Explore Obdam via routes through the village and the open polder landscape, as well as through the history of its windmills. Possible routes range from 2.0 kilometres through the oldest part of the village to 14.3 kilometres around the Berkmeer polder. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Obdam, you can tailor your stay to your interests: short village routes, longer walks, historic windmills or the annual cycling festival each offer a different focus.

Walking routes with different characteristics

The Oud Obdam route covers 2.0 kilometres through the oldest part of the village and, thanks to its short distance, is considered particularly suitable for older adults. The 3.6-kilometre Obdam walking route goes through the village and past several historic sights. An alternative running route is 4.0 to 5.7 kilometres long. It runs mostly through open, park-like terrain and partly outside the built-up area. The orange walking route on the walking network is 14.3 kilometres long and runs around the Berkmeer polder; Obdam is its starting point. The route lengths offer different options for planning your day: the 14.3-kilometre route requires a different time frame than the 2.0-kilometre Oud Obdam route. Check current route conditions and markings before setting out.

Windmills and polder landscape

The windmills link architectural history with polder drainage. The Obdammermolen is an octagonal inside-winder windmill, probably built in the last quarter of the 17th century; 1698 is generally considered its year of construction. Together with a pumping station, it drained the 905-hectare Obdam polder as part of the Vereenigde Raaksmaats- en Niedorperkoggeboezem drainage system. Its function was therefore part of a larger drainage network.

The Berkmeermolen is also an octagonal inside-winder windmill. It dates from around 1608 and was moved to its current location in Obdam in 1803. The dates refer to different stages: around 1608 is the approximate construction date, while 1803 marks the move.

The Weel en Braken windmill drained the 76-hectare former Weel en Braken polder as a subsidiary mill for the Obdam polder. Near Obdam, it stands along a windmill path in open rural surroundings with grassland and ditches. The comparison in size shows two different scales of polder: 905 hectares for the Obdam polder and 76 hectares for the former Weel en Braken polder.

Local history and the Wielerronde

The Jozef Buis memorial in Obdam commemorates the resistance fighter from Obdam who was shot by occupying forces on 24 October 1944. A memorial plaque for Jozef Buis is mounted on the wall of the former town hall on Dorpsstraat. Another historical landmark is the boundary stone at Dorpsstraat 1, on the road between Hensbroek and Obdam.

The Wielerronde van Obdam takes place every year on the second Sunday in July and passes through the village centre. It has grown into a village festival: front gardens along the race route become festively decorated terraces. Alongside the cycling, festivities along the course are part of the event. The programme details vary from year to year; if you are planning your stay around the event, check the date and programme for that year.

Discover more destinations: Zuidermeer, Hensbroek, Avenhorn, Berkhout, Oudendijk, Spierdijk, Ursem, Scharwoude

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