Nieuw-Vennep, Kaag, Sassenheim

In the Haarlemmermeer you will find everything. Large and cozy cities, cozy villages and vast polders. Before the 16th century, this area consisted of several lakes. These lakes grew closer together due to the cutting of peat and the violent storms that could rage here close to the shore. The population around this Haarlemmermeer did not feel safe, yet it took until 1840 for its reclamation to begin. Because of this reclamation, it is now beautiful to bike here and you will come across several pumping stations and other historical structures from this era.

From the southernmost tip of the Haarlemmermeer you cycle around the Kagerplassen. Here you will pass several windmills that tell the story of the Kagerplassen. You will pass the Kager mill, which can still be used to pump water away during heavy flooding. In addition, you will also cycle past the Nieuwe Hofmolen, this mill suffered badly during WWII. At night, the mill was secretly demolished for firewood. Meanwhile, it has been restored again, but unfortunately no longer in operation.

Through the green and water-rich surroundings you cycle through cozy Nieuw-Vennep. Besides mills, pumping stations also helped to make and keep the polder dry. So you can get off at the White Pump House near Nieuw-Vennep. This is the smallest part of the region's pumping stations. It belongs to Pumping Station Hoofdweg Oost, which used to pump water to the Ringvaart canal. Curious about what a larger pumping station looks like? In Buitenkaag you will pass pumping station Leeghwater. This pumping station was the first and already started working in the year 1848.

Cycle this wonderful historic and green cycling route through the southern tip of the Haarlemmermeer. Be surprised by the rich history of water management, which is still relevant in the past as well as today.