zuiderdijk at Leekerhoek, south of Oosterleek, and is a suitable 10- to 20-minute stop for cyclists and walkers.

Find a Holiday Apartment to Suit Your Stay

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: would you mainly like to explore the village’s architectural and archaeological history, or devote more of your days to cycling and walking? The planning options differ in scale: a cycling route with a specific sequence, a 126-kilometre dike that can be walked along for most of its length, and a stop lasting 10 to 20 minutes.

Discover more destinations: Venhuizen, Schellinkhout, Westwoud, Wijdenes, Hoogkarspel, Hem.

Go to the main travel overview: Drechterland.