Westeinderplassen
Encyclopedia
The Westeinderplassen are a complex of lakes belonging mostly to the territory of Aalsmeer
, the Netherlands. Their total area is circa 10 km2, making it the largest freshwater body of water in the Randstad
area.
, Kudelstaart, Leimuiden
, and Rijsenhout
.
The northern part in particular contains hundreds of small islands. Many of these are privately owned and can only be reached by boat.
, which sees significant commercial shipping. The bulk of the lakes, though, are used mostly for recreational boating.
Aalsmeer
Aalsmeer is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its name is derived from the Dutch for eel and lake . Aalsmeer is bordered by the Westeinderplassen lake, the largest open water of the Randstad, and the Ringvaart Canal...
, the Netherlands. Their total area is circa 10 km2, making it the largest freshwater body of water in the Randstad
Randstad
Image:Randstad_with_scale.png|400px|thumb|right|Clickable schematic map of the Randstadcircle 528 380 26 Schipholrect 426 356 498 436 Haarlemmermeerrect 399 166 479 245 Velsencircle 250 716 32 Delftcircle 220 642 60 The Hague...
area.
Geography
Towns situated on the lakefront include AalsmeerAalsmeer
Aalsmeer is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its name is derived from the Dutch for eel and lake . Aalsmeer is bordered by the Westeinderplassen lake, the largest open water of the Randstad, and the Ringvaart Canal...
, Kudelstaart, Leimuiden
Leimuiden
Leimuiden is a village in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is located about 9 km south of the town of Hoofddorp, in the municipality of Kaag en Braassem....
, and Rijsenhout
Rijsenhout
Rijsenhout is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, and lies about 6 km southeast of Hoofddorp....
.
The northern part in particular contains hundreds of small islands. Many of these are privately owned and can only be reached by boat.
Economy
The northwestern part of the lakes connect directly to the RingvaartRingvaart
The Ringvaart is a canal in the province of North Holland, the Netherlands. The Ringvaart is a true circular canal surrounding the Haarlemmermeer polder and forms the boundary of the Haarlemmermeer municipality...
, which sees significant commercial shipping. The bulk of the lakes, though, are used mostly for recreational boating.