IJsselmeer, Artificial lake in North Holland, Netherlands
IJsselmeer is an artificial lake in North Holland and other provinces of the Netherlands, spreading across several regions. The shoreline runs past traditional fishing villages and modern towns, while shallow waters open views all the way to the horizon.
Completion of the barrier dam in 1932 cut off the sea inlet from open water and created a controlled freshwater lake. Decades of land reclamation followed, with large sections claimed back from the new body of water.
The name comes from the IJssel River that flows into the lake and once emptied directly into the sea. Today locals use the water for sailing and fishing for freshwater species like pike and perch.
Visitors can use cycling paths and walking routes along the coast, passing through small harbor towns and open landscapes. Wind can be strong, so bringing clothing for changing weather is a good idea.
Beneath the lakebed lie remains of drowned villages that once stood on the shores of the old Zuiderzee. Divers have found tools, pottery and even shipwrecks from the period before the dam was built.
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