Katwoude offers a scenic walking route and insights into polder engineering and cheese craftsmanship. The 16-kilometre Eel Route forms a circular trail along the edges of the old peat and cheese polder of Katwoude; De Kathammer drains the Katwoude-Hogendijk polder. There is also Jacobs Hoeve, a cheese dairy in Katwoude on the Markermeerdijk. When looking for a holiday rental in Katwoude, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: the landscape, mill technology or different forms of cheese craftsmanship.
Polder Landscape on Foot
The Eel Route is 16 kilometres long and laid out as a circular walking trail. It runs along the edges of the old peat and cheese polder of Katwoude and mostly follows the unpaved Hoge Dijk and Lage Dijk. The distance and terrain offer different clues for planning: the kilometre count describes the length of the loop, while the unpaved dikes shape the character of the route. Those who want to make the polder landscape the focus of their walk have a specific route and a clearly defined theme.
The route also passes the small Heitje van Katham nature reserve. Crowberry, heather, cross-leaved heath and lavender heath grow there. Alongside the polder edges, this offers a specific connection with nature: the four named heath species provide a botanical point of interest along the loop. Those interested in plants can combine this aspect with the broader landscape theme when exploring the route.
De Kathammer: A Mill with a Purpose
De Kathammer drains the Katwoude-Hogendijk polder. The windmill was completely restored in 1988 and has been turning and milling regularly ever since. This brings together two aspects: its technical role in the polder and the mill’s renewed, ongoing work. It can therefore be understood both as a structure and as part of the polder drainage system.
Cheese, a Jersey Farm and Woodcraft
Jacobs Hoeve is a cheese dairy run by Henri Willig in Katwoude on the Markermeerdijk. Staff dressed in traditional clothing show visitors how cheese is made. Since 2018, it has also been possible to visit Henri Willig’s organic Jersey farm on a self-guided tour. The demonstration focuses on cheese-making, while the self-guided tour centres on a visit to the farm.
The Simonehoeve offers free guided tours 365 days a year. They cover the making of Gouda cheese and the traditional craft of carving wooden clogs. The different formats and themes are clear by comparison: Jacobs Hoeve offers the option of a self-guided farm tour and a cheese-making demonstration; Simonehoeve’s programme features tours about cheese and woodcraft. Check the availability of the tours before your trip.
A Closer Look at Dike Construction
EXPO Dijk in Uitvoering explores dike construction from a virtual reality perspective. Wearing a VR headset, visitors experience the 33-kilometre stretch of dikes to be reinforced, from Hoorn to Amsterdam, inside a life-size hot-air balloon. The balloon shape and virtual presentation give the specific dike project a spatial perspective. The exhibition is open to the public Monday to Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you plan to visit, check the schedule before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Broek In Waterland, Purmer, Monnickendam, Zuiderwoude, Marken, Uitdam, Ilpendam, Watergang.
For the broader travel overview: Waterland.
