The Northeast Polder has a very varied landscape. With the Schokland - Wellerwaard cycle route, you will catch some of its beautiful aspects. You start on Schokland, the former island in the Zuiderzee that still stands out above the rest of the landscape with visible island contours. Part of the route goes through the beautiful Schokker forest, which is also home to visitor centre De Gesteentetuin.
You then set course towards Emmeloord, the only city in the Northeast Polder. But wait, it's not just buildings you cycle past, as the route also goes along the wide Lemstervaart canal and partly through the beautiful Emmelerbos. Just north of the city, the landscape changes again: you now cycle through a recreation and nature area, where in addition to cycling it is also great for walking, swimming and picnicking.
Our ti…
The Northeast Polder has a very varied landscape. With the Schokland - Wellerwaard cycle route, you will catch some of its beautiful aspects. You start on Schokland, the former island in the Zuiderzee that still stands out above the rest of the landscape with visible island contours. Part of the route goes through the beautiful Schokker forest, which is also home to visitor centre De Gesteentetuin.
You then set course towards Emmeloord, the only city in the Northeast Polder. But wait, it's not just buildings you cycle past, as the route also goes along the wide Lemstervaart canal and partly through the beautiful Emmelerbos. Just north of the city, the landscape changes again: you now cycle through a recreation and nature area, where in addition to cycling it is also great for walking, swimming and picnicking.
Our tip for a culinary stopover: restaurant Bij Ons in the Wellerwaard, where you can have drinks, lunch and dinner. The concept of their menu is ‘small, but lots’: the soups, sandwiches and mini salads are made to be combined, so you can taste various dishes.
If you don't have your own bike (with you), you can grab an E-bike at the bike hub at Schokland and return it to the bike hub at Bij Ons. Note: no buses run here, so you will have to order a taxi or walk to the bus stop ‘Het Waterland’ 4 kilometres away to return by public transport to Schokland (if you parked your car there) or to your home town. For info on public transport, check 9292.nl/traveladvice.
Do you have your own bike and want to cycle off that lunch? Or would you rather return your shared bike to Schokland? Then continue your route back to Schokland, this time viewing Emmeloord from the ring road that surrounds it. This will give you the best idea of how big this town is. Moreover, this way you are led past new views and sights. These include cycling past the allotment complex and Park West, a beautiful wooded park where many people jog and walk their dogs.
If you follow complete route, you make another beautiful drive along the Urkervaart canal to the village of Tollebeek, after which you turn off to the famous flat-roofed village of Nagele. But you can also opt for the shortened route, continuing straight on after junction 18, following Hannie Schaftweg, passing under the A6 and then to junction 13, which you also passed on the way there. This shortened route is 5 kilometres shorter than the complete route.
In both cases, you end up back at Museum Schokland via a slightly different route across Schokland, which is also well worth a visit. So if you still have time, check out the permanent exhibition of archaeological finds from the area and any temporary exhibition. Depending on what time it is then, you can stop by the museum restaurant before six for a snack and drink before heading home again.
