Kaag, Warmond, Oud Ade

Between the big cities of Amsterdam and Leiden, just across the border of South and North Holland, is the idyllic island of Kaag. Here, the Kagerplassen, created by peat extraction, form a puzzle of shallow peat lakes. A vast network of narrow ditches surrounds the lakes, with full reed beds and flat polder landscapes at the edge.

The name Kaag, derived from ‘Kaghe’ or ‘Caghe’, actually means ‘outer dike land’. This historical name appears in documents early on, as early as 1308. Until the 16th century, Kaag was the largest village in the region. Despite its size, it did not remain the largest village. The village could not grow further because of its somewhat awkward location on the island. Other villages did and overtook Kaag.

What is unique about Kaag is that it is only accessible by water. Therefore, numerous attractive little harbours have been built around the island, where you can easily moor your boat. At junction 08, the ferry invites you to discover Kaag by bike or on foot.

As you cycle past the old farms, a charming ferry house and a centuries-old church on Julianalaan, it seems as if time has stood still. On the island you will also find the Kager mill, which is used to pump away excess water in case of flooding. If the miller is present, you can even take a look inside!

Parking is easy at the Warmond tourist office. After cycling about 10 km (at junction 08), you can take the ferry to Kaag to explore the island. Add the fun Pit stops and complete your route!