Surrounding our recreation park, there are plenty of fascinating towns and villages where you can enjoy yourself all day. From well-known, large cities like Amsterdam, to more unfamiliar, small villages like Barsingerhorn. It is all near our park, so you have plenty of choice for a wonderful day out.
.To give you some more information about the possibilities that are available, we would like to tell you a bit more about the towns that can be found around our recreation park.
On the west side of the Westfriese Omringdijk you will find Schagen. There are also some great coastal towns in the municipality of the same name, such as Groote Keeten, Petten and Callantsoog. There is plenty to do in and around this old town. For example, you will find many bulb fields as you walk toward the coast from the town. In the spring, this brings with it truly beautiful, colorful pictures. The Westfriese Omringdijk itself is also well worth a visit. This coast is no less than 14 kilometers long. You will also find not only beautiful, but also safe and clean beaches. What is also a big plus is the fact that the distances in this municipality are easy to cover. Thus, you can do several activities in one day. For example, visit the town and then get a breath of fresh air on the beach. There is also plenty to do for cycling enthusiasts. In fact, there are many cycling routes to be found in the municipality of Schagen. The same goes for hiking trails, so even if you prefer to go out on foot, you have more than enough to choose from.
.Do you choose to spend a day admiring the city? Then the city has a lot of fascinating history to offer you. The narrow shopping streets also bring with them a friendly atmosphere.
Do you really like history? Then the West Frisian Folklore can be found every Thursday morning from late June to early September. During the West Frisian Folklore you can marvel at a colorful parade of historic vehicles and Schagenezen in typical West Frisian attire.
Market in Schagen
Kaasmarkt in Alkmaar
Prinsengracht in Amsterdam
Alkmaar is of course a well-known city in our country. The city is known as a Cheese City and for centuries the world famous cheese market has been held in this city on Friday mornings from April to September. This is therefore definitely worth visiting. However, this amazing cheese market is not the only thing this city has to offer. For example, you can also enjoy shopping, eating out, sitting on a terrace or soaking up culture. There are also plenty of opportunities in and around Alkmaar for walking or cycling. The city is surrounded by beautiful nature, polders, beaches and dunes. Furthermore, there is a lot of art to be found and you can visit one of the great museums. Alkmaar is a very versatile city in which you will definitely not get bored.
.Then of course we have our capital, Amsterdam. Just an hour's drive from our recreation park lies this large, old city. Amsterdam has existed since the 17th century and since then the city has only become more famous. Precisely because the city is so old, you can soak up an enormous amount of culture and learn a lot about its history. For example, there are great museums to be found and you can take a walk yourself and marvel at the beautiful historic buildings that can be found in Amsterdam. In addition, you can of course enjoy a wide range of stores, terraces and restaurants, as well as beautiful historic buildings and a friendly atmosphere. Would you like to sail through the canals? Then there are canal cruises that allow you to see the beautiful canals a little better. You can also choose to walk through the Vondelpark and enjoy nature. Do you prefer a day of shopping? Then you can visit the city center. You can entertain yourself all day in this world-famous city. Make use of public transportation to be able to do and see as much as possible.
In addition to cities, there are of course some great villages in the vicinity of our recreation park. We would also like to give you some more information about these villages.
.One of the special things about Bergen, is that it consists of two cores. First of all, there is the village of Bergen itself and, in addition, three kilometers away is the town of Bergen aan Zee. This therefore means that Bergen is the ideal mix for anyone who wants to combine beach life with culture. The village really has a lot to offer. For example, Bergen has been an artists' village from way back. Because of this, there is wonderful art and culture to be found. The fact that the village is surrounded by the sea, dunes and forest has inspired many painters. Also, if you are looking for coziness, Bergen is a very good option. The center of the village is enormously atmospheric and what makes it extra special is the fact that an ancient ruined church can be found in the middle of the center. You can also visit stores and boutiques and of course take a seat on one of the cozy terraces.
.In addition to the village itself, you can also choose to go to Bergen aan Zee. Here you can have a nice swim and enjoy nature on the beach and dunes. You can also combine the center and the sea. For example, go to the stores during the day and in the evening blow out on the beach. Or spend your day by the sea and finish off with a nice snack and drink in the center of the village.
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Restaurant-café The House in Bergen
The Raedhuys in Barsingerhorn
Insert Port of Kolhorn
If you really like culture and history, we recommend going to Barsingerhorn. This village was the first village in North Holland to be awarded a protected village view. This means that the old core of the village is being preserved. For example, you will find beautiful monumental farms and mansions. They can be found along the dike, which has existed since the 13th century. When you want to visit these monumental buildings, you can reach them via bridges. If you really go into the center, you can visit the former city hall. You will also find a streetcar stop that has been completely renovated in the old style.
The village has no more than a thousand inhabitants. So this also shows that it really is a small village. Nevertheless, there is so much to see and experience in this beautiful village, because in addition to the great culture and history, of course, the "Nazomeren" also takes place during the third weekend of August. Thousands of people then come to see musicians, hobbyists, artists and garden owners. Barsingerhorn is not the only village participating in the Nazomeren, as the villages Winkel, Haringhuizen, 't Veld/Zijdewind, Kolhorn, Oude Niedorp, Nieuwe Niedorp and Lutjewinkel also participate. When you visit our recreation park during this weekend, we definitely recommend you to go here and enjoy the art and culture.
In the middle of a sea of meadows you will find Kolhorn. This former fishing village lies behind the dike and it is easy to see that this was once a port town. However, due to reclamation it now lies in the middle of the West Frisian landscape. Kolhorn has also been given a protected village status. This therefore means that the culture of this beautiful village will also be preserved.
.If you would like a nice view of the polder, you can visit one of the lookouts found along the village's dike. Are you visiting Kolhorn in the summer? Then we recommend visiting the three Night Markets. During the Night Markets no less than two hundred and fifty market stalls can be found throughout the village. Precisely because these markets are in the dark, it brings with it a great atmosphere. The market stalls are beautifully illuminated, giving it a fairy-tale image.
You can also choose to experience how fishermen used to sail over the former Zuiderzee. You can do this during a canal cruise. These tours take place in the original Langedijker Rondkont. It's a great way to enjoy both history and culture.
.We hope you now have a better idea of all the beauty that the area around our recreation park has to offer. Whether you like swimming, shopping, cycling, hiking or soaking up culture, it's all possible. For example, visit one of the impressive cities and enjoy the wide range of restaurants, terraces, stores and museums. Or choose one of the villages and be surprised by the fantastic culture and coziness these places have to offer you. All in all, we are sure you will not be bored when you set out in the beautiful surroundings of our recreation park.
