Historic sloop route the Grote Sloot

After starting in the fascinating and touristy cheese town of Alkmaar, we sail north to Zijpersluis, the start of the Grote Sloot stretch. Although this waterway is characterized by long, straight stretches, seemingly boring, nothing could be further from the truth. Along the banks of this originally important artery, it is teeming with stately, historically significant farmhouses, mostly of the 'stolptype'. Several are now on the monument list. In this area of the Zijpe, but also in the neighboring polders, a great deal of effort was put into making this piece of the Netherlands inhabitable and navigable. Adjacent canals and other connections were used in earlier times by, for example, the trakschuit which were manned - indeed, in turn - by skippers. Of almost every characteristic building along the Grote Sloot, but also further along for example the canal from Kolhorn to Alkmaar, fascinating historical descriptions can be found about the struggle against the water, the reclamation and the development of agriculture and cattle breeding in this area, also characterized by cheese factories along the banks. Needless to say, the route boasts numerous sheltered, leafy moorings, where it is delightful to take short or long breaks during this 60-kilometer route.