The Ilperveld makes the landscape around Landsmeer legible through its details: hundreds of peat islands, drainage mills, birds and grazing livestock define this marsh meadow landscape. The village of Landsmeer borders the nature reserve on one side; the recreation area Het Twiske lies northeast of Landsmeer. This brings a distinctive marsh landscape and a recreation area with a variety of trails together in the surrounding area.
Trails through marsh and recreation landscapes
Het Twiske has miles of trails for cycling, walking and horse riding. Some walking trails around Landsmeer run along unpaved paths, which can become muddy after rain. If you are planning a walk, it is therefore worth taking possible trail conditions into account. One specifically named route is the Kadoelenroute: this 10-kilometre walking trail passes through the Ilperveld Landsmeer and along old peat streams and the waterways of Het Twiske.
If you prefer to explore by bike, you can choose the “Historisch rondje Landsmeer.” The route starts in Landsmeer and visits places of historical, cultural and natural interest. This gives you a choice of different kinds of tours: a walking route with a specified distance and a cycling route whose theme is a variety of interesting places.
Water and birdwatching
Guided boat excursions in the Ilperveld are offered on Sunday afternoons from early April to the end of September. From April to September, the visitor centre rents out electric whisper boats, canoes and rowing boats. The seasonal offerings differ in timing and format: Sunday afternoons are specified for the guided excursions, while several types of boat are available to rent. Check excursion dates and the current availability of boat rentals before your trip. There is also a birdwatching hide behind the visitor centre.
Het Twiske also offers other leisure activities: there is a climbing park and a petting zoo. There are two dive sites, including an underwater park. Alongside the walking and cycling routes, these different activities add further dimensions to the area.
Mills and local history
Since 1974, the Twiskemolen has stood on the border between the municipalities of Landsmeer and Oostzaan. The octagonal mill is an interior-winder mill and was originally built around 1541 in Barsingerhorn. Its present location and original building site mark two different stages in its history. The Luijendijk also tells of the struggle against water: it was built along the Twiske in 1589 to protect the surrounding area from flooding.
The Kerkje van Landsmeer is a former Dutch Reformed church dating from 1852. It preserves parts of the interior furnishings of its predecessor; a bell made by A. Koster in 1639 hangs in the belfry. Access to the interior may be restricted.
The egg trade is another part of the village’s history. Landsmeer developed into a national centre for the egg trade. Het Grote Huis is a Rijksmonument, was a centre of the egg trade from 1900 and hosted an egg auction in 1925. This history can be seen not only in a single building, but also in the importance the trade once had for the village.
Collections and local life
The Grietje-Tump Museum shows what a Waterland house looked like around 1900. The permanent collection includes furniture, household items and jewellery, as well as old textiles such as christening gowns and embroidery samplers. If you would like to visit the museum, check the opening arrangements in advance.
Fresh local produce is sold at Landsmeer’s Friday market. Before you arrive, check whether the market is taking place on the day of your visit.
Discover more destinations: Landsmeer, Den Ilp, Haarlem, Weesp, Uitgeest, Heerhugowaard, Beverwijk, Zijpe.
Back to the main travel overview: North Holland.
