Bike tour through Schulpvaart – with guided tour along old waterways | Sunday, June 14, 2026

Those familiar with Castricum today primarily see dunes, villages, and roads. But those who cycle along the Schulpvaart Canal discover that water once shaped everything here. On Sunday, June 14, 2026, the Oer-IJ Foundation is organizing a cycling tour along the old waterways of the Oer-IJ towards the North Sea. These waterways not only shaped the landscape but also the origins of Castricum.

On this tour, you'll cycle past places where settlements arose and mills, fires, and ships were used. Along the way, the guides will explain how water was both friend and foe here – and why many traces in the landscape still bear witness to this past.

The route passes by, among other things, the Molendijk, the Nesse river with the Brakersdijk, and the lime kilns in Bakkum. Not as separate stories, but as a single, cohesive landscape that slowly took shape.

Practical information

• Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026

• Start: 1:00 PM

• Duration: approx. 2.5 hours

• Starting point: Duin & Bosch Estate – The Old Kitchen, Oude Parklaan 117, Castricum

• Cost: €5 per person

• Registration and current information can be found on the Oer-IJ Foundation website: https://www.oerij.eu/bewoners-en-bezoekers/ontdek-het-gebied/op-pad-met-een-gids/fietsexcursie-schulpvaart/

Five facts about the Schulpvaart and its surroundings

1. The water once flowed here towards the sea.

   The waterways along this route were part of the Oer IJ system, which connected Castricum to the North Sea. What appears peaceful today was once a dynamic network of flowing waters.

2. The Molendijk was more than just a dike.

   Along this dike was a grain mill that was crucial to the local economy. Water management and food supply were closely linked here.

3. The Nesse was a strategic location

   This higher-lying area offered protection from the water and space to live. It is therefore no coincidence that people settled here very early on.

4. Lime kilns permanently altered the landscape.

   In Bakkum, shell limestone was burned for construction purposes. The industry left visible and invisible traces in the landscape, which are still recognizable today.

5. They cycle through a landscape that was never "finished".

   Water, people, and the economy have influenced each other here for centuries. This bike tour shows how this process is still visible layer by layer today.

This event is part of the Uitgeest events calendar. You can find the full events calendar at https://www.boutiquestay.nl/uitagenda