The West Frisians Omringdijk is a 126 km long ring dike around the North Holland, historical region West Friesland. It can still be seen in the landscape today and is still kept in good condition, although only a small part is still on the water.
course
Medemblik (on the IJsselmeer) - Onderdijk - Wervershoof - Andijk - Enkhuizen (between IJssel and Markermeer) - Stedebroec - Oosterleek - Wijdenes - Schellinkhout - Hoorn - Scharwoude (last place on the Markermeer) - Oudendijk - Avenhorn - Alkarterleekburg - Rustenburg (only north-eastern districts) - Koedijk - Schoorldam - Krabbendam - Sint Maarten - Schagen - Kolhorn - Winkel - Aartswoud - Lambertschaag - Medemblik. (see map)
background
The dike around West Friesland protects the land from the water. At the time when it was completed (around 1250), the Zuidersee (= the sea) was directly north of it and several inland lakes such as Seermer and Beemster (today polder) were to the south. The dike was created by linking many small, previously (around 1000) individual dikes. It grew more and more over the centuries and reached its main function in the 16th century. With the construction of the final dike (1932) it lost its function as the North Sea no longer hit it directly.
In total, Omringdijk is 126 km long. It protects an area of 800 km².
