Round trip in Alkmaar Noord (Huiswaard) and a small detour through the center of Alkmaar 18.4 km. One portage.
Kayak rentals:
- In the center of Alkmaar: De Kraak, Verdronkenoord 54, Alkmaar. Tel.: 072-5125840.
- During the summer also from Poldermuseum Heerhugowaard.
Starting point at the canal Hoornse Vaart:
At the rear of the car park at Tennis Club "De Zes Wielen", Hertog Aalbrechtweg, Alkmaar Noord.From the beltway (Ring) N508 you take the exit Hoornse Vaart / P Station-Noord. Then you turn left on the Hertog Aalbrechtweg. The Tennis Club is a little further on your left. At the end of the car park on the right you'll find the portage place from the Hoornse Vaart to the canal. There are kayak piers on both sides.
In case of events the car park may be closed. Then you can start a little further east along the Hoornse Vaart. In that case you have two portages.
From the beltway (Ring) N508 you exit at the traffic lights in the direction Oudorp. Just before the bridge you turn right. There is a free car park on your right and you'll find a kayak pier at the canal. From here you head west and portage a little further to the right.
Round trip of 18.4 km. (GPS-track)
From the starting point at the tennis club you head west on the Hoornse Vaart. When you come at the T-junction of the Noordhollands Kanaal you turn left for a short detour through the city center. After a bend to the right you pass a footferry. A little further the main canal makes a bend to the left, but here you turn right passed the former excise tower Accijnstoren. After a bend to the right you pass the weightower where in the summer a cheese-market is held (Fridays). You turn left on the Noordhollands Kanaal. At the police station you turn right and follow the canal to the north. A 100 meters before the wooden ponton bridge there is a kayak pier on the right. There is a sign "43,4" on the kayak pier. Here you portage to Alkmaar-Noord. Turn left and keep left passed the cornmill De Gouden Engel and the clocktower with the black church. After a sharp bend to the right the canal makes a wide bend to the left. In this bend you turn right. At the next intersection you turn left. After a 180 degree bend to the right the canal makes a 180 degree bend to the left. A side-canal leads to the lake Oudieplas. Back on the route you turn left on the straight canal Molentocht. There is a mooring place on your left. There is a bench and a playground. Continue north and at the end of the canal you turn right. You pass a small lake with a footbridge that goes in three directions. From here you keep going left. There are a few low culverts you have to pass through. One of them goes under the highway N245 and this one is quite long. At the end of the canal you return at the starting place.You can find more information about Alkmaar on the page Alkmaar.
For a trip around the polder Bergermeer visit the page Bergermeer.
GPS:
Tennisclub "De Zes Wielen" N. 52.6420 E. 4.7671
Hoornse Vaart N. 52.6402 E. 4.7741
Downloadable GPS-track (18.4 km): AlkmaarNoord.gpx.
Accijnstoren, built in 1622.
Waag.
Police station.
N245 across the Huiswaarderbrug.
Portage to the Noordhollands Kanaal.
Ponton bridge across Noordhollands Kanaal. If you want to navigate towards Schoorldam you need to pass this bridge.
On both sides there are double girders where you have to pull the kayak across.
Further to the north is the ponton bridge Rekere Vlotbrug. The passage under the access ramp is blocked.
The bridge will be opened after camera detection. If necessary call 072-5117135.
Cornmill "De Gouden Engel". The mill and shop are
open for public on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Next to the mill is restaurant
De Molenschuur.
Cornmill "Gouden Engel".
Clock tower and Black Church of Koedijk along the bike road Daalmeerpad.
Clock tower and Black Church of Koedijk along the bike road Daalmeerpad.
The church now houses a spiritual center:
Het Maanhuis.
Lake Oudieplas.
Molentocht.
Driesprongbrug.
