A trip to Zuidermeer offers several themes to explore: water management, farm architecture and the history of cooperative enterprises. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you may be interested in the polder landscape and the habitat of meadow birds; if you are looking for cultural history, you will find themes related to agriculture, church history and the former dairy industry. Depending on your interests, you can focus your stay more on nature and water or on historic architectural styles.

Polder Landscape and Water

The Westerveer water storage area is a dry retention basin; the ground was lowered to about 10 cm above the water level in the ditches. This elevation figure makes the relationship between the basin and the ditches concrete and gives water management a tangible measure. Along the Oude Gouw in the Achterkogge polder, an area by the water was created where meadow birds can nest and forage. Here, the shoreline’s role as a habitat is as important as water retention. The retention basin and bird habitat therefore offer two different perspectives on the polder landscape.

Farms and History

Koggeweg 1 is a well-preserved example of agricultural architecture from the early 20th century. A genuine West Frisian stolpboerderij has stood on Koggeweg since 1907. These details bring farm architecture to life through its state of preservation, period and regional farm type. For travelers interested in architecture, this offers a concrete point of reference: you can focus on the building’s form and agricultural connections rather than classifying historic buildings by individual dates alone.

Around 1935, the wooden emergency church was replaced by the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Lourdeskerk. Baarsdorpermeer was formed by removing the peat banks along the Kromme Leek stream and was drained in 1624. The dates relate to different events: around 1935 to the change of church, and 1624 to the drainage. A tall chimney on Baarsdorpermeer road marks the site of the former cooperative dairy De Ster. In addition to architectural history, this brings in changes to religious institutions and cooperative dairy production.

Plan Walks and Visits

A walking trail runs alongside the Veersloot and crosses the broad Slimtocht, one of the region’s major waterways. The Rijndijk follows the irregular contours of Baarsdorpermeer. A walking route then continues along the Oude Gouw. The route descriptions highlight different landscape features: a crossing of the Slimtocht, the contours of Baarsdorpermeer and the course of the Oude Gouw. These features provide a concrete reference point if you would like to pay particular attention to the waterways or the shape of the landscape on your walk.

If you are walking with a dog, note the restriction on the private farm track between decision points 9 and 14 of the yellow route: dogs are prohibited there, so this section is not suitable for walking with a dog. Museumboerderij De Anloup is on Koggeweg. Visits are by appointment; call before your visit.

Discover More Destinations

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

Return to the main travel overview: Koggenland.