Click here for an other Google-map, with location and pictures of some points of interest mentioned in this site.

The region this website deals with, the Gooi and Vecht area, is conveniently close to Amsterdam. From just a few miles east of the city.
Different landscapes and many historical objects within easy cycling range.
Ideal to explain the changes in the landscape, and the development of the people and the towns of Holland through the ages.
It's all here to see. If you know where to look...

On the satellite-picture the outskirts of Amsterdam are on the leftern side.

In the middle the winding river Vecht, and the old town of Weesp. At the top where the river flows into the former "Southern-sea" (Zuiderzee): the fortified town of Muiden and its medieval castle.

To the east, you first see a couple of lakes (natural reserve "Naardermeer") and then a star-shaped structure : the uniquely well preserved fortified town of Naarden.
Continue east and you enter drier woodland, intersected with wide plains covered with heather, and sand dunes.
On the top of the picture : the new land Flevoland. Nothing but water until the 1960s.

Holland is a pretty crowded country. But even here there still is a lot of open space and nature, as you can see.
For the time being, because here also, there are massive building programs on the drawing board ...