See, hear and discover the history of fortified Woudrichem during the QRfgoed children's walking tour. Experience the secure feeling of the stories behind the old buildings and customs of the town. The narrator crawls into the role of Peer Verhagen, who was mayor from 1903 to 1925. Verhagen was also known as Rooie Peer, because he stood up for the poor people. The mayor had a stubborn character. For example, he saw his appointment first as the will of God and only then as the Queen's wish. During the walk, Rooie Peer takes you through special stories that connect the city's history with the present.
QR codes
The children's walking tour makes nine different points. At each point there is a sign with a QR code that takes you directly to the information. Among other things, learn all about the features of fortified Woudrichem, about river fishing and Hugo de Groot. Look inside the house of six-year-old Kjeld, a sailing ship more than a hundred years old.
Start walk
The walk starts just outside the fortified town at the parking lot on the Schapendam (navigate to Sluis 2 in Woudrichem).
Junction points Jantjesplaat - Deeneplaat: 85 - 82 - 81 - 16 - 11 - 10 - 93 - 94 - 62 - 97 - 98 - 50 - 60 - 58 - 57 - 13 - 56 - 55 - 52 - 53 - 54 - 55 - 56 - 57 - 58 - 14 - 59 - 60 - 50 - 80 - 95 - 94 - 93 - 10 - 11 - 15 - 85
Number of km depending on starting point: 21,8 km if you start at Biesbosch MuseumEiland. 16,9 km if you start at Jachthaven van Oversteeg.
Starting point: Biesbosch MuseumEiland, Hilweg 2 in Werkendam or Jachthaven van Oversteeg, Spieringsluis 5 in Werkendam.
You park at the Biesbosch MuseumEiland or Oversteeg Marina where free parking is available. There is also a charging station for electric bikes at the Biesbosch MuseumEiland. You first walk around the Jantjesplaat. Here you pass by old and new parts of the Biesbosch: the old part consists of an overgrown willow forest with lots of shrubbery, and the new part was created after high water in the 1990s. Soil needed to improve the dikes was excavated there. Since then, a beautiful wetland has been created with crystal clear water that is crowded by birds.
Then you walk along the Deeneplaatweg to the Deeneplaat. This consists of 2 parts: the western part consists of a rough willow flood forest (parts of the area still flood at high water levels), the eastern part consists of grienden that are still maintained as they have been for centuries.
After exploring the Dane Plate, continue your way back to the Biesbosch MuseumEiland. The museum is open year-round. You can also come here for a cup of coffee or a delicious lunch in the restaurant area.
Junction hiking trail De Pannekoek: 85 - 83 - 82 - 81 - 83 - 85
Number of km: 2 km
Starting point: Biesbosch MuseumEiland, Hilweg 2 in Werkendam
The Pannekoek is a beautiful area full of pollard willows, perhaps the most common tree in this area. During this route you can have a nice wander around on the way there or back before continuing the route. On the Pannekoek is also a so-called cut willow with different species of willow. This willow is harvested annually and the branches used to be made into baskets and baskets and also used to bind large bundles of wood together.
You park at the Biesbosch MuseumEiland. There is ample free parking and a charging station for electric bicycles. The museum is open all year round. You can visit the museum, of course, but also enjoy a cup of coffee or a delicious lunch in the restaurant area.
Our storyteller Prisca took a look at pollarding the willows at De Pannekoek and wrote a story about it.
Tip!
In the winter months, you can come and watch the pollarding of the willows in the grove (provided you keep some distance). Especially in the winter period it is wonderful walking in the area. The peace and quiet are exceptional and along the way you will see many animals such as hares and different types of birds. With some luck you might even spot an industrious beaver!
Investigate and find the gnome children's nuggets
One day, Gnome Clogmaker was hard at work with a large order of gnome clogs in all kinds of cheerful colors. It was gnome school vacation and his children were bored. He made some extra nuggets and decided to set out a fun route in the forest for his children and their friends so they would have something fun to do. He marked the route with the brightly colored nuggets and at each stop he made up an assignment. The assignments were fun and educational for the gnome children; after all, they must be very good at running, recognizing trees and knowing a lot about the environment. The children spent the entire vacation playing in nature, and Gnome Clogmaker was finally able to finish his work.
The gnome vacation is over, but the route is still there, for another vacation. And good news, the kids in Altena get to use the trail all year, too. Will you join us?
In cooperation with Brabant Landscape.
Starting point: Parking lot intersection Wilgenhof/Parallelweg Giessen
Find the nugget with the correct number and perform the tasks below there:
1. Who is fastest, left or right?
Will it be left or will it be right? Pick a side and find out which of you is fastest. 3, 2, 1... GO!
2. Over the hills
How adventurous are you? Find the path through the hills and go over them. Listen carefully! Can you hear the leaves in the wind?
3. Find the trees in love
Even trees sometimes fall in love! Some trees under the ground hold each other's roots, and others give each other hugs above the ground. Can you find the trees in love in the Almbos? They are an alder and an elm.
4. Time for a game
Guess the Tree - Close your eyes, and be taken to a tree. Feel, smell: is the tree thick, thin, does moss grow on it, is it wet, what kind of smell does it have? Ready? Let yourself be taken back to the path. Open your eyes again - can you now discover which tree it was?
Are you with 3 or more people? Then you can play tree swapping. Everyone stands by a tree, except the ticker. He stands in the middle. Then you switch trees: you make eye contact with someone at another tree, and then run fast to each other's tree. But be careful! If you're not near a tree, the ticker may tap you. If you succeed, you become the ticker. Play until you are tired.
