Breweries and beer merchants in the Land of Leeghwater
Alkmaar, Limmen, De Rijp
From grinding barley to beer excise duties: beer played a role in Alkmaar and the surrounding area for centuries. Today, old brewing traditions are being revived in small breweries. Experience all facets of the region's beer history on two wheels. In the 16th and 17th centuries, beer was the national drink par excellence and was drunk by young and old. With an estimated consumption of 250 to 400 litres per person per year, it was not only a stimulant, but also a basic daily necessity. Beer was drunk in different varieties: weak beer for labourers and children, stronger beer for merchants and skippers. Clean drinking water was scarce, and beer – which was purified by the brewing process – was a safe and reliable alternative. By way of comparison: today, the average beer consumption in the Netherlands is around 85 litres per person per year, and it can only be drunk from the age of 18. During this period, Alkmaar was a thriving trading city and benefited from its favourable location on the water. Beer was imported into and exported from the city via canals such as the Zeglis and the Noordhollandsch Kanaal. Local brewers competed with beer merchants: traders who brought beer in from other cities. To protect the local beer industry, excise duties were levied on imported beer. Beer also played a role in the surrounding villages of the Land van Leeghwater, but then mainly in the form of raw materials. After the reclamation of the Beemster and Schermer in the 17th century, fertile farmland was created where grain was grown – an essential raw material for beer production. Flour mills in the region processed barley and malt as part of the brewing process. It is not known whether Molen De Knegt was used specifically for this purpose, but today you can see how the milling process worked. Although beer was an indispensable product for a long time, it faced increasing competition in the second half of the 17th century. Exotic beverages such as coffee, tea and chocolate came to the Netherlands from the colonies and slowly began to gain ground among the well-to-do bourgeoisie. Economic changes, tax burdens and the rise of other industries also contributed to the decline in the number of breweries. In the 20th century, the last brewery in Alkmaar, Den Burg Brewery on Bierkade, closed its doors. In the 21st century, the region has seen a revival of traditional breweries. Zeglis Brewery, Dampegheest Brewery and Leeghwater Brewery combine traditional brewing techniques with modern flavour profiles. Tasting rooms and craft beer cafés are once again making Alkmaar and the surrounding area a place where beer culture is alive and well. The rich beer history of Alkmaar and the Land van Leeghwater can be found in old buildings, street names and the stories of former brewers and traders. And today, you can still taste that history. Enjoy the beer history and have fun tasting, but keep it safe on your bike – everything is better in moderation! Note! You will come across two bicycle ferries along the way. The Akersloot ferry does not sail between 09:30 and 12:30 on the first Tuesday of the month. There is no alternative route, so check the Pitstops to plan your crossings. This premium cycle route was compiled by our editor Désirée van Uffelen.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
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Start: Westdijk , 1483 HB Purmerend | 54.8 KM | |
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From
61
to
60
|
2690 M | 2.7 KM | |
| Head southwest on Westdijk | 2.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 60 | 0 M | ||
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From
60
to
59
|
407 M | 0.4 KM | |
| Head northwest on Westdijk | 169 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zuiddijk | 163 M | ||
| Continue right onto Kamerhop | 15 M | ||
| Turn left | 9 M | ||
| Take the ferry Pontveer Jan Hop Spijkerboor | 39 M | ||
| Continue slight right | 12 M | ||
| You are now at section 59 | 0 M | ||
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From
59
to
89
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3668 M | 3.7 KM | |
| Head south on Starnmeerdijk | 23 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Starnmeerdijk | 3.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 89 | 0 M | ||
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From
89
to
88
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878 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head southwest on Starnmeerdijk | 457 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 161 M | ||
| Turn right onto Provincialeweg | 260 M | ||
| You are now at section 88 | 0 M | ||
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From
88
to
91
