Westeinderplassen

The Westeinderplassen is a large lake complex south of Aalsmeer — about 1,400 hectares of open water, reed beds, and small islands, with the towers of Schiphol airport visible in the distance to the north. It is a popular spot for sailing, windsurfing, and summer swimming, with several waterside restaurants and campsites along its shores.

The lakes are reached easily by bicycle from the centre of Aalsmeer, following the well-signed cycling routes through the polder landscape. In summer the water is busy with sailing boats and kayakers; in winter the reed beds fill with ducks, coots, and occasionally large flocks of geese. The stretch of water closest to the Aalsmeer centre has a public beach, Strandje Westeinde, that is pleasant on a warm summer day.

things to do sight
A story
The Westeinderplassen lakes were not always there. Until the late 19th century, this was peat bog that had been mined for fuel since the Middle Ages. The mining left a landscape of narrow strips of land interspersed with ever-widening water channels. Eventually the strips were inundated entirely, creating the sprawling lake complex that exists today — a reminder that much of the Netherlands is essentially engineered, for better or worse.

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