"Nieuwkoop, watersport and nature" Nieuwkoop by tompt

Nieuwkoop Travel Guide: 29 reviews and 113 photos

Nieuwkoop is a relative small village in the north east part of the province Zuid-Holland. It is the most touristic place in our neighbourhood. Mainly because of their magnificant nature in the form of the Nieuwkoopse Plassen.
Originally it was a moor, but with the mining of peat the lakes (Plassen)cames. The lakes where much bigger and stretched from Nieuwkoop to Zevenhoven, Aarlanderveen and Ter Aar. It was good for fishery but dangerous for the villages that were on the waters edge. It was decided to make the land dry. This was done by milling, (see our Aarlanderveen page to read more) and precious agricultural land emerged. The remaing water became a nature reserve many years later.

Nieuwkoop, watersport and nature - Nieuwkoop

Nieuwkoop celebrated its 700 year aniversairy in 1982, because at that time it was generally excepted that in a written piece of 1282, by the hand of count Floris V, Nieuwkoop was mentioned for the first time. But after that they found an other document dated 1270 in which the taxes of Nieuwkoop (being an amount of grane) where given to Adelheid ( a noble woman) for her wedding. So it is now twelve years shorter to the next centennial...
There are some monumental buildings left in Nieuwkoop, but none of 700 years ago. The oldest remaining house is located in the dorpsstraat and is built in 1609.
The most outstanding, is the tower of the former Hoge Huis (high house, a government building), it dates from 1627. Across the street from it is the Regthuys. The place where justice was spoken is dating back to 1628.

shield of Nieuwkoop

The official shield of Nieuwkoop was registered by the High Council of Nobility in 1816. The colors are red and yellow, the same colors as the shield of the counts of Holland. This is maybe to symbolise the bond with Holland although Nieuwkoop was, in the early days, part of the episcopate Utrecht.
There are three crosses in the shield, many places in the Netherlands have three crosses, the most famous being the three Amsterdam crosses.
On the broken wheel are two theories. The first (and nicest) is a legend about a group of gypsies. They toured the neighbourhood and one of their wagonwheels broke at Nieuwkoop. They had to buy a new one (in old dutch: 'niewe cope'). It is told they stayed here and named the place Niewecope which is now Nieuwkoop. It is well known this cannot be true..
Because the name came from cope, which was a piece of agricultural land, and niew meaning new.
Another theory builds on the connection between Nieuwkoop and St. Catharina. A broken wheel is her
symbol: according to legend she was pinned to a wheel because of her christian believes. Her strong
believes made the wheel brake. St. Catharina is also connected to the city Utrecht, Nieuwkoop was
under this episcopate churchwise. But as far as known Nieuwkoop is churchwise bound to Holy Mary.
No proove for this story....

More info:
http://www.vvv-nieuwkoop.nl/ (in dutch)

In our general tips we have usefull adresses and telephone numbers.
Need a doctor, a dentist, police ?? find the number in our general tips.

Last visit to Nieuwkoop: Mar 2005
Intro Updated Sep 14, 2005
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Reviews (28)

Have a drink or a bite to eat - Nieuwkoop

Have a drink or a bite to eat Restaurants (3)

For a quick bite or a drink this is the place to be. It used to be an inn in the 1700's. And it became famous in the... more travel advice

See the cows on their waterbed - Nieuwkoop

See the cows on their waterbed Off The Beaten Path (2)

Although this farm is just outside Nieuwkoop, the address is actually in Zevenhoven, we put this tip here because it is... more travel advice

Walking tour through Nieuwkoop, houses Things to Do (9)

Walking around in the Dorpsstraat you will see several beatifull houses. One of those is the docters house, here in the... more travel advice

De Hollandsch Leeuw, Nieuwkoop - Nieuwkoop

Walking tour through Nieuwkoop ;... Things to Do (9)

Turn around and walk back, pass the tower and Regthuys. On your left hand you will also pass the old inn Het Vliegende... more travel advice

Sports & Outdoors (4)
See All Fishing on the Noordense Plas
Nightlife (1)
disco
Shopping (2)
See All market

Hotels (2)
See All Camping in Nieuwkoop
Favorites (4)
See All Usefull info about Nieuwkoop and its...
Transportation (1)
bus

Travelogues (5)

1 - 4 of 5

Comments (11)

BruceDunning Mar 11, 2010 at 11:42 AM Report Abuse

It looks like they take those tourists out to the "country" to see the beauty and float on by. YOu did a nice job of presenting the area and its sites.
EmmausFamily Feb 17, 2010 at 4:14 PM Report Abuse

We loved the "Flying Horseman" bar (Het Vliegende Paard). We were in Nieuwkoop for a week holiday in Feb '10. We went to this bar to watch the Olympics. It is friendly and has a great feel. The bartender spoke only a little English, but was very friendly.
Nieuwenhuizen Sep 1, 2009 at 8:33 AM Report Abuse

meanwhile the email of Nieuwenhuizen has changed into info@jannieuwenhuizen.com look at www.jannieuwenhuizen.com for more details. They will have 6 holiday appartements to rent starting in november 2009
ChiOBambi May 20, 2004 at 10:58 AM Report Abuse

Canoeing is a great way to see a place. :-)
seakayaker May 17, 2004 at 7:23 PM Report Abuse

Love the canoe pics, and sooooo very cool pages, Thanx!
tompt Mar 28, 2004 at 3:41 AM Report Abuse

That battle was at Nieuwpoort in 1600. Nieuwkoop had nothing to do with it........
Mique Mar 27, 2004 at 5:25 AM Report Abuse

Great to see so much info on Nieuwkoop. I only new it of the line "1600 slag bij Nieuwkoop"...
Pawtuxet Dec 11, 2003 at 4:01 AM Report Abuse

Love that red canoe. I'm ready for a paddle right about now...as we are still trying to melt our two feet of snow!
diamonddog Jul 25, 2003 at 6:24 AM Report Abuse

Great insider information!! i like the small canals and fish!!:-) Superb page!!
irisbe Jul 9, 2003 at 4:34 AM Report Abuse

wowww those nature pictures are so great!!! I recognize some of them when you took them on the canoe trip! It was such a great time! I will never forget it! So destressing!