Schardam brings together historic locks, church architecture and several routes with different focuses. The Hornsluis reflects the history of water defence; the Hervormde Kerk offers a distinct perspective on church architecture. Walking and cycling routes lead to the locks, while other routes explore church or landscape themes. This means there are points of interest ranging from architectural history to regional nature.

Locks and Water Defence

The Hornsluis near Lutje Schardam is a Rijksmonument dating from 1735. In the event of an enemy threat, it was used as a floodgate for the Stelling van Amsterdam. The term refers to a lock used to deploy water as part of the defence. Located just north of Schardam, the Hornsluis makes the connection between water engineering and military history tangible.

In Schardam itself, the Noorder- en Zuidersluis are also Rijksmonumenten. Among other things, they are inlet locks for the Stelling van Amsterdam. The local history therefore features different water-engineering functions: the Hornsluis is associated with its use as a floodgate, while the Noorder- en Zuidersluis served as inlet locks. Together, these structures give water defence a special place in Schardam’s history.

The Hervormde Kerk and Its Design

The Hervormde Kerk at Schardam 27 is a small, single-nave building with a five-sided chancel. “Single-nave” describes a church with one nave; the chancel ends in five sides rather than a straight wall. The church probably dates from 1662. Its tower houses a bell made by Geert van Wou in 1497. The building’s design and the bell offer two different historical reference points: the date of the church building is probable, while the bell dates to 1497.

Walking, Cycling and Themed Routes

If you are choosing between two routes to the locks, you can decide based on how you want to travel: the walking route on the third stage of the Zuiderzeepad passes over the locks at Schardam. The cycling route also crosses them on the Amsterdam–Hoorn section of the Zuiderzeeroute. The first route description refers to a walking stage, the second to a cycling section. Check the latest route notes before setting out.

Another option is the Kerkenroute. It is part of a larger provincial QR route exploring religious heritage in Noord-Holland and passes the churches of Kwadijk, Middelie, Oosthuizen, Beets, Schardam, Etersheim and Warder. Its focus is therefore not only the church in Schardam, but religious heritage in several places. The route follows a shared theme, while the Zuiderzeepad and Zuiderzeeroute include the locks via different modes of travel.

The Kogen- en brakenroute is also connected with Schardam and passes the Etersheimerbraak. Clay was extracted there to reinforce the sea dike. The lowest point in Noord-Holland lies at the Etersheimerbraak; the difference in elevation between the dike and the polder is ten metres. This route adds a specific landscape theme to the history of the village and its structures: the relationship between the sea dike, the polder and the former clay extraction.

Landscape and Seasons

North of Schardam’s locks, the road leads onto a dike. From there, expansive views stretch across the Markermeer to Hoorn’s skyline in the distance. The view from the dike adds a landscape highlight alongside the locks and structures.

The final section of the walk follows the wet Oosterkoog along the edge of the Markermeer. Eurasian curlews can be seen there in winter, and black-tailed godwits in spring. The seasons therefore make a specific difference to the nature along this route: Eurasian curlews are mentioned for winter, and black-tailed godwits for spring.

Discover more destinations: Oosthuizen, Middelie, Kwadijk, Beets, Warder.

See the main travel overview: Zeevang.