Starting Point Hippolytushoef

The historical centre of Hippolytushoef (‘Hippo’ in local usage) lies around the Kerkplein. The Dutch Reformed church, dedicated to the early church father Hippolytus, stands on a mound with its medieval tower. Village events take place here, including Tuledag, with white rolls and ham, and the well-known fair in July. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the area was full of cafés, and Hippo was known as ‘Little Paris’. Only a few remain, but Hippo continues to serve as the main centre of this former Wadden island, with a relatively wide range of shops and facilities.

• The green Noordburen Route is a circular walk through the old hamlets of Zandburen and Noordburen, along the Marskedijk, through the Marskepolder and along the tree-lined Marskeweg. As sheep graze on the grassy crest of the Marskedijk, dogs are not allowed there. Walkers with dogs can follow the outside of the dyke between markers 51 and 73 to continue the route.

•  The orange Kliffen Route runs along the Marskeweg to the Wadden Sea dyke and then continues into the gently rising cliff area south of Hippo. Vikings are thought to have lived here, as evidenced by silver hoards uncovered in the 1990s. The route then runs along the Hoelmerdijk, an old dyke built from compressed eelgrass, and across the low-lying reclaimed land of Hippo, with its pastures and former duck decoys. The route is waymarked in both directions with orange arrows.

• The blue Wierdijk Route runs to the old hamlet of Stroe on higher ground, then continues to the old eelgrass dyke, known here as the Hippolytushoeverdijk, which offers fine views over the 19th-century Waard-Nieuwland polder.

Read about the relationship between Wieringen and Seaweed on the Oneindig Noord-Holland website.