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2411 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head south | 2.4 KM | ||
| Make a slight left onto Industrieweg | 14 M | ||
| Turn right | 45 M | ||
| You are now at section 91 | 0 M | ||
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From
91
to
90
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546 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head west | 127 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Kerkstraat | 419 M | ||
| You are now at section 90 | 0 M | ||
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From
90
to
86
|
2014 M | 2 KM | |
| Head northwest on Badhuislaan | 241 M | ||
| Turn right onto Weverstraat | 804 M | ||
| Turn right onto Zonnebaars | 50 M | ||
| Continue onto Waterjuffer | 163 M | ||
| Turn left | 48 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vlusch | 708 M | ||
| You are now at section 86 | 0 M | ||
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From
86
to
85
|
1791 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head northwest on Krommeniedijk | 1.6 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Krommenieweg | 234 M | ||
| You are now at section 85 | 0 M | ||
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From
85
to
84
|
1478 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head north on Lagendijk | 1.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 84 | 0 M | ||
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From
84
to
24
|
1632 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head west on Lagendijk | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 24 | 0 M | ||
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From
24
to
2
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157 M | 0.2 KM | |
| Head northeast on Hoorne | 157 M | ||
| You are now at section 02 | 0 M | ||
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From
2
to
54
|
2962 M | 3 KM | |
| Head southeast on Populierenlaan | 1.6 KM | ||
| Continue slightly right onto Groot Dorregeest | 215 M | ||
| Make a slight left to stay on Groot Dorregeest | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 54 | 0 M | ||
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From
54
to
19
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1992 M | 2 KM | |
| Head northwest on Klein Dorregeest | 132 M | ||
| Turn right onto Geesterweg | 213 M | ||
| Turn left onto Sluisweg | 410 M | ||
| Turn left onto Startingerweg | 522 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Startingerweg | 715 M | ||
| You are now at section 19 | 0 M | ||
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From
19
to
18
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1260 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head northwest on Uitgeesterweg | 379 M | ||
| Continue onto Nesdijk | 484 M | ||
| Turn left onto Binnendijkspad | 397 M | ||
| You are now at section 18 | 0 M | ||
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From
18
to
17
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1864 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head northwest | 27 M | ||
| Continue onto Korte Brakersweg | 407 M | ||
| Continue slightly left onto De Bloemen | 261 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on De Bloemen | 73 M | ||
| Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Gerbrandsven | 31 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout onto Gerbrandsven | 263 M | ||
| Continue straight | 35 M | ||
| Continue onto Gerbrandsven | 233 M | ||
| Turn left onto Provincialeweg | 534 M | ||
| You are now at section 17 | 0 M | ||
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From
17
to
26
|
3973 M | 4 KM | |
| Head east | 39 M | ||
| Continue onto Voorterpad | 164 M | ||
| Continue onto Hazelaantje | 130 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zuideinderweg | 511 M | ||
| Turn right onto Dusseldorperweg | 304 M | ||
| Turn right onto Dusseldorperweg | 472 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kerkweg | 453 M | ||
| Turn right onto Rijksweg | 14 M | ||
| Turn left | 19 M | ||
| Turn left onto Rijksweg | 23 M | ||
| Turn right onto Burgemeester Nieuwenhuijsenstraat | 386 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kapelweg | 1.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 26 | 0 M | ||
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From
26
to
27
|
860 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head northeast on Runxputteweg | 467 M | ||
| Continue onto Groeneweg | 393 M | ||
| You are now at section 27 | 0 M | ||
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From
27
to
34
|
1331 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head north on Groeneweg | 309 M | ||
| Turn left onto Hoogeweg | 323 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zevenhuizerlaan | 29 M | ||
