Houseboat rental Driehuizen - 1 houseboat

Where Time Slows Down: Wake Up to Water in a Village Called "Three Houses"

Imagine waking up with gentle ripples beneath you, surrounded by open polder landscapes, historic windmills on the horizon, and the calls of rare wetland birds. Welcome to Driehuizen, a tiny village in North Holland that most tourists have never heard of, but that locals call the "Jewel in the Green." This is your chance to experience authentic Dutch countryside life from a permanently moored houseboat, far from the crowds of Amsterdam yet close enough for day trips.

A Hidden Speck on the Map with a Giant History

Driehuizen is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland, part of the municipality of Alkmaar, lying about 8 km south of the city. The name literally means "Three Houses" and was first mentioned in 1639. The village developed on the former island of Schermereiland, once surrounded by vast lakes that were drained during the Golden Age. Today, Driehuizen has only around 28 houses and approximately 230 inhabitants, making it one of the smallest and most peaceful destinations in the region.

This authentic North Holland village is located right in the De Eilandspolder nature reserve, where visitors can enjoy peace, open water, wide views, and countless opportunities for cycling, walking, and boating. The area sits at a meeting point of historic polders that were reclaimed from water over 400 years ago.

Your Floating Base in a Protected Nature Reserve

Houseboats in the Netherlands, and especially in rural areas like Driehuizen, are typically permanently moored along canals or waterways. Unlike American-style houseboats on large lakes, Dutch houseboats are stationary floating accommodations. This means you will stay in one picturesque location, with the water gently moving beneath you while ducks, geese, and boats pass by. Your houseboat serves as a peaceful retreat rather than a vessel to navigate.

The stillness of a moored houseboat in Driehuizen offers something special: an uninterrupted connection with nature and the surrounding polder landscape. From your deck, you can observe the Eilandspolder's remarkable bird life or simply watch the clouds drift across the endless Dutch sky.

Why Driehuizen Deserves a Spot on Your Travel List

Escape the Tourist Trail

While Amsterdam's houseboats are famous, Driehuizen offers something entirely different. Here, you are surrounded by authentic Dutch countryside rather than busy canals. The village is so small and quiet that you will feel like you have stepped back in time, yet Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is only approximately 40 km away, making Driehuizen highly accessible for international travelers.

A Gateway to UNESCO World Heritage

The nearby Beemster Polder, located just a short distance away, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1999. It is the first polder in the Netherlands reclaimed from a lake, with water extracted by windmills between 1609 and 1612. The original well-ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, and dykes has been preserved intact, representing a masterpiece of creative planning where the ideals of antiquity and the Renaissance were applied to the design of a reclaimed landscape.

Birdwatcher's Paradise

The Eilandspolder is a protected nature reserve with an area of 1950 hectares, and a quarter of it consists of water. The entire Eilandspolder is rich in meadow birds, such as Common Redshank, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Eurasian Oystercatcher, and Black-tailed Godwit. In spring, you will find rare marsh birds such as the bittern and reed warbler in the reedbeds. The spoonbill is also a welcome guest in spring, while in winter months, wigeon and teal feel completely at home here.

Proximity Without the Crowds

Cities such as Alkmaar, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Hoorn, Volendam and nice coastal towns like Egmond and Bergen are easily accessible from Driehuizen. You get the best of both worlds: rural tranquility as your home base with urban attractions within reach for day trips.

