Noord-Scharwoude is primarily known for its bed race: a village spectacle in which you run a race while pushing your partner along in a bed on wheels. For anyone who has never seen this phenomena before it is an exceptionally funny sight. The history of Noord-Scharwoude (municipality of Langedijk) is equally as unique. People lived on Langedijk for centuries in this marshy area. The area was known for its ‘Realm of a Thousand Islands’: the inhabitants developed the morass into a fertile realm of islands by digging canals. The farmers used the sludge to raise the level of areas of land in the fields and tilled, sowed and harvested it with their bare hands. Each gardener farmed 7 islands, which could only be reached by boat!
Near Museum Broeker Veiling, the oldest sail-through vegetable auction in the world, you can hire a boat and sail through to the last remaining part of the Realm of a Thousand Islands. Cycling is also great in Noord-Scharwoude: from intersection 91 take the cycle path to Geestmerambacht nature and recreation area. Here you will find cycle and hiking paths, a swimming lake with beaches and reed banks, a restaurant and the large camping-cum-chalet park Molengroet. Every year, the Indian Summer Festival, featuring big names like Anouk, Ilse de Lange and Kane, is organised beside this recreation area. Do you feel like taking a warm dive? Noord-Scharwoude has indoor swimming pool Duikerdel with wonderful warm water and a slide!
Tip! At Kramers Zuurkool you can purchase a traditional tub of organic sauerkraut. A genuine regional product.