| Turn right onto Heerenweg | 670 M | ||
| You are now at section 34 | 0 M | ||
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From
34
to
33
|
1198 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head southeast | 68 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout | 80 M | ||
| Turn right onto Holleweg | 945 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Holleweg | 11 M | ||
| Turn left onto Willibrordusweg | 84 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kerkelaan | 10 M | ||
| You are now at section 33 | 0 M | ||
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From
33
to
73
|
3822 M | 3.8 KM | |
| Head northeast | 359 M | ||
| Continue onto Zanderslootweg | 539 M | ||
| Continue straight | 339 M | ||
| Continue straight | 124 M | ||
| Continue straight | 664 M | ||
| Continue onto Zandersweg | 387 M | ||
| Turn left onto Prins Bernhardlaan | 7 M | ||
| Turn right onto Wilhelminalaan | 41 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Wilhelminalaan | 134 M | ||
| Turn left onto Prinses Julianalaan | 10 M | ||
| Turn right onto Wilhelminalaan | 424 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Metiusgracht | 62 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kennemerstraatweg | 142 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kennemerstraatweg | 64 M | ||
| Turn left onto Heilooerbrug | 121 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vrouwenstraat | 71 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Clarissenbuurt | 334 M | ||
| You are now at section 73 | 0 M | ||
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From
73
to
74
|
972 M | 1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Gasthuisstraat | 87 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kerkplein | 125 M | ||
| Continue onto Koorstraat | 198 M | ||
| Turn left onto Oudegracht | 391 M | ||
| Turn left onto Hofstraat | 115 M | ||
| Continue onto Huigbrouwerstraat | 56 M | ||
| You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
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From
74
to
98
|
5444 M | 5.4 KM | |
| Head southeast on Verdronkenoord | 405 M | ||
| Turn right onto Limmerhoek | 549 M | ||
| Make a sharp left onto Oosterhoutlaan | 211 M | ||
| Turn right onto Cuwaertpad | 292 M | ||
| Continue onto Camphuysenkade | 219 M | ||
| Turn left onto Koelmalaan | 304 M | ||
| Turn right onto Hadewijchstraat | 220 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Lorreinenlaan | 7 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 132 M | ||
| Continue onto Oude Heilooërdijk | 200 M | ||
| Turn right | 16 M | ||
| Continue onto Loodpolderweg | 211 M | ||
| Continue straight | 69 M | ||
| Continue onto Loodpolderbrug | 14 M | ||
| Continue straight | 386 M | ||
| Continue straight | 50 M | ||
| Continue straight | 85 M | ||
| Continue onto Boekelermeerbrug | 2.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 98 | 0 M | ||
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From
98
to
55
|
2372 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head east | 20 M | ||
| Turn right | 6 M | ||
| Continue onto Kanaalweg | 941 M | ||
| Turn left | 349 M | ||
| Turn left | 605 M | ||
| Turn right onto Hoogegeest | 451 M | ||
| You are now at section 55 | 0 M | ||
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From
55
to
56
|
615 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head southeast on Hoornselaan | 307 M | ||
| Turn left onto Pontweg-Noord | 134 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 18 M | ||
| Turn right onto Geesterweg | 7 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Geesterweg | 8 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Geesterweg | 5 M | ||
| Take the ferry Pont Akersloot-Zuidschermer | 68 M | ||
| Continue straight onto Westdijk | 40 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Westdijk | 28 M | ||
| You are now at section 56 | 0 M | ||
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From
56
to
57
|
3055 M | 3.1 KM | |
| Head southwest on Westdijk | 3.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 57 | 0 M | ||
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From
57
to
58
|
990 M | 1 KM | |
| Head northeast on Zuiddijk | 990 M | ||
| You are now at section 58 | 0 M | ||
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From
58
to
62
|
2501 M | 2.5 KM | |
| Head east on Zuiddijk | 249 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Groeneweg | 2.1 KM | ||
| Turn left to stay on Groeneweg | 104 M | ||
| You are now at section 62 | 0 M | ||
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From
62
to
61
|
1893 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head southeast on Dorpsstraat | 832 M | ||
| Turn left onto Rechtestraat | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 61 | 0 M |