Broek in Waterland: the prettiest village near Amsterdam
Ten kilometres north of Amsterdam sits a village so tidy that it once amazed an emperor. Broek in Waterland was among the richest places in Holland, and its painted wooden houses and mirror-still water still make it one of the loveliest short trips from the city.
Broek in Waterland rarely makes the coach-tour itineraries, which is exactly why it is worth going. There is no herring stall and no costume photo booth. Instead there is a quiet lake, a green-painted church, and street after street of timber houses that look almost too neat to be real.
Once one of the richest villages in Holland
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Broek was home to wealthy sea captains and merchants who grew rich from trade and whaling. They spent that money on their houses, painting the wood in soft greys and greens that became known as "Broeker" colours, and they kept the village famously, almost obsessively, clean. Stories spread across Europe that the streets of Broek were so spotless you were asked to leave your shoes at the edge of the village.
The village Napoleon came to see
One of those stories involves Napoleon, who is said to have visited in 1811 and remarked on the extraordinary cleanliness of the place. Whether every detail is true or polished by retelling, the reputation stuck: Broek became a byword for Dutch tidiness, and travellers detoured here just to see it for themselves.
What to see in Broek in Waterland
- The Havenrak, the central lake, with wooden houses reflected in the still water. It is the postcard view of the village.
- The wooden houses, painted in the pale greys and greens the village is known for, many with ornamental front gardens once used only for special occasions.
- The Broeker Kerk, the reformed church at the heart of the old village.
- The narrow lanes behind the water, best explored slowly and on foot.
How to get to Broek in Waterland from Amsterdam
Broek is one of the easiest trips of all: bus 315 from Amsterdam Centraal, the same line that continues to Monnickendam and Marken, reaches Broek in Waterland in around 20 minutes. Cyclists can ride out through Amsterdam Noord in about half an hour. Because it sits on the way to Marken, Broek is easy to combine with a longer day in Waterland.
Make it part of a Waterland walk
Broek pairs beautifully with nearby Monnickendam, a Golden Age harbour town just up the road with the oldest working carillon in the world. Read about the Speeltoren and its carillon, walk the Discover Monnickendam tour, and let the free app tell you the stories of each street as you arrive. New to the area? Start with the best audio walking tours in Waterland.