In Ossenzijl, several activities bring you close to the water and nature: canoe trips, hiking stages and the landscape of the Weerribben. The Informatiecentrum Weerribben is a tourist information centre with information about the surrounding nature reserve. It also serves as a starting point for trips on a covered excursion boat, a whisper boat or a canoe. If you’re looking for hotels in Ossenzijl, this variety gives you a practical basis for planning your days around the experiences that interest you.
Exploring by boat or canoe
A 16-kilometre canoe route starts at the Informatiecentrum Weerribben; excursion boat and whisper boat trips also depart from the information centre. If you’d like to rent a boat, Recreatiecentrum De Kluft in Ossenzijl offers single and double kayaks, as well as Canadian canoes for two or three people. The canoe route offers a clearly defined course; when renting, you can choose according to boat type and group size.
The Weerribben and its reedland
The landscape of the Weerribben includes swamp forests, expanses of water, birds and extensive reed beds. Peat extraction transformed the area into a wet landscape with valuable peatland nature. This history is essential to understanding today’s landscape: here, water and reeds are not merely separate features, but together shape the character of the Weerribben.
One specific example of the connection between water and reedland is the Paaltjasker Tjasker Kalenberg N in Ossenzijl. In summer, the mill is used to supply water to the reedland behind it in the Weerribben. This describes a seasonal function and gives the view of the reed beds a technical and landscape context.
Waterways and hiking stages
The Ossenzijlersloot is also useful for orientation: the village lies along this waterway, which connects the IJsseldelta with the Friese Meren via the Linde. Two hiking stages ending in Ossenzijl are described for those planning a walk. Stage 18 of the Zuiderzeepad runs for 20.1 kilometres from Vollenhove to Ossenzijl. The sixth stage of the Stellingenpad runs from Blokzijl via Baarlo to Ossenzijl. The starting points differ, so the routes offer different ways of reaching Ossenzijl.
Individual cultural and nature destinations
The building of the Vrije Zendingsgemeente stands at Hoofdstraat 10. It is protected as a Rijksmonument because it contains a single-manual organ of unknown origin dating from the mid-18th century. The building’s protected status is therefore tied to a specific feature of its interior.
Sterrenwacht de Weerribben is located at Oudeweg 113 in Ossenzijl and can be reached on foot or by bicycle. You can consider a visit as a separate item on your itinerary, alongside the waterways and hiking stages. Another way to plan your stay around a specific date is the annual Open Kano Festival (OKF) in Ossenzijl. The programme includes short and longer tours, as well as active workshops and demonstrations. If you’re planning your trip around the festival, check the current dates and programme details.
Discover more destinations: Kalenberg, Paasloo, Blokzijl, Steenwijk, Scheerwolde, Vollenhove, De Bult, Wanneperveen
For the broader travel overview: Steenwijkerland.
