Paddling near Zaanstad, North Holland

Zaanstad sits in the heart of the Zaanstreek, a low-lying polder landscape in North Holland threaded with canals, rivers and nature reserves. The area's flat, sheltered waterways make it well suited to SUP, kayak and canoe paddling, with Polder Westzaan and the Wormer- en Jisperveld among the most accessible local destinations. Broader North Holland extends the options further, from Amsterdam's canals to the open waters of the Markermeer and IJsselmeer.