Cycle route World Heritage | Schokland
Urk, Schokland, Emmeloord
The Noordoostpolder was reclaimed in the 1940s to create more land in the Netherlands. This piece of the Zuiderzee contained two islands before the reclamation, both of which you will discover with this cycle route. Schokland is one of these former islands, although... Today, you can still clearly see the contours of the island in the landscape, making it still a kind of island on dry land. The soil is rich in archaeological treasures that indicate that people lived here centuries ago. Traces of human habitation from prehistoric times have been found. Indeed, it is known that people lived on Schokland even before the Zuiderzee came into existence. Its great archaeological value has made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Despite having the longest resident history, Schokland was evacuated in 1859. As a vulnerable island in the Zuiderzee, it was dangerous to live there. The sea was knocking away pieces of land and there was a constant danger of flooding. Finally, there was great poverty. At the government's expense, some 635 Schokkers were moved, with pain in their hearts, to the mainland, mainly to Kampen. Knowing that not a metre of land was washed away from the island after that makes it an extra wry measure for the Schokker people. The cycle tour leads you along the contours of the island, introducing you to every corner of Schokland. Also be sure to visit Museum Schokland, which is open all year round. Urk, too, is a former island in the Zuiderzee, surrounded by agricultural landscape due to reclamation. Now it lies on the IJsselmeer. It is a traditional fishing village with a long history of fishing. The inhabitants are particularly loyal to their traditions and customs and most Urkers speak their dialect. The island feeling is still very much alive here, as you are not in Urk, but on Urk! Cycle along the Zeedijk and get off for a stroll through the cosy centre. Did you know that Urk also has a folk legend related to Schokland? Urk's population growth had everything to do with the 'Ommelebommelestien'. This stone lies 30 metres away in the IJsselmeer. The stork comes to the stone from Egypt to lay babies in it. Fathers first had to row to Schokland with the midwife to collect the key to the stone. Then they had to row back again to collect the baby. The key has to be used to open a door near the stone. This is still not easy, as the door is underwater and so cannot be found right away. Once you found door, one Dutch guilder had to be paid for a girl and two for a boy. So when you are asked in Urk if you have been to Schokland yet, they actually ask if you have children.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Schokkerringweg , 8319 AB Noordoostpolder | 45.9 KM | |
|
From
61
to
47
|
2096 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head south on Middelbuurt | 215 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Middelbuurt | 9 M | ||
| Turn right onto Ruïnepad | 1.8 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Ruïnepad | 104 M | ||
| You are now at section 47 | 0 M | ||
|
From
47
to
75
|
2034 M | 2 KM | |
| Head northwest on Rivierduinpad | 2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 75 | 0 M | ||
|
From
75
to
37
|
1802 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head west on Schokkerringweg | 27 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Schokkerringweg | 17 M | ||
| Continue onto Keileemweg | 1.8 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Oud Emmeloorderweg | 8 M | ||
| You are now at section 37 | 0 M | ||
|
From
37
to
98
|
4162 M | 4.2 KM | |
| Head west on Oud Emmeloorderweg | 3.3 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Nagelerweg | 867 M | ||
| You are now at section 98 | 0 M | ||
|
From
98
to
52
|
476 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head southeast on Nagelerweg | 28 M | ||
| Turn left onto Noorderpoort | 79 M | ||
| Turn right onto Ring | 281 M | ||
| Turn right onto Voorhof | 88 M | ||
| You are now at section 52 | 0 M | ||
|
From
52
to
10
|
1629 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head north | 17 M | ||
| Turn left | 197 M | ||
| Turn right | 1.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 10 | 0 M | ||
|
From
10
to
26
|
4438 M | 4.4 KM | |
| Head west | 498 M | ||
| Keep right at the fork | 3.9 KM | ||
| You are now at section 26 | 0 M | ||
|
From
26
to
2
|
2336 M | 2.3 KM | |
| Head northwest | 2.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 02 | 0 M | ||
