In Aartswoud, village history meets paths through the West Frisian landscape. The village church preserves historic details and hosts changing exhibitions in summer; two walking routes differ in length and course. There is also a nearby polder landscape, canoe launch points and various cultural offerings. You can plan your stay around the topics that interest you most.
Village church and historic traces
Kerk Aartswoud is recognised as a Rijksmonument, a listed monument, under monument number 31783. Inside is a richly carved pew reserved for gentlemen, dating from 1641. It comes from the old church and is associated with the Soete van Laecken family. In 1998, the church was transferred to Stichting Kerk Aartswoud so that it could be preserved as a cultural and community building. Every summer, the village church hosts an exhibition on a changing theme.
Archaeological finds also offer insight into the history of the area. The oldest traces at the Aartswoud find site date from the Late Middle Ages, more precisely from 1200 to 1335. They include an old well and ditch features that may have been part of an early settlement. Remains of the De Rode Leeuw inn were also discovered. The inn may have welcomed travellers for more than six centuries—a possible interpretation that links the finds to the history of travel.
Walking between the dike and polder paths
The red walking route from Aartswoud is 11 kilometres long and alternates between the Westfriese Omringdijk and the West Frisian landscape. The yellow route is 13.9 kilometres long. It passes through Aartswoud, Hoogwoud, Gouw and De Weere, following several quiet polder paths. At 2.9 kilometres longer, the yellow route is the longer of the two; the descriptions also differ in the sections they cover. Route details may change when the network of paths is revised. So check the current route before setting out.
The landscape around Aartswoud is criss-crossed by walking and cycling paths. Nearby is the Weelpolder, an open polder landscape rich in water. Aartswoud lies to the east of it. Ditches run through the Weelpolder, some with natural banks. There are canoe launch and landing points in Aartswoud. This gives you a range of activities to choose from when planning your trip: one of the walking routes described, cycling paths in the area or a canoe launch point.
Culture and events
The Rundveemuseum Aat Grootes features old cattle breeds in the pasture and barn. Through the museum, visitors can adopt a Heidekoe, Maas-Rijn-IJsselkoe or Witrik. If you are considering an adoption, check availability beforehand.
The De Boet Oudejaarsdijkenloop is a running event in Aartswoud. The route passes through the village’s fields, roads and dikes; the run is organised by football club A.G.S.V. The 52nd edition took place in 2025. At the 2026 edition of Kerstsfeer in Aartswoud, visitors can enter the villagers’ barns, farmhouses and homes to experience Christmas. The events have different focuses: the run takes you through the landscape, while Kerstsfeer offers a glimpse of the village’s festive decorations.
Discover more destinations: De Weere, Opmeer, Hoogwoud.
Go to the main travel overview: Opmeer.
