Laag Holland

Laag Holland is the tourism organisation for the strip of polders, dykes and water villages north of Amsterdam, just above the North Sea Canal: Edam, Volendam, Marken, Monnickendam, Broek in Waterland, Waterland, Zeevang, Purmerend, the Beemster, Landsmeer, Oostzaan and the so-called Leeghwater country, around De Rijp. It does not sell its own excursions like an ordinary operator: it informs, publishes routes and events, and organises guided walks in its villages.

Where they serve

It has seven tourist offices spread around the region. The one in Edam is inside the old town hall, at Damplein 1, and is open every day from 11:00 to 16:00, except Mondays from November to February, 25 and 26 December and 1 January. The others are in Volendam (Zeestraat 37), Marken (Havenbuurt 19C), Monnickendam (Zuideinde 2), Purmerend (Peperstraat 35), the Beemster visitor centre, in Middenbeemster, and De Rijp (Kleine Dam 1). At all of them they provide maps of walking and cycling routes, advice and souvenirs of the area.

What it offers

The most useful thing for a traveller is the guided walks. On Saturdays there are one-hour walks through the centre of Edam and Volendam, in Dutch, for €6.50 per person. For groups, Laag Holland also organises a one-hour historical walk around Edam with a guide, in Dutch, English or German, for up to twenty people, for €105 per group, which can be requested on any day. The meeting point is the Damplein, in front of the office.

Its website also lists puzzle routes on foot and by bike, boat and sailing routes, the calendar of weekly markets and festivals, local products such as cheese, milk and smoked fish, and the natural areas of the region: the Oostzanerveld, the Ilperveld, Het Twiske, the Purmerbos or the Eilandspolder.

How to book

The Saturday walks are booked by writing to [email protected]. The private walk around Edam is requested with the form on their website, and afterwards the organisation contacts you to agree the day and time. For groups and companies it has its own section with excursion proposals.

Languages

The website is in Dutch, English, German and Spanish. The regular Saturday walks are in Dutch; the private one can be done in English or German. It does not advertise walks in Spanish.

Tips

If you are going to combine several villages in the day, any of the offices gives out maps of walking and cycling routes to get you started. Laag Holland does not publish data on the accessibility of each walk; if you are going with a wheelchair or pushchair, ask when you book.