kanoroute Westzaan

A round trip passing Zaandam and Zaandijk of 16 km. (GPS-track). No portages.

No kayak rentals.

To the starting point:

Follow the N264 along the canal Nauernasche Vaart to the south. Turn left at the roundabout and then turn right into the village. Then take the first street to the right and then left again. You´re in the Torenstraat now and the starting point is at the canal on your right. There is limited parking space. If required, you can park further down the block.

Alternative starting point at the end of the Guispad.

At this starting point there is plenty of parking space along the road.
From Amsterdam: Leave the A8 at the Westerkoog exit (3) and turn left. At the roundabout turn right. In the bend to the left, you turn right on the dead-end road. Past the windmill there is a boat ramp and a kayak pier at the end.
From the N246 you pass Westzaan in the direction Westerkoog, and in the bend to the right you turn left on the dead-end road.

Round trip of 16 km. (GPS-track).

At the end of the canal you turn left. At the T-junction you turn right on the Weelsloot and then left again. You pass under the high-voltage lines at the side-canal Vaarsloot. A little further you pass the side-canal Veerzagersloot. There is a sign on the corner. In the distance you see a windmill. It is a replica of De Veldmuis, built in 2020. The mill is privately owned and it generates electricity.
A little further you can turn right for a visit of the lake Groote Braak. There's no kayak pier or any possebility to go on the side. You follow the bend on the left. You come at a small lake where you can go on the side at the low sides around the schoolhouse. You follwow the canal to the right. After a bend to the left you pass a pumping station. The canal to the right leads to the locks to the Noordzeekanaal. Portage is not possible. You're on the Dijksloot now, and a little further you can turn left. Take the first side-canal to the right. It leads towards the high buildings of Zaandam. When you enter the built-up area you take the second canal to the right. Then you turn right again, and the left. At the end of the canal you return on the Dijksloot where you turn left. You pass the train-station of Zaandam. You keep following the canal along the railway. The first side-canal to the left is closed with a beam. At the T-junction a little further you turn left on the Mallegatsloot. There is a small kayak-pier on the left at the scouting. There's a gate behind it, so there's little room. At the end of the canal you turn right at the T-junction. When you see the large windmill Het Prinsenhof you turn left on De Weelsloot. You pass the mill and after a bridge you turn right twice to return to the starting-point.