Starting Point Station (A.P.)

A map from 1907 refers to this area as ‘Kerkbuurt’, rather than ‘Spoorbuurt’ as on modern maps. The Roman Catholic church, built in 1870, was clearly seen as the heart of this neighbourhood of Anna Paulowna, even though the station had been built five years earlier. The station itself looked quite different from the current one. It was a ‘Waterstaat Class 4’ design, with accommodation for the station master above and waiting rooms in the side wing. The distinctive Hotel De Vlas- & Korenbeurs (1868–1980) stood on the corner of Spoorsingel. Further along, towards the church, there were various shops. Kerkbuurt was once a village with all its own amenities, but over time many shops closed or moved to the Sluisbuurt in the east.

• The purple Molenvaart Route follows the Molenvaart, where the first houses were built in the Westpolder – reclaimed in 1846 – and continues along the Middenvliet. On both sides, the bulb fields that have shaped the polder since the 1910s and 1920s come into view. The route is waymarked in both directions with purple arrows.

• The sea-green Poldertuin Route explores the historic Poldertuin – known as ‘Klein Keukenhof’ – and the adjoining nature area of the reed-fringed Kruiszwin, once a tidal creek in the Balgzand mudflats. The route is waymarked in both directions with sea-green arrows.

• The orange Westeinde Route continues along the Molenvaart, then turns off at the old ferry crossing over the Noordhollands Canal. From here, it follows the unpaved dyke of the Koegraspolder alongside the bulb fields. The route is waymarked in both directions with orange arrows.