View of Gouwzee from Monnickendam

Nice quiet place. Great bike trails. A lot of nature.
The Gouwzee is the body of water between the mainland of Waterland and Marken, a former island, now a peninsula, which has been connected to the mainland by a causeway since 1957.
Next to Marken are the town of Monnickendam and the village of Volendam on the Gouwzee.
The Gouwzee is characterized by shallow and clear water. It is part of the Markermeer nature reserve. Therefore, nature conservation laws such as the Birds and Habitats Directives apply to the Gouwzee. In late summer many crowned ducks gather in the Gouwzee to prepare for autumn migration.
The water is popular with water sports enthusiasts such as sailors and surfers.

The monumental town of Monnickendam lost its oldest buildings in 3 city fires between 1499 and 1515. Only the play tower, which now houses the Waterlands Museum about the city, has survived all times.There are more traces of the heyday after 1575. Thanks to the scouring water from the Purmer Ee river, the harbor was accessible to what were then large ships. There was a lively trade with the Baltic Sea countries.However, after the closure of the Purmer Ee at the end of the 17th century, the port silted up and international trade came to an end. However, there continued to be trade with Amsterdam via a newly dug canal.Every year during the Monnickendammer Fishing Days you can revive fish smoking and other craft professions from a special time.