Cycling & sailing in Broek in Waterland
Two wheels or a bow — this is how you see Waterland as it was meant to be.
Where can you cycle in Broek in Waterland?
Loops through the polder that begin and end at our door.
Cycling in Broek in Waterland is done from cycling junction 1, in the heart of the village. The finest village in the Netherlands has junction number one right at the door — we're not making that up. From there you ride one of the finest loops in North Holland: via Zuiderwoude, Ransdorp or simply on instinct, past ditches, sheep, windmills and silence. From Amsterdam you're here in half an hour, along the dike or through the Volgermeer.
We are the starting point. Coffee to our own recipe before you stand on the pedals, a table when you come back. No rental hall with plastic front baskets and a route map full of stickers — just a village you don't have to discover, because it's simply there. Prefer walking to pedalling? Then the walking routes are your starting point.
Read up first on where you'll end up, or lock in a table for when you're back?
A Waterland bike loop in five steps
From coffee to homecoming — the route we'd ride ourselves.
- Start at Het Broeker Huis with coffee. Cycling junction 1 sits in the heart of the village for good reason.
- Ride out of the village along the Havenrak, the grey wooden façades in the corner of your eye.
- Follow the dike towards Zuiderwoude. Ditches, sheep, windmills and nothing more.
- Choose your loop: on to Ransdorp, or north past Ilpendam and Overleek and back via Monnickendam. Reckon on about two hours at an easy pace.
- Lean your bike against the façade and take a seat. You'll be hungry, we know that already.
Prefer a mapped-out route? These routes from our partners route.nl and Fietsnetwerk.nl pass right by our door:
- A fine ride through the wide-open Waterland — 37 km (route.nl)
- Enjoying the beautiful Waterland — 54 km (route.nl)
- Cycling route in the shadow of Amsterdam — 33 km (Fietsnetwerk.nl)
All the routes past our door are on our profile on route.nl and our stopover on Fietsnetwerk.nl.
Read up first on where you'll end up, or lock in a table for when you're back?
Can you go sailing in Broek in Waterland?
De Neeltje sails. Eight people, quiet waterways, low bridges.
Yes. From Het Broeker Huis sails De Neeltje, our own sloop for up to eight people, through Broek in Waterland and the surrounding area: past wooden houses, along quiet waterways, under little bridges. A trip lasts thirty minutes to two hours and runs by appointment.
From the water you see what you miss from the dike: back gardens that run into the ditch, a heron that doesn't look up, and the village showing its quiet side. No canal cruise with headphones and an audio guide telling you what you can already see for yourself. Just water, wind and a skipper who knows when to keep quiet.
Sailing yourself? In the village and in the hamlet of Overleek you can rent a whisper boat. Just ask us — we know who has space.
Take a closer look at De Neeltje, or give us a call about what's possible?
Practical information
Cycling in Broek in Waterland — 15 minutes from Amsterdam.
Renting a bike
Or bring your own.
You pick up a rental bike in Amsterdam, at one of the big rental outlets behind Centraal Station — from there you're here in half an hour: through the Volgermeer or along the dike past the houseboats. Bringing your own bike? Even better.
Sailing
De Neeltje, by appointment.
Our own sloop sails up to eight people, thirty minutes to two hours, through the village and the surrounding area. Give us a call and we'll arrange it. Prefer to sail yourself? In Broek and in Overleek you can rent a whisper boat — ask us who has space.
Starting & parking
Free on the Nieuwland.
Park for free at the car park on the Nieuwland, a five-minute walk. Don't drive further into the village. We're open Wednesday through Sunday: Wed–Thu 08:40–17:00, Fri 08:40–00:00, Sat 10:00–00:00, Sun 10:00–20:00.
Frequently asked questions about cycling & sailing
Routes, junctions, boats and where you start.
Where can you cycle in Broek in Waterland?
From cycling junction 1, in the heart of the village. One of the finest loops in North Holland starts and ends here: via Zuiderwoude, Ransdorp or simply on instinct, past ditches, sheep and windmills.
Can you go sailing in Broek in Waterland?
Yes. De Neeltje, the sloop of Het Broeker Huis, sails up to eight people through Broek in Waterland and the surrounding area. A trip lasts thirty minutes to two hours and runs by appointment. You can also sail yourself: in the village and in Overleek you can rent a whisper boat.
How long does it take to cycle from Amsterdam to Broek in Waterland?
About half an hour from the ferry behind Amsterdam Centraal. You ride through the Volgermeer nature reserve or along the dike past the houseboats.
Where do you park the car when you go cycling or sailing?
Free at the car park on the Nieuwland, a five-minute walk from Het Broeker Huis. Don't drive further into the village: it costs you ten minutes and gets you nowhere.
Can you also go walking in Broek in Waterland?
Yes. Four walking routes start at Het Broeker Huis: a half-hour village loop, the Noordmeer route of about an hour, the Laarzenpad of an hour and a half and the Waterland route of three hours.
Can you eat after a bike ride in Broek in Waterland?
Yes. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday: coffee, lunch and dinner. Book a table, especially at the weekend.
Cycle, sail, get lost, come back.
Every route begins & ends at our door.
You come back with wind in your ears and mud on your calves. In the restaurant there's coffee to our own recipe, fresh bread and soup that changes with the season. Lean your bike against the façade, take a seat, and tell us what you saw.
Book a table ahead. Especially at the weekend.