For bird lovers, this is an ideal stage. It runs straight through one of the most bird-rich parts of North Holland. The pools along the route are often bustling with activity, and in winter, thousands of wigeon sometimes fly over. It is fortunate that the stage is not too long. Now you have plenty of time to spot the meadow birds at your leisure and to enjoy the scenery, because even if you are not here for the birds, it is a pleasant walk.
Ancient IJ area
At Akersloot, you cross the North Holland Canal by ferry. The walking route goes straight through the ancient Oer-IJ area, past old windmills and through peat polders. On Sundays, you can visit the museum (Pumping Station 1879) at the Limmen pumping station. Further along lies the Dorregeester Mill. The polder of the same name is entirely focused on nature development and is a paradise for rabbits and hares.
From Uitgeest, you walk along an old sea dike: the Lagendijk. It was constructed in the Middle Ages to hold back the waters of the IJ and the Zuiderzee beyond, advancing via the 'Crommenije'. The sawmill was also invented in Uitgeest by Cornelis Corneliszoon, an important invention for shipbuilding and the subsequent Golden Age. There are plans to create a museum in Uitgeest that tells the story of the sawmill.
Fort Krommeniedijk
On the way to Krommenie, you first pass Fort Krommeniedijk, one of the 42 forts of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. It is now called Belevingscentrum Fort K'IJK and houses a tea room. Young people with disabilities also live here, and the visitor centre offers a glimpse into the time when the fort still had to defend the Lagendijk. From here, the route continues along paved paths to Krommenie station.
