Bunschoten-Spakenburg, Hoogland

This route offers a changing landscape of villages, fields and waterways. Along the meadows you’ll enjoy sweeping views. In the open farmland you can truly unwind. Wide green plains stretch as far as the eye can see, sometimes dotted with crops, sometimes with cows. The wind rustles through the grasses along the ditches that cut through the fields. These are perfect places for meadow birds.

Above the fields you’ll often spot a buzzard circling. But if you want to see something even more impressive, stop by the falconer near junction 06. Here you can admire over 45 different birds of prey, including eagles, vultures, kites, caracaras and several species of owls.

In Hoogland, carnival is celebrated every year due to its traditional Catholic roots. During the festivities, the village is temporarily renamed to ’t Zandkruuersgat.

The towns of Spakenburg and Bunschoten have grown so close together that they are often referred to as Bunschoten Spakenburg. Still, they each have their own character. Bunschoten has always been more of a farming town with city rights, while Spakenburg has deep roots as a fishing village. It once lay on the shores of the Zuiderzee and you can still see those influences in the historic town centre and at Museum Spakenburg. Try on traditional clothing and walk along the water to enjoy some freshly caught fish.