|
From
2
to
36
|
550 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head northwest on Sluisweg | 508 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Sluisweg | 42 M | ||
| You are now at section 36 | 0 M | ||
|
From
36
to
25
|
1100 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head northwest on Sluisweg | 45 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Klifweg | 288 M | ||
| Turn right onto Dormakade | 39 M | ||
| Turn right onto Handelskade | 131 M | ||
| Turn left onto Raadhuisstraat | 255 M | ||
| Turn right onto Wilhelminaplein | 27 M | ||
| Turn left onto Prins Hendrikstraat | 21 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Prins Hendrikstraat | 7 M | ||
| Turn left onto Prins Hendrikstraat | 155 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vuurtorenstraat | 69 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Staverse Kade | 63 M | ||
| You are now at section 25 | 0 M | ||
|
From
25
to
86
|
196 M | 0.2 KM | |
| Head north on Vuurtorenpad | 196 M | ||
| You are now at section 86 | 0 M | ||
|
From
86
to
6
|
1427 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head northwest on Westermeerdijk | 468 M | ||
| Keep left onto Westermeerdijk | 959 M | ||
| You are now at section 06 | 0 M | ||
|
From
6
to
66
|
1364 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head northeast | 75 M | ||
| Keep right at the fork | 1.2 KM | ||
| Keep left at the fork | 124 M | ||
| You are now at section 66 | 0 M | ||
|
From
66
to
16
|
469 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head north on Vormtweg | 469 M | ||
| You are now at section 16 | 0 M | ||
|
From
16
to
1
|
627 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head northeast on Vormtweg | 627 M | ||
| You are now at section 01 | 0 M | ||
|
From
1
to
4
|
1714 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head north on Vormtweg | 9 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Vormtweg | 1.7 KM | ||
| Make a slight left to stay on Vormtweg | 10 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Vormtweg | 8 M | ||
| You are now at section 04 | 0 M | ||
|
From
4
to
79
|
501 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head north on Staartweg | 501 M | ||
| You are now at section 79 | 0 M | ||
|
From
79
to
58
|
3273 M | 3.3 KM | |
| Head east on Zuidwesterringweg | 1.8 KM | ||
| Turn right | 205 M | ||
| Turn left | 216 M | ||
| Turn left onto Wildzang | 122 M | ||
| Turn right onto Wildzang | 379 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vossenburcht | 148 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Vossenburcht | 175 M | ||
| Turn right onto Nimrodstraat | 205 M | ||
| Turn right onto Sint Hubertus-plaats | 16 M | ||
| You are now at section 58 | 0 M | ||
|
From
58
to
69
|
284 M | 0.3 KM | |
| Head southeast | 284 M | ||
| You are now at section 69 | 0 M | ||
|
From
69
to
18
|
3775 M | 3.8 KM | |
| Head northeast on Urkerweg | 3.8 KM | ||
| You are now at section 18 | 0 M | ||
|
From
18
to
27
|
2328 M | 2.3 KM | |
| Head northeast on Urkerweg | 352 M | ||
| Continue straight | 589 M | ||
| Continue onto Urkerweg | 215 M | ||
| Continue straight | 191 M | ||
| Turn right | 40 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 218 M | ||
| Continue onto Urkerweg | 123 M | ||
| Turn right | 24 M | ||
| Turn left | 142 M | ||
| Turn left | 26 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kampwal | 408 M | ||
| You are now at section 27 | 0 M | ||
|
From
27
to
65
|
1040 M | 1 KM | |
| Head south | 333 M | ||
| Continue onto Nagelerbrug | 9 M | ||
| Continue straight | 607 M | ||
| Turn right | 82 M | ||
| Turn right | 9 M | ||
| You are now at section 65 | 0 M | ||
|
From
65
to
13
|
2156 M | 2.2 KM | |
| Head southwest | 2.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 13 | 0 M | ||
|
From
13
to
20
|
2361 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head southeast on Dinah Mightpad | 1.8 KM | ||
| Turn left | 611 M | ||
| You are now at section 20 | 0 M | ||
|
From
20
to
87
|
1075 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head south | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 87 | 0 M | ||
|
From
87
to
21
|
832 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head east on Vluchthavenpad | 832 M | ||
| You are now at section 21 | 0 M | ||
|
From
21
to
61
|
1886 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head south on Plankenpad | 1.9 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Middelbuurt | 14 M | ||
| You are now at section 61 | 0 M |