Walk on the old seabed around Marquette Castle
Once a branch of the Rhine flowed here. Today, you'll walk past a castle, along an old riverbank, and among plants reminiscent of salty tidal water. At Ommetje Marquette , you'll discover how the landscape around Heemskerk and Castricum was shaped by the Oer-IJ River—and what remains of it today.
This cultural and historical walk takes you in about 1.5 to 2 hours along quiet paths around the Marquette Castle , which is located in a historic site in the middle of a former river mouth.
What makes this walk so special?
Until around the beginning of the Christian era, a branch of the Rhine flowed through this area—between Zaanstad, Velsen, and Alkmaar. At high tide, the saltwater penetrated deep inland. Traces of this ancient tidal effect are still visible today in the soil, plants, and the surrounding environment. For example, salt-loving species still grow around Marquette—a silent witness to this special past.
Practical information:
Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
Start: 10:30 a.m.
Starting point: at the end of the parking lot to the right of the entrance gate of Marquette Castle
Duration: ± 1.5 to 2 hours
Distance: approx. 2.5 km
Cost: €5.00 per person
Registration: via info@oerij.eu
Max. number of participants: 15
You can recognize the guide by the green Oer-IJ clothing
Additional fun : If Chateau Marquette is open, we will end the walk at the estate's atmospheric "harbor."
See you at the Oer-IJ Ommetje Marquette! More information: www.oerij.eu