De Rijp combines village and architectural history with outdoor activities. The town hall, churches and museum offer different historical points of interest; the Eilandspolder adds boating, paddling and birdwatching to a visit. If you are looking for accommodation for a stay here, you can first decide whether you want your itinerary to focus more on culture or nature.
A protected village setting with stories to tell
De Rijp is designated as a protected village landscape. The entry by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands) was updated on 7 March 2026. The Raadhuis De Rijp was designed in 1630 by hydraulic engineer Jan Adriaanzn Leeghwater in the Dutch Renaissance style. The 17th-century town hall bears a coat of arms featuring two crowned herrings.
The Grote Kerk De Rijp features 26 stained-glass windows. Most date from the 17th century and together tell the story of the village. The historic organ is another detail that can be precisely dated: it was built by Bätz & Co. (Witte) in 1854. The Hervormde Kerk in De Rijp has Gothic features: its simple nave dates from 1529; it also has a Gothic transept and a five-sided, closed choir dating from 1535 to 1538. The west tower, also designed in the Gothic style, dates from 1661.
Beside the Grote Kerk stands a statue by Elly Baltus of Weltevree, known in Korea as Pak YĹŹn Sang.
Museum and culture in former buildings
The Museum In ’t Houten Huis tells the story of Schermereiland and its seafaring residents. The museum explores herring fishing, whaling and seafaring through nautical charts, ship logs and prints. It is housed in a wooden building with a timber structure dating from the 18th century.
De Groene Zwaan was formerly a Lutheran church and has been used as a cultural centre since the 1960s. Volunteers regularly organise concerts, cabaret, a literary café, clothing markets and film cafés for a wide audience. Events vary, so check the specific dates before visiting.
Village walks and activities in the Eilandspolder
The 18-kilometre cycling route “Het beste dorp van Nederland en meer” passes through De Rijp and invites you to take a walk around the village: past Dutch gabled houses, the church with its stained-glass windows and the town hall with its weighing scales. The cycle route and the walk offer different perspectives: one focuses on the route, the other on the village’s architecture.
The Eilandspolder around De Rijp is a protected natural area. Visitors can go boating, stand-up paddleboarding or canoeing, and watch birds along the way. Boerderij Schermereijlandt at Oostdijkje 7 in De Rijp rents whisper boats for up to four people; check the operating details before your trip. The farm is committed to conserving and restoring the Eilandspolder Natura 2000 site on Schermereiland.
Visitor information
The VVV visitor centre is on the ground floor of the former weighing area in the Raadhuis. The VVV welcomes and informs visitors. Information and guided tours of De Rijp and the Land van Leeghwater are also available.
Discover more destinations: Graft, West Graftdijk.
Go to the broader travel overview: Graft-De Rijp.
