Understand
The municipality Wijdemeren is formed in 2002 as a merger between 's-Graveland, Loosdrecht and Nederhorst den Berg. Other cores in the area include Ankeveen and Kortenhoef. The name Wijdemeren has only been in existence since that merger and literally means "wide lakes", referring to the artificial fresh-water lakes in the area. Many rich traders from Amsterdam built magnificent estates and gardens here during the Dutch Golden Age 17th century, which can best be explored by bicycle.
