The best place for hot summer days is of course on or near the water! The Jagersplas, the Twiske and the many outdoor cafés along the Zaan: the Zaan region is also the place to be this summer!

Watersports and birds: the Wormer- and Jisperveld

In the north of the Zaan region lies the Wormer- and Jisperveld. In this peat meadow area, you will find shallow ditches, vast meadows and hundreds of islands. Did you know that this is one of the most important bird areas in Europe? Almost all meadow birds found in the Netherlands breed here. So a paradise for birdwatchers but also a very nice place for refreshing summer activities on the water. If you want to explore the field, I would like to tip you on these addresses!

Romping around with water

Nothing more fun than messing about with water on a hot day! At the water playground at Bezoekerscentrum de Poelboerderij in Wormer, you can be sure children will have hours of fun with the boats, filling buckets and operating the crane on the unloading dock. There are picnic tables and during the de Poelboerderij 's opening hours you can go there for coffee, tea, something soft or an ice cream. A great place, then, for adults too! A nice bonus is that while splashing and splashing around, children get a picture of water management in the area in a playful way. Entry to the water playground is free. Nice to know, the de Poelboerderij is also the place to celebrate children's parties.

Canoeing, supping and pedal boating in Wormer

At one of the most beautiful spots in Wormer, on the Poel, you can rent kayaks, canoes, SUP boards and even pedalos from kanocentrum Arjan Bloem . The canoe centre is the starting point of a canoe route network with numerous canoe routes for young and old and every level of experience through the narrow ditches of the Wormer- and Jisperveld. Bring a picnic basket and go! Of course, you can also swim in the Zwet.

Delicious food at the Hofjes

You can relax after your cruise through the maze of ditches in the Wormer- and Jisperveld on the cosy terrace of restaurant de Hofjes, located next to the canoe centre. From here you have a wide and beautiful view over the Poel, 't Zwet and the Wormer- and Jisperveld. Of course, you can also get to the restaurant in style, by boat. There is a jetty where you can moor. From the Zaan, the restaurant can be reached via the Poelsluis lock. Also handy: next to the restaurant is a charging point for e-bikes.

Boating, drinking tea... in Jisp

In the middle of the Wormer- and Jisperveld lies the village of Jisp. De Zwethoeve in Jisp is the farm of the Prague family and the starting point for a beautiful rowing or canoeing trip through the Wormer- and Jisperveld. The family has been hiring out rowing boats and canoes here for forty years, and the cows are still taken to the fields by boat every spring. Farmer Piet sails his pram into the field every morning and evening to milk. As if time has stood still. Have you set sail? On the terrace of restaurant de Lepelaar you can end a summer day with a nice drink and snack.

Discovering even more Zaanstreek by water

For everyone who likes to explore the Zaan region from the water, there is the 'Ervaar de Zaanstreek' magazine. The magazine contains tips for the best terraces by the water, events on and along the Zaan, as well as a handy overview of bridge and lock times and a detachable navigation map. The magazine is free and can be picked up at nautical shops such as Dekker Watersport, water sports clubs, marinas, locks, catering establishments and B&Bs on the waterfront in the Zaan region. You can browse digitally via www.ervaardezaanstreek.nl.