Five Surprising Things to Do Near Your Houseboat

1. Glide Through the Polder by Whisper Boat
   In Driehuizen, you can rent whisper boats during the season at Cafe-Restaurant de Vriendschap. These silent electric boats allow you to explore the maze of ditches, lakes, and waterways of the Eilandspolder without disturbing the wildlife. Cycling and walking paths run along the dikes around and through the area, and there is also a bird hide for serious birdwatchers.
2. Meet the First European in Korea
   Just a few kilometers away in De Rijp, discover the curious story of Jan Janszoon Weltevree, a local man who was the first European to arrive in Korea with the VOC (Dutch East India Company). He became an advisor to the king and is known in Korea by the name Pak Yon. The town honours him with a modern statue made entirely from recycled materials.
3. Step Inside a Museum Mill at Schermerhorn
   Visit one of the eleven preserved polder mills in the Schermer area. The Museum Mill in Schermerhorn features a glass floor that allows you to see how a polder mill works from the inside. The Schermer was drained between 1633 and 1635 using 52 windmills, and 11 of those original mills have been preserved, standing statuesque in the landscape.
4. Taste History at De Rijp's Golden Age Village
   The historic village of De Rijp flourished during the Dutch Golden Age and played a significant role in the herring fishing industry. Its well-maintained historic core is recognized as a protected village view, providing a glimpse into the prosperity of 17th-century Netherlands. Do not miss the Museum In 't Houten Huis, housed in one of the oldest wooden houses of North Holland, where you can learn about the village's whaling and herring history.
5. Attend the World-Famous Alkmaar Cheese Market
   The Alkmaar Cheese Market is the oldest, biggest, and most famous cheese market in the Netherlands. From the last Friday in March to the last Friday in September, every Friday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, the Waagplein transforms into a hive of activity with cheese carriers in traditional costumes transporting wheels of Gouda. The cheese market has been a part of Alkmaar for over 400 years and takes place just 8-10 km from Driehuizen.

When Water and Land Tell Stories

The Land That Was Once Sea

The area around Driehuizen has a fascinating history. The Schermer was centuries ago still one large lake. After the draining of the Beemster and the Purmer, in 1633 the Schermermeer was next. The depth and size of the lake presented a great challenge, but with the help of 52 water mills, the reclaimers managed to drain the lake within two years.

Driehuizen itself arose at the edges of this former island during the reclamation of the surrounding lands. In 1603, the first three houses appeared on the edge of the Schermereiland and the extensive Schermeer lake. The village emerged on the dikes of the Buitenmaden alongside West- and Oost-Graftdijk.

The Genius of Jan Leeghwater

The Land of Leeghwater, as the region is known, was named after Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater (1575-1650), a famous Dutch hydraulics engineer from the Golden Age. Born in nearby De Rijp, this brilliant mill builder and engineer ran the project to drain the Beemster and even designed the town hall of De Rijp, built in 1630.

Practical Information for Your Houseboat Holiday

Getting There

Driehuizen is easily accessible despite its rural location. The nearest airport is Amsterdam Schiphol, approximately 40 km away. From Amsterdam, you can reach the area by bus. Bus line 305 travels to nearby De Rijp twice an hour from Amsterdam Central Station, taking about 45 minutes. Cities such as Alkmaar are about 10 km away and offer train connections to the rest of the Netherlands.

Best Time to Visit

Each season offers unique experiences in Driehuizen:

• Spring (April-May): Meadow birds are nesting, tulip fields are in bloom in the nearby Beemster, and the landscape bursts with color.
• Summer (June-August): Perfect for boat trips on the Eilandspolder, outdoor dining, and the famous Friday cheese markets in Alkmaar.
• Autumn (September-October): Migratory birds arrive, the crowds thin out, and the polder takes on golden hues.
• Winter (November-March): If canals freeze, locals go ice skating on the Eilandspolder. Cafe de Vriendschap becomes a gathering place for skaters, continuing a tradition that goes back generations.

Your Village Hangout

Cafe-Restaurant De Vriendschap is a welcoming establishment located in the heart of Driehuizen, with a large garden terrace overlooking the water with a stunning view of the Eilandspolder. The restaurant has been known for years for its delicious pancakes and offers opportunities to rent boats, enjoy barbecues, or simply have coffee while soaking in the views. It has been a gathering place for locals for generations.

More Than Just a Place to Sleep

A houseboat stay in Driehuizen is not about luxury amenities or five-star service. It is about waking up surrounded by one of the most unique landscapes in Europe, where humans have shaped the water and land for centuries. It is about watching the sunset paint the sky pink over endless meadows, hearing nothing but birds and the gentle lap of water against your temporary home.

Whether you are coming from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, or Australia, Driehuizen offers an authentic Dutch experience that few tourists ever discover. This is the Netherlands as the Dutch know it, quiet polder villages, historic windmills, endless skies, and the constant presence of water.

Book a houseboat now and trade the noise of the city for the peace of the polder. Driehuizen is waiting to share its secrets with those willing to slow down and listen.