The beautiful rural village of Spijkerboor is situated both on the expansive Starnmeer Polder and nearby the Jisper- and Wormerveld. In the largest area of uninterrupted fenland meadow in Europe, you can take a canoe or electric boat past reeds and hundred of fenland islands. Various cycling and walking trips are also available, such as a tour of the Schaalsmeer Polder. The area is teeming with grassland birds. Once you are back in Spijkerboor, have a seat on the terrace at restaurant 't Heerenhuis. You can also moor your own boat here. If you are cycling, take the Jan Hop ferry, named after the legendary ferryman Jan Hop who ferried people across the water in his rowing boat and had birds eat out of his hand. Once you have crossed, you can continue straight on to famous Fort Spijkerboor. This fort was the most important fort on the northern front of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. The highly strategic dikes around the Beemsterringvaart and the North Holland Canal were defended from here. The Dutch Nature Conservation Foundation has mapped out a fabulous nature walk around the fort, outside the moat. The beautiful little town of De Rijp and World Heritage Site De Beemster can also be found near the fort.