Waarland (in West Frisian 't Waarland) is a village in the municipality of Schagen with about 2500 inhabitants. Waarland means lowland. The history of Waarland is closely linked to the battle against the water. For a long time, it consisted of several islands and lakes which were later laid dry. The Slootgaard, Bleekmeer, Schaapskuilmeer, Speketer, Koetenburg, and Koog were all lakes that were dry. The Waarlandpolder was dry in 1575 using one of the first water mills. The Oude Slootgaard was laid dry in 1590, which lay within the ring dike of the polder Heerhugowaard and was later added to the Waarland.
The Poldermolen Waarland which is on the edge of the village dates back to 1571. The mill is, outside the breezes, in an authentic state and is no longer inhabited. Exhibitions take place in the adjacent and restored Molenhuys. In the outskirts of Waarland, at the side of Zijdewind is the Slootgaardmolen. This mill was built around 1590 to dry the lake Slootgaard and then to keep the Slootgaardpolder dry.
Since 2010 there is a covered tropical butterfly garden, Vlindorado butterfly garden, located in Waarland, it is one of the largest in this area in Europe. Particularly present species are the blue Morpho from Central America and the Malaysian paper butterfly. There is also a small museum in the village; Atelier 't Kleine Rijk.
To the east of Waarland there are a number of nature areas such as De Boomerwaal on the Boomervaart and De Drasse Dijkvoet. On the west side lie the Woudmeer and Speketerspolder. This created new nature areas through the implementation of a water storage project of the municipality of Harenkarspel. Through the nature areas hiking trails.