IJsselmeer

The IJsselmeer is a large inland lake in the central Netherlands created when the Afsluitdijk closed off the Zuiderzee in 1932, converting a salt bay into a freshwater lake. It now covers roughly a thousand square kilometres and is a major Dutch water-management and recreational area.

Sailing, windsurfing and day trips to historic harbour towns are among the most common activities. The lake is shallow and wide, with popular launch points and marinas in towns such as Enkhuizen, Hoorn and Volendam; cycling and birdwatching along the surrounding polders are also common. Schokland, an island-turned-polder on the lake’s edge, is a UNESCO site and a notable low-profile attraction.

The major engineering project that created the IJsselmeer - the Zuiderzee Works - was driven by flood control, land reclamation and freshwater supply. The Afsluitdijk was completed in 1932; subsequent polders and polder cities were created in the mid-20th century to expand agricultural land and settle reclaimed areas.

Geographically the lake sits in the central Netherlands between the provinces of North Holland, Flevoland and Friesland. The River IJssel feeds into the lake from the east and several historic towns line its shores; the Afsluitdijk forms the northwestern boundary to the Wadden Sea and North Sea coast.

• Afsluitdijk viewpoint: Crossing the Afsluitdijk gives panoramic views of the lake and is one of the easiest ways to experience the scale of the water body.
• Seasonal use: Best months for sailing and swimming are late spring to early autumn, when water and weather conditions are mild.

What to See #

• Afsluitdijk: A 32-kilometre dam built between 1927 and 1932 that closed off the former Zuiderzee and separates the lake from the Wadden Sea; it is an important viewpoint and transport link.
• Enkhuizen: Historic harbour town on the lake's southern shore with a preserved VOC-era harbour and maritime museum that serve as access points for boat trips.
• Marken: Former island now connected to the mainland by causeways, noted for its wooden houses and fishing-harbour character; popular for day trips and cycling.
• Schokland: Formerly submerged island and peatland that became dryland after poldering; designated a UNESCO cultural landscape for its evidence of land-reclamation history.
• Lelystad: Planned city on the lake's edge established in the 1960s as part of land-reclamation works; serves as an administrative and service centre for the region.