Het Twiske is a recreational area north of Amsterdam, nearby the village of Oostzaan. Originally, it was an area of moorland where peat was extracted. In the 1960s, sand was extracted from beneath the moorland to build a motorway. Afterwards, the sand extraction lakes and the surrounding land were developed into a recreational area covering 650 hectares. The largest lake - Stooterplas (main image) - is up to 35 metres deep.

One third of Het Twiske consists of water and offers plenty of opportunities for swimming, diving, surfing and sailing. For nature lovers, it is a place for cycling, hiking and horse riding and in a varied landscape.