The Ouderkerkerplas (The Lake of Ouderkerk) is a popular place for sunbathing and swimming, especially for families with children.
It is also a good lake for windsurfing and diving. Or a walk around the lake!
The Ouderkerkerplas is an important area for birds, that stay there during the winter when access to the lake is closed.
The lake, south of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, is man-made and very deep (±45 m) because its sand was used for the construction of the highway A9.
Updated Dec 11, 2007
Your kids will love Elsenhove, with its farm animals and playground.
Children can learn here in a playful way about the animals on the farm.
Every day at 16.00 they can help the farmer feed the animals.
Open (see the website for the most up-to-date info!):
Tuesday-Saturday 10.00-17.00
Sunday 14.00-17.00
Closed on Mondays and during several holidays
Updated Dec 11, 2007
Address: Bankrasweg 1, Amstelveen
Phone: +31 20 496 39 97
Website: http://www.elsenhove.nl/
About 400 years ago, many Portuguese Jews came to Amsterdam, refugees from Spain and Portugal.
In 1614, a piece of land was bought in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, that the Jews would use as a cemetery. It is the oldest Jewish cemetery in the Netherlands.
More than 27,000 people have been buried here over the years. Many graves have sinked into the peat, but some of them are still visible.
The cemetery is internationally famous for its many monumental gravestones. In the winter, the graves are covered to protect them.
Beth Haim is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Men need to wear headgear.
Updated Dec 11, 2007
On this website you find information about 3 historic walks through Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. The routes are about 2.5 km each and called Dorpsroute, Amstelzijderoute and Benningroute.
Unfortunately the website is in Dutch, but the routes are marked well and you can print the maps.
Booklets in Dutch with information about the sights are available at the famous bakery Out (Kerkstraat 1), the Historisch Museum (Kerkstraat 4-6) and bookstore Sprey (Dorpsstraat 5a).
Written Dec 11, 2007
Website: http://www.wandelingenouderkerk.nl/
At the end of the Brugstraat (Bridge street) there already used to be a bridge in 1356.
When the old bridge had to be replaced in the 16th century, there was a conflict with Amsterdam about the costs for a new bridge. Consequently, a ferry boat was used.
From 1613 on there was a bridge again, which was removed in 1939 and taken to the Open Air Museum in Arnhem.
Again, a ferry boat was used, until 1970.
Since 1995 the ferry boat is used again on Sundays and holidays (12.30-17.00 h) from April-September. Costs: 50 cents for adults, 20 cents for children.
Updated Dec 9, 2007
Website: http://www.pontje.nl/
The 50 m high Urbanus Church was consecrated in 1867 and designed by Pierre Cuypers, who also designed the Central Station and Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam.
Written Dec 9, 2007
Website: http://www.kerkenouderkerk.nl/
The New Church (Nieuwe kerk) or Amstel Church (Amstel kerk) dates back to 1775. Next to it you find the parsonage.
During the summer the church is usually open to the public on Saturdays (11.00-16.00) and Sundays (13.00-16.00).
Written Dec 9, 2007
Address: Kerkstraat 11, Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
Website: http://www.amstelkerk.net/
This small museum shows the history of important aspects of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, its inhabitants and its relation to the surrounding region, Amstelland.
In case you can read Dutch, you can buy documentation about Ouderkerk aan de Amstel in the museum, for instance a little book with 3 historic walks through the village (3.50 euro).
The museum is only open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 13.00-16.00 h.
It is a small museum, a quick visit takes less than 30 minutes.
Entrance: free!
Updated Dec 9, 2007
Address: Kerkstraat 5-8, 1191 JB Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
Phone: +31204964365 or +31204968409
Website: http://www.museumouderamstel.nl/
PRAQ is a trendy restaurant that takes kids into account:
Besides a special menu for kids up to 12 years old (served on unbreakable plates), there is a smoke-free playing room for kids where they can enjoy themselves while you are enjoying your excellent food. There even is a special room for babies, where you can change diapers or breast-feed in privacy. Especially in the weekends it is a good idea to make a reservation!
Located next to the river Amstel, they also have a terrace where you can eat with superb view.
This place used to be called De Prins (The Prince). When a bar opened in 1656 on the other side of the Amstel and called itself De Jonge Prins (The Young Prince), the name changed into De Oude Prins (The Old Prince).
However, anti-monarchists forced the owner of De Oude Prins in 1787 to change the name of his inn into Brugzicht (Bidgesight). Only in 1912, the place was called De Oude Prins again. Nowadays, the restaurant is called PRAQ.
Updated Dec 11, 2007
Address: Amstelzijde 37, Amstelveen
Phone: +31 20 496 15 70
Website: http://www.praq.nl/
Until 1656 this used to be the courthouse. The bar started in 1656 with the name De Jonge Prins (The Young Prince), referring to the inn De Prins (The Prince) at the other side of the river Amstel. De Prins was called De Oude Prins (The Old Prince) shortly thereafter.
However, anti-monarchists forced the owner of De Oude Prins in 1787 to change the name of his inn. For safety reasons, the owner of De Jonge Prins changed the name of his bar to De Vrije Handel (Free Trade).
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Dorpsstraat 7, Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
Phone: +31 20 496 12 58
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