Wandelnet Long-distance Hiking Guide 8 Zuiderzeepad

The Netherlands is a real water country. Walking on the Zuiderzeepad (LAW 8) means kilometers enjoying beautiful views of the IJsselmeer, monumental (Hanze)towns such as Enkhuizen and Kampen and walking on dikes specially opened for the hiker.

Fight the water.
The 490 kilometer long route around the ‘Golden Heart of the Netherlands’ offers - literally - a view of the common struggle against the water of the areas around the former Zuiderzee. Breakthroughs, steam pulverisons, locks and mills are reminiscent of that struggle. After another great flood, it was enough at the beginning of the 20th century: the construction of the Afsluitdijk meant the end of the salty inland sea. 40% of the sea became polder. Settlers populated the polders and set up companies on them. Water control brought safety and international fame to the Netherlands. And the IJsselmeer? That is now an international bird area of great importance, the most important freshwater wetland of northwestern Europe for wintering water birds.

Put on your hiking boots and listen to the birds on the way, feel the wind on the Afsluitdijk, breathe in the smell of fish in the fishing villages, hear the rattling of the sails of the botters in the ports…Often close, sometimes a little further away, but the former Zuiderzee remains your guide on this path.