Sights of Broek in Waterland
National monuments on every corner, one Havenrak and an emperor in his socks.
What is there to see in Broek in Waterland?
Five places, all within walking distance.
In Broek in Waterland you'll see the Havenrak, the Broeker Kerk, the Famous House where Napoleon took off his shoes, and streets full of national monuments in grey and green painted wood. It's all within walking distance of each other.
The Havenrak: the quiet heart of the village, where every walk begins.
The Broeker Kerk: the landmark above the rooftops.
The Famous House: where, so the story goes, Napoleon took off his shoes at the door.
The wooden façades: national monuments in Broek grey, with death doors that almost never open.
Het Broeker Huis: the village house of Broek, with coffee and lunch before and after your loop.
No guide with a microphone and no queue. The village is simply there, and you walk right through it. Coming by car? Leave it on the Nieuwland and don't drive further into the village; how to get here has its own page.
More about Broek in Waterland, or plan your day out right away?
Het Havenrak
Once a harbour. Now mostly deep enough to stare into.
The Havenrak was once the village harbour, where boats came to bring and collect their cargo. Now it's the quiet heart of Broek: grey wooden façades at the water's edge, benches where you can sit for no reason, and ducks that share the water with the sky.
No entrance fee, no sign, no route map with stickers. Just a pool of water the village has settled around. From Het Broeker Huis it's a short stroll, and you pass it on every walking route.
See the routes first, or reserve a table for after the walk?
Museum and history of Broek in Waterland
The church, the emperor & the facades.
The Broeker Kerk
The landmark above the rooftops.
The church is the oldest story in the village: burned down once, rebuilt, and still the point that leads you back to Broek when you're out in the polder. You can look inside; the visiting times are at the church itself.
The Famous House
Where Napoleon took off his shoes.
The story goes that Napoleon rode into Broek over streets strewn with flowers, took off his shoes at the door out of respect for the villagers' obsession with cleanliness, and then burned his fingers on a red-hot lid. The village impressed an emperor, and simply stayed itself.
The village as a museum
National monuments on every corner.
Broek grew rich in the Golden Age and built in wood. Many of those houses still stand, with death doors that only open for a wedding or a funeral. The streets are the collection, and the local historical society Oud Broek tells the story on a guided tour.
Frequently asked questions about sights in Broek in Waterland
The church, the Havenrak, the museum & the best photos.
What is there to see in Broek in Waterland?
The Havenrak, the Broeker Kerk, the Famous House and streets full of national monuments in Broek grey and green. Everything is within walking distance, so you can do the village loop without hurrying.
Why is Broek in Waterland so famous?
For its wooden houses and its obsession with cleanliness. In the Golden Age, Broek was one of the richest villages in Holland, and the story goes that even Napoleon took off his shoes before going inside. What remains is a village full of national monuments.
Is there a museum in Broek in Waterland?
The village itself is the museum: national monuments you simply come across in the street, with death doors that only open for a wedding or a funeral. The local historical society Oud Broek gives guided tours of the village.
Can you visit the church of Broek in Waterland?
Yes. The Broeker Kerk can be visited; the current visiting times are on the church's website.
What is the Havenrak?
The Havenrak is the lake in the middle of Broek in Waterland, once the village harbour. Now it's the quiet heart of Broek: wooden façades at the water's edge, benches and ducks.
Where do you take the best photos in Broek in Waterland?
At the Havenrak as the sun comes up, along the wooden façades in Broek grey and green, and from the water, where the village shows its quiet side. Take your time: the light does most of the work here.
Come and look, stay to eat.
The village is free. The coffee is not.
Looking for sights in Broek in Waterland? You won't need a ticket or a route. You walk into the village, look up at the wooden façades, sit down on a bench by the Havenrak and forget what time it is.
Somewhere between the church and the Famous House stands Het Broeker Huis: restaurant and village house. Have coffee to our own recipe beforehand and pull up a chair for lunch after your loop, inside or on the terrace. On Thursday evening the Donderdaghap is on the table, and what's on in the village house is in the calendar.
See the menu first, or reserve a table right away?