Ossenzijl

Ossenzijl -21 km from Giethoorn 21 minutes by car

The village of Ossenzijl is located in the Head of Overijssel on the north side of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park i.o .. It has 500 inhabitants and is easily accessible for people with small towns in the area.

The story goes that the name of the village is derived from the Osse family, who managed a sluice (= zijl). The sluice is no longer in use, but Kalenbergergracht is still an important through shipping route. Nowadays the canal is used more for pleasure craft. The Ossenzijl sluice has since been moved to a little further (on Frisian territory) and is now called Mr. H.P. Linthorst Homansluice. Close by is an old three-way sluice, with which you can also reach De Lende by boat in the Mallegat of Oldemarkt.

Do not forget to visit the Nature Activities Center of Staatsbosbeheer at Ossenzijl. It costs nothing and it gives you a good overview of the beautiful nature around the village and in particular because it is so close to the National Park.

Reed from Ossenzijl
Ossenzijl is located in an area where a lot of reed is cut. That happens in winter. The dry, forest-bound reeds are temporarily piled up and later used to cover thatched roofs in the area. Many nearby villages are known for their thatched-roof farms. The reeds usually come from the neighborhood villages of Kalenberg and Ossenzijl.