In Kalenberg, you can experience the Weerribben in very different ways: on foot along a circular route with muddy sections, or by canoe through narrow ditches. Mills, reed management and village history complement this perspective on nature with insights into how the landscape is used. When planning your trip, the most important factors are the trail conditions and the seasonal closure of the walking trail; for the canoe route, the starting point and launching arrangements also matter.
Walking the Laarzenpad Weerribben
The Laarzenpad Weerribben is a circular route starting from Kalenberg, with a ferry crossing over the water. The route is about 3.5 kilometres long. Bridges and boardwalks cross only some of the boggy moorland; on the rest of the route, you walk through muddy terrain in rubber boots. The type of trail is therefore just as important for planning as its stated length. During the breeding season, from March 15 to July 15, the Laarzenpad is closed. Also check the seasonal trail conditions before setting out.
Canoeing through narrow ditches
The Weerribben canoe route passes through narrow ditches in the Weerribben. In Kalenberg, you can start your trip at a boat rental or a launch site. Rental and launch arrangements may change, so confirm your starting point before setting off. This lets you plan the water route as a separate option alongside the walking trail, without treating the two outings as the same. Kloosterkooi is a resting place for ducks and other birds, adding a specific connection to birdlife in the landscape.
Mills, reeds and landscape management
Kalenberg’s mills represent different ways of managing water. De Wicher was built as a working mill over a two-year period, almost on the same site as its predecessor. Its primary function was to drain the nearby Boonspolder, an area of about 100 hectares, during the winter months, so that reed cutters could harvest reeds there. The Tjasker Kalenberg Z is used to supply water to the nearby floating bog. Together, these examples show how mill history is connected to practical water management.
Cutting reeds and mowing grassland also help preserve Kalenberg’s present-day landscape. The reeds from the Weerribben are considered high-quality and are also known as “Kalenberger riet.” This links landscape management to a named local material tradition.
Village history and orientation
’t Lokaal Kalenberg is housed in a former village church, built in 1881 and expanded in 1924. Today, it is an atmospheric dining and exhibition space where the past is still tangible. ’t Lokaal can be reached by car, on foot, by bicycle and by boat. Check the current event and opening arrangements before visiting.
Older place names also offer a glimpse into the past: the area between the Kalenbergergracht and the Hoogeweg was called “Vrierstrate” around 1313. Kalenberg and/or Vrijstrate were probably inhabited from the late 13th century; the precise attribution remains uncertain.
Waterways and cycling connection
The Kalenbergergracht is the main waterway through Kalenberg. The western side of the village remains connected by waterways and a cycling route with bridges. The completely renewed Kalenbergerpad opened on April 15, 2026; the cycling route was widened to 2 metres. For your specific journey, it is worth checking the current trail conditions.
The difference between the walking and water routes is clear: the Laarzenpad is a circular route with an approximate length and a fixed breeding-season closure; the canoe route follows narrow ditches and can start in Kalenberg at a boat rental or launch site. The mode of travel and the season give each route different planning considerations.
Discover more destinations: Sint Jansklooster, Steenwijkerwold, De Bult, Belt-Schutsloot, Scheerwolde, Vollenhove, Wanneperveen, Steenwijk
For the broader travel overview: Steenwijkerland.
