Volendam, Monnickendam, Ilpendam

dam (noun; plural: dams; diminutive: dammetje)
1. a barrier built in water to prevent flooding;
2. a narrow strip of land providing access to a meadow or farmland surrounded by ditches.

That is the definition of the word “dam” according to the Dikke Van Dale dictionary. This explains why so many place names in North Holland, especially in the municipality of Waterland, end in “dam”. Did you know that place names containing the word “dam” are typically Dutch? You hardly ever come across them in other countries such as Belgium and Germany. This cycle route pays a small tribute to this fact. You cycle through the charming centres of a number of these “dams” and the beautiful Waterland landscape.

The polder landscape with its vast meadows and idyllic ditches will put you at ease. You will hear the sounds of various water and meadow birds, and here and there cows and sheep graze on the green plains. This area is ideal for exploring from the water. At the Ilperveld Visitor Centre, you can take a boat tour in the summer or rent a boat yourself. Take the ferry from Volendam across the water to the island of Marken and enjoy the historic fishing village. Here you can eat fish to your heart's content, but you will also find unique shops in the old Dutch houses. The Paard van Marken lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the Netherlands, and when you see it, you will understand why. You'll feel like you're in Holland during the Zuiderzee era. How Dutch do you want it to be?