Zuid-Scharwoude reveals its history through specific places: the Kooger Kerk dates back to the 12th century, while ditches and raised fields shaped the creation of the “Rijk der Duizend Eilanden” (Realm of a Thousand Islands). There is also a 12-kilometre walk, a water route with named locations, and wine and animal experiences. This gives your stay a mix of local history, landscape and enjoyment, which you can tailor to your own interests.

Landscape, Islands and Routes

The former marshland of Zuid-Scharwoude was transformed into the fertile island realm known as the “Rijk der Duizend Eilanden” by digging shipping channels and raising the fields with the excavated mud. In the surrounding Geestmerambacht polder, cabbage was grown on numerous small islands. The history of the landscape thus encompasses both the transformation of the marsh and the agricultural use of the islands.

The Bruggetjeswandeling is 12 kilometres long, lies in the former Langedijk area, and starts and ends at De Binding in Zuid-Scharwoude. Its length and the same starting and finishing point give you a clear framework for planning this walk. Another option is the new water route: it runs from the Bomenbuurt neighbourhood in Zuid-Scharwoude towards Nieuwe Veiling in Noord-Scharwoude and opened on 24 April 2024.

Church and Village History

The Kooger Kerk in Zuid-Scharwoude was originally built in the 12th century under the name Pieterkerk. Today it is a listed monument and is used for concerts, exhibitions and personal celebrations. Its original name and long history as a building offer a distinct way to explore local history, while its stated uses cater to a range of cultural and personal occasions.

The village café De Roode Leeuw is another local gathering place: in Zuid-Scharwoude, you can eat there and enjoy a sociable evening. A historical account from 2006 gives 1911 as the year Café De Rode Leeuw was built; a Kolfbaan was added in 1925. The historical details thus span the café’s construction and a later structural addition.

Wine and the Cabbage Tradition

A vineyard was established on the former island site of De Koen in the Rijk der Duizend Eilanden, where workshops and tastings are held. At the High Wine at Wijndomein De Koen, three glasses of wine are served, each with a matching snack. The listed times are Fridays or Saturdays from 3 to 6 p.m. by appointment. Check in advance whether the experience is currently available and arrange a time.

Cabbage is also part of local history. The story of G. Kramer & Zonen in Zuid-Scharwoude goes back to Gert Kramer: in 1890, he preserved white cabbage in a shed behind his house. The Kramer family’s sauerkraut-making tradition spans four generations. Cabbage thus appears in two different contexts: as a crop grown on the small islands in the surrounding polder and as the starting point for a family history of food production.

Animal Encounters

At the De Beestenboel petting farm, visitors can enter the enclosures to meet the sheep, goats and horses and pet the animals. There is a separate petting enclosure for rabbits. The two offerings feature different animal groups and areas, adding a hands-on animal encounter to the cultural, historical and landscape themes.

Discover more destinations: Noord-Scharwoude, Sint Pancras, Oudkarspel and Broek Op Langedijk.

See the overview of the wider area: Langedijk.