Boskoop, Zoetermeer, Hazerswoude Dorp

Discover the beauty of Boskoop with a cycle route in search of the 'Schone van Boskoop'. This village in South Holland conquered the world with its world-famous apple: the Goudrenet. Around the year 1600, this apple was produced in abundance in this region. The apple variety went all over the world and today the Goudrenet is still popular in recipes for apple pies and apple fritters. Strawberries were also widely introduced to the Netherlands by the Boskoop women.

No wonder you will come across many tree nurseries and market gardens during this cycle route. In Boskoop itself, you can visit the Tree Nursery Museum. Here you will see the development of tree nurseries from the Middle Ages to the present day. Using heirlooms, monuments and the landscape, traditions, customs and stories are told. Did you know that even the proverb 'get over the bridge' stems from the Boskoop growers? They used to have to literally cross the bridge on their annual payday to collect their payment. If you want to admire Boskoop from the water and revive old times book a canal cruise at the VVV and get on at Yume Coffee and Tea House.

Besides orchards, you'll find that this area is also very watery. Benthuizen has a lot of water as a result of peat cutting. Peat briquettes have even been given a place in Benthuizen's municipal coat of arms. Because of the many ditches and canals in Hazerswoude Dorp, you will regularly encounter boats on the water, which gives the whole area a cosy atmosphere. Many houses in this area have a ditch running in front of the house, giving them a bridge as a driveway. So many bridges next to each other looks unique!

Cycle through the polders, through the cosy centre of Zoetermeer and around the Zoetermeer Lake. At the end, enjoy nature in the Bentwoud.