From De Haukes, you walk back to Kolhorn, which is an important junction in the upper part of the Noord-Hollandpad. However, it would be a shame not to incorporate the special atmosphere of the former island of Wieringen into the Noord-Hollandpad. That is why a branch (stages 6 and 7) runs here to and from Kolhorn.
De Haukes is a charming dike village situated by an old harbor. In the past, alongside fishing vessels, the mail boat from the mainland also docked here. Initially, that boat had to come from far away: first from Oudesluis in the Zijpepolder (since 1597), later from Nieuwesluis in the Wieringerwaard (since 1611), and even later from the mouth of the Oude Veer in the Anna Paulownapolder (since 1847). The crossing must have made a great impression on travelers at the time due to the straight seaweed dikes. For instance, F. Allan, in his Wieringengids from 1855, speaks of 'white seaweed dikes that resemble small chalk mountains'.
