The Zevenhuizerplas, two distinct natural areas and the church on Dorpsstraat give Zevenhuizen several clear themes to explore. When planning your visit, the key question is whether you want to focus more on water, landscapes and birdlife, or on the village’s history. A 23-kilometre cycling route and a leisure boating route that calls at Zevenhuizen add two different ways to include exercise and waterways in your stay.
Lake and waterways
The Zevenhuizerplas is in Zevenhuizen and is the largest swimming lake in the province of Zuid-Holland. The Rottemeren are also nearby. If you’re deciding whether water should play an important role in your visit, these are two specific geographical points of reference: the lake in Zevenhuizen and the nearby Rottemeren. As a swimming lake, the Zevenhuizerplas is a particularly clear landmark; the Rottemeren offer another nearby body of water to explore.
Natural areas and activities
The small Koornmolengat nature reserve comprises swamp woodland, peat bog and three open ponds. A colony of cormorants lives there, and the area is also home to a wide variety of waterbirds and other birds. For travellers interested in wetlands and birdlife, it offers a distinct nature experience alongside the lake. Its three landscape features give the area a different character from the open water of the Zevenhuizerplas.
Another highlight is the Hennipgaarde nature polder, which borders the village of Zevenhuizen. The nine-hectare area is used for recreation, experiencing nature and nature education. Hennipgaarde nature polder has an adventure play and activity area. You can also walk along the agricultural trail and enjoy views of the Eendrachtsmolen. The area therefore offers different activities side by side: exercise in the play area and a walk with views of the mill.
By bike or on the water
Fietsroute 1 is a 23-kilometre cycling route from Zevenhuizen through Moerkapelle and past the Zevenhuizerplas, returning to Zevenhuizen. Starting and ending in the same village makes it a circular route whose named stops include the lake and Moerkapelle. The route’s length gives you a concrete measure for planning your day. As route conditions can change, check them before setting out.
On the water, a leisure boating route runs along the Rotte, Ringvaart and Hollandsche IJssel between Rotterdam and Gouda, or in the opposite direction; Zevenhuizen is a stopping point. This is a different way to include the village in your travel plans than taking the cycling route. Check current water conditions before setting out. The two options differ in their mode of transport: a cycling loop passing named stops, or a boating route between two cities.
Church and village history
The church at Dorpsstraat 170 originally dates from around 1500. After a fire in 1699, it was rebuilt using sections of the Gothic masonry; reconstruction was completed in 1701. Its furnishings include a carved pulpit from the first half of the 17th century. The pulpit therefore predates the post-fire reconstruction. The building brings several periods into view: its original origins, its earlier furnishings and its restoration at the beginning of the 18th century.
Getting around by road
The road connection is another specific point of reference for planning your visit: Zevenhuizen is directly connected to the A12 and A20 motorways via the N219. This road access, together with the cycling and boating options described above, complements the area’s nature and cultural themes without requiring you to combine them into a fixed day’s itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Nieuwerkerk Aan Den Ijssel, Moerkapelle.
Back to the overview of destinations: Zuidplas.
