The Braassemermeer, locally also called Braassem, is a 425-hectare lake in the north of Zuid-Holland, known for canoeing and sailing. The Wijde Aa connects the Does with the Braassemermeer and forms a popular route for water sports enthusiasts. Exploring Kaag En Braassem brings you face to face with both extensive waterways and a history reflected in mills, churches and museums.
Paddling routes, ferries and trails
The 24-kilometre Kaag-Braassem canoe route is a circular route around Roelofarendsveen, Hoogmade, Oud Ade and Rijpwetering. It runs along the Wijde Aa, the Does, the Vennemeer, the Ringvaart and the Braassemermeer. A good starting point is the canoe landing at Ofwegen on the south side of the Wijde Aa, on the N446 between Woubrugge and Hoogmade.
A shorter, 20-kilometre canoe route is Braassem-Drecht. It passes Leimuiden, Bilderdam, Papenveer, Rijnsaterwoude, Roelofarendsveen and Oude Wetering, and goes through the De Hemmen nature reserve managed by Staatsbosbeheer. The reserve may only be traversed by canoe. The two routes differ not only in their stated lengths: one is described as a circular route, while the other passes through a nature reserve with a clear access restriction.
The 37.3-kilometre “Molens en Meer” cycling route passes through Roelofarendsveen, Oude Wetering, Nieuwe Wetering, Rijpwetering and Oud Ade. The route uses the Dutch cycling node network and passes more than twenty mills, as well as other sights in and around Kaag En Braassem. The Vier Pontjesroute includes four ferry crossings, including the bicycle ferry from Kaag to Oud Ade. Timetables and capacity may vary; check them before setting out.
For shorter walks, the Groene Lusjes programme comprises eleven short trails through the green surroundings of the village centres of Kaag En Braassem. A walking route along the shore of the ancient peat lake Wijde Aa offers another perspective on the waterscape. When choosing between a circular route, a ferry route and a short walk, the stated distances and route features can help guide you, but they do not indicate how long the route will take on foot or by bicycle.
Mills, museums and living history
The Van Hemessen Museum in Woubrugge tells, among other things, the story of the Rijn villages of Woubrugge and Hoogmade, as well as the vanished village of Jacobswoude. The Oud Alkemade Museum is dedicated to the history of Alkemade and its surroundings, and includes a historical archive with an extensive collection. Alongside local village history, visitors can also explore the traces of a vanished place.
Several mills illustrate different aspects of water management. The Akkerslootmolen between Oud Ade and Rijpwetering is an octagonal, thatched ground-sail mill dating from 1793, which can be used to drain the Akkersloot, Hertogs and Blijvers polders. The Vrouw Vennemolen in Oud Ade dates from the 17th century and was largely renovated in 1835. In Hoogmade, the Hoogmadesemolen has drained the Hoogmadesche and Piest polders since 1897. The Remonstrantse Kerk is the oldest church building in Oude Wetering; its foundation is believed to date back to 1645.
Smaller discoveries also offer a glimpse into the past: at the nostalgic kitchen garden De Veense Bukker in Roelofarendsveen, volunteers bring the working methods, cultivation techniques and layout of around a hundred years ago back to life. The programme may vary. The Historisch Actief routes use audio recordings featuring historical stories along routes passing sites and monuments. During the annual Nationale Molendag on the second weekend of May, mill operators in Kaag En Braassem welcome visitors and explain their historic craft; the specific dates change from year to year. The nationwide Open Monumentendag features open historic buildings here, a mill night highlighting mills after dark, and audio cycling and walking tours by Historisch Actief. Dates and participating monuments vary from one edition to the next.
Planning your trip
Kaag En Braassem is accessible by car, public transport, bicycle and boat. Bus route 365 connects Schiphol with Oude Wetering and Roelofarendsveen; there, you can transfer to route 56, which travels via Nieuwe Wetering, Rijpwetering and Oud Ade towards Leiden. Bus routes and timetables may change, so check your connection before departure. A ferry runs between Oude Wetering and Leimuiden; here too, it is advisable to check the current timetable.
Several cycling and walking routes meet at the TOP Rijnsaterwoude/Woubrugge Tourist Transfer Point. The point is easy to reach by car and has ample parking. As visitor facilities may change, check the current details in advance.
Discover more destinations: Roelofarendsveen, Kaag, Rijpwetering, Woubrugge, Hoogmade, Katwijk, Maassluis, Zuidplas.
For the broader travel overview: South Holland.
