Broek in Waterland is a village of about 2,500 people ten kilometres north of Amsterdam that traditionally kept itself immaculately clean — 18th-century travellers wrote about the streets being scrubbed with sand and the houses painted in soft pastel greys and greens. It has never really lost that. The village is a linear arrangement of painted wooden houses along a few canals with the Havenrak lake at its heart, and it is quiet, tidy, and understated in a way that feels almost stage-managed. Bus 315 from Amsterdam Centraal takes 15 minutes.
This suits people who want a picturesque Dutch village without the tour-bus intensity of Volendam. It does not suit anyone wanting attractions — Broek has essentially none, beyond the village itself, one pancake house, and access to the surrounding Waterland polder for cycling. Almost no hotels — three or four small B&Bs. Most people visit as a bike stop between Amsterdam and Volendam/Marken. Staying overnight is a specific choice for the silence.
Where to stay in Broek in Waterland
Two or three small B&Bs on Dorpsstraat and Havenrak, $100-$150. No hotels in the classic sense. If Broek is full or you want more choice, base in Volendam or Monnickendam (a proper small town 3 km east) and visit Broek as a stop. Do not stay in the newer housing on the edge of the village — you lose the whole point.
Hotels in Broek in Waterland
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Things to do in Broek in Waterland
- Wander Havenrak lakeThe central lake with painted houses reflected in it. Free, always open. This is the postcard view of Broek. Take twenty minutes, walk around the lake, take the photo, notice how quiet it is — that is the visit.
- Cheese farm SimonehoeveZeedijk 4, Katwoude (2 km east), $free entry, cheese and clog-making demonstrations, shop. Touristy but authentic — actual working farm. Bus 315 stops nearby or bike from Broek. Open 9am-5pm daily.
- Bike the Waterland poldersRent from Amsterdam side or bring by bike from Amsterdam Noord (20 min ride from IJ ferry). The polders north of Broek are classic flat Dutch dairy country with windmills and canals. Broek-Zuiderwoude-Uitdam-Marken loop is 25 km, mostly car-free.
- Pancakes at De Witte SwaenDorpsstraat, one of the two restaurants in the village. Dutch pannenkoeken $12-$16, savoury or sweet. Family-friendly. Closes 8pm. This is where visitors have lunch on a Broek day-trip.
Getting there & around
Start at the bus stop on Dorpsstraat, wander the painted houses along Havenrak and Nieuwland, around the central lake, out via Molengouw onto the polder dyke for the wide flat cows-and-canals view, back into the village through Leeteinde and De Draaipomp.
Bus 315 from Amsterdam Centraal (north side of station), every 30 minutes, 15 minutes journey, $4. Bus 316 also passes through on its way to Volendam. No train. From Schiphol, change at Amsterdam Centraal, 45 minutes. By bike from Amsterdam, take the IJ ferry to Amsterdam-Noord and ride the marked cycle path north — 45 minutes, entirely on car-free paths after the first kilometre.
Questions answered
Is Broek in Waterland worth a special trip?
As a standalone destination, not really — it is fifteen minutes to see. As a stop on a Waterland cycling day (Broek, Marken, Volendam, Edam), absolutely. As a base for one very quiet overnight in a painted wooden house, yes if that is what you want.
How do I combine Broek with Marken and Volendam?
Bus 315 from Amsterdam does Broek → Monnickendam → Marken. Bus 316 from Amsterdam does Broek → Volendam → Edam. So do a loop: 315 out to Marken (via Broek), 315 back to Monnickendam, transfer to 316 for Volendam and Edam, then 316 back to Amsterdam. Full day, one ticket if using OV-chipkaart.
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