Discover Roelofarendsveen through its windmill heritage, a war memorial and routes across the polder landscape. When planning your trip, you face a practical choice: would you like to focus on buildings and memorial sites, or take in local stories along a route? The Tulip Route takes two hours; the “Veenmeermin blijf je?” walking route is 15 km long. Another route passes through the rural area between two lakes.

Windmills and water tower

The Veendermolen is a round, brick polder windmill belonging to the Veenderpolder, on the north side of the Wijde Aa. It was rebuilt in 1934 on a stone base dating from 1830. These dates refer to different parts of its construction history: 1830 is the date of the base, and 1934 the date of the rebuilding.

The water tower is 31.5 metres high and visible from the surrounding area. It is considered a municipal monument and an important testament to industrial heritage. Since 1986, four red tulips on the tower have symbolised its connection with tulip growing in Roelofarendsveen. The motif reflects both the heritage of the structure and its link to cultivation. The Googermolen underwent extensive restoration in the 1990s, adding another chapter to the history of the area’s windmills.

Memorial sites in Noordhoek

The war memorial in Roelofarendsveen is located in Noordhoek, beside the intersection of Stationsstraat and Westeinde. It was built as a memorial to resistance and oppression. In addition to the Second World War, the memorial area also covers the period from 1840 to 1940. The period commemorated thus extends beyond the years of the war itself. If you plan to visit the memorial, be aware that access may change in the surrounding area, and check local conditions before your visit.

Routes through the polder landscape and its history

The two-hour Tulip Route leads through the Veense polder landscape. Information boards present local stories, background information, facts and anecdotes. The route also runs from the Braassemermeer through a historic lock into the polders of Roelofarendsveen; passing through the lock is considered a special experience. In this way, the route combines the polder landscape and local stories with a section featuring water infrastructure. Check the latest route information before travelling.

The 15 km “Veenmeermin blijf je?” walking route was established by Stichting Tulpenroute. Five photo panels present evidence found for the Veenmeermin, along with the historical stories behind it. If you’d like to take in local stories while walking, this route has a clear thematic focus. Signage and trail conditions may change, so check the latest route guidance before setting out.

Another option is the Molens- en plassenroute. It passes through the rural area between the Braassemermeer and the Kagerplassen, and can be extended via Oud Ade, the island of Kaag and Buitenkaag. The two lake landscapes and the possible extensions define the route’s geographical scope.

A local product name

Well-known products from this polder landscape include Groffies: small cucumbers, pods and strawberries. In Veens, strawberries are called “aarubeijen”.

To choose what to focus on, you can consider the themes of each option: buildings and their history, the memorial area, or routes with information boards and links to the landscape. The Tulip Route’s duration and the walking route’s length offer different points of reference for planning.

Discover more destinations: Kaag, Rijpwetering, Woubrugge, Hoogmade

Return to the main travel overview: Kaag En Braassem.