The Schermer
The Schermer windmills
In the Land of Leeghwater, there were a lot of windmills which pumped water out of the large lakes. Today we live and work on this fertile land, which in some places lies at 4 metres (12 feet) below sea level. These former lakes are called reclaimed land (or, in Dutch: droogmakerij). The windmills on the reclaimed land of the Schermer worked so well that people here switched to pumping-stations for controlling water levels much later than anywhere else. That is why so many windmills have been preserved up to today.
Visiting De Museummolen (The Museum Windmill) at Schermerhorn is a special experience. Here you can see how the mill was constructed and how people used to live in it. From the top of the mill there is a spectacular view. You can also feel and hear the windmill shake and squeak when the wind catches the wings and the mill moves the water.
North from the Museum Windmill is the Museumgemaal (Museum Pumping-station) Wilhelmina. This pumping-station took over the job of more than ten windmills between1928 and 1995.
Apart from windmills for pumping water, the Land of Leeghwater also had windmills for milling grain, such as the De Otter mill in Oterleek, and De Nachtegaal north of Middenbeemster.
For more information about the mills see Schermer Molens.
Along the Schermer Molens and through the Schermer there are various walking- and bikingroutes. At the VVV De Rijp and the Museummolen leaflets, books and maps are available.
The tourist office is situated in the weighing house:
De Waag
Kleine Dam 1
1483 BJ De Rijp
Telephone: +31 (02)99-671979
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
During the winter you can only reach us by e-mail.
Openinghours 2022
During the Midwinterfair: Saturday 10th of December between 11:00 and 22:00 hours and Sunday 11th December between 11:00 and 18:00 hour.
Openinghours 2023:
Every day from 1st of April till 30th of september: 12.00-15.00 hours (except 11th of September till 18th of September included, due to the fair in the town)
October: Sundays 1st, 8th and 15th and Saturday 7th: 12.00-15.00 hours;
During the autumn (school) holidays: from 14th till 29th of october 12.00-15.00 hours.
Travel to De Rijp from Amsterdam
De Rijp is an easy 45-minute trip from Amsterdam. Busline 305 travels to De Rijp twice an hour. Look out for the bus on the river side of Amsterdam Central Station.
Take advantage of the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket which offers unlimited travel on buses, trams, trains and metros in the Amsterdam Area for 24 hours for: 1 day - € 19.50, 2 days - € 28.00, 3 days - € 36.50.