5. Tracking
Gnomes are super good trackers. How about you? Do you see tracks in the forest? Paw prints, scratch and gnaw marks, half-eaten plants, nuts or pine cones, or maybe a tuft of fur? Which animal do you think the track belongs to? And while you're tracking, where would you hide if you were a gnome?
6. Break and Find Leaves
Find leaves on the ground and place them on the table from small to large. Do you know which tree or shrub they belong to? See how big the trees are here? You can have fun playing hide and seek there.
7. At the circus
Balancing can be learned! Walk across this tube.
8. Listen carefully
Gnomes are not only good at tracking, they also have very good ears. Be very quiet? Can you hear which animals live here? With your eyes closed you can listen even better.
9. Aged tree
This thick tree is a hornbeam. The wood of hornbeams is very hard. So hard that wheels used to be made from it, which is why it is called a wheel tree. Because this tree is so thick, we think it is very old, but we don't know exactly how old. How old do you think the tree is? What would this tree have been through?
10. Spot the kingfisher
The kingfisher is a striking bird because of its blue and orange appearance. Can you find one? When they fly by you only see a 'blue streak'. Many birds make their nest from branches and fluff, but did you know that the kingfisher digs tunnels at least half a meter deep? This is where the female lays her eggs. Sit on the bench and peer at the water, maybe you'll get lucky and a kingfisher will pass by. Not seen one? Then be sure to come back again!
Walk this gnome trail at your own risk.
The Liniepad is a hiking trail that starts at the Papsluis lock and ends in the fortified town of Woudrichem. Along the way you will encounter the southernmost forts of Unesco World Heritage Hollandse Waterlinies. They are owned by Brabants Landschap. Bakkerskil and Altena have a recreational function. But you also encounter locks and mills and walk through beautiful natural areas and a new estate. The restored casemates have been given a special function as bird-watching huts or winter quarters for bats.
Biesbosch walk 10 - 14 km
De Biesbosch and water belong together like a kayak and paddle. From its first appearance after the Sint Elisabethflood in 1421 until today, the landscape in the Biesbosch has been defined by water. Yet the landscape has been transformed considerably in recent years. The Room for the River program changed our view of how we deal with water. We no longer just contain it, but give it space wherever possible. This results in dry feet and beautiful nature.
Strolling through The Pancake
To experience the wicker culture up close, a walk through De Pannekoek is highly recommended. You can deviate from the nodes here to have a nice stroll on the small paths. Some parts of this grove are maintained in the traditional way, others are not. There, nature is the boss and allowed a wild willow forest to develop.
Water buffalo in the Noordwaard
In the Noordwaard, water buffalo graze the areas outside the dikes, which is unique for the Netherlands. The buffalo feel very comfortable there. The area is wet, and they find plenty of food. The buffalo were released here for a specific purpose: they like to swim and travel long distances. Moreover, they are a lot bigger than Highland cattle or konik horses, which allows them to digest rough food such as old reeds or cattail, in places where other grazers do not come easily. It remains quite an experience to encounter one. Do keep enough distance. Water buffalo are not dangerous, but they are curious.
Polder Jantjesplaat
This polder is a piece of rugged wetland where agricultural polders were before 2013. A new piece of Biesbosch that has also already been discovered by the osprey and the bald eagle that like to hunt here.
Biesbosch museumeiland
At the Biesbosch MuseumEiland you can learn all about how we lived and live together with the water. From the first emergence after the St. Elisabeth Flood to smuggling routes in World War II, the exhibits cover it all.
Outside, you can experience for yourself how the Biesbosch prevents higher areas from flooding. In the scale model of the Biesbosch Beleving you can slide and turn knobs yourself to see how you influence the course of the water with polders and dikes.
After the walk, you can recover at museum café Biesonder over a cup of coffee or a sandwich.
ADDITIONAL TRIP
From node 10, extend your walk with a trip to De Wassende Maan. The round trip to this work of landscape art counts 4 km and is highly recommended. De Wassende Maan was designed by visual artist Paul de Kort. The artwork is a labyrinth of gullies and dikes. The water flows in and out with the tides; from the outside, in. A dynamic and natural work of art not to be missed.
To get there, follow nodes 10, 68 and 69.
The Pancake Bakery is the starting point (and ending point, delicious). This walk shows both the old (part of the New Dutch Waterline!) and the new Woudrichem, passes through the village of Oudendijk and returns to the fortified town via the dike along the Upper Merwede. It is a short route which leaves you time to visit the fortified town.
Of course, you can also just find your own way, it is not that big and there is plenty to see and do. Don't forget to explore the historic harbor or extend your walk with a visit to Slot Loevestein (located across the street) and take the foot ferry. The various stores, the mill and the Fisheries Museum in the fortified town are well worth a visit!
Overview of all our routes in the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie
This village has a special story to tell! The mill in the village, the Twee Gebroeders, grinds the flour for Gerard & Suus' bakery: an organic bakery with a creative baker who makes the most beautiful and delicious breads. And this bakery is your starting point!
You walk past the church towards Bergstraat. There you turn left and follow the directions of the node network. You walk to node 76. Between node 76 and 64 are (old varieties of) fruit trees, if ripe you may pick or gather the fruit. After this you come across several benches to quietly feast on all the goodies. Through the village you come back to Gerard & Suus, the end point of this route.
The hike begins at Fort Altena, a fort belonging to the New Dutch Waterline. Don't forget to explore this fort before or after your walk! You walk towards the village of Werkendam, where in the past and still today, inland navigation plays an important role. You walk towards mill De Vervoorne Polder, when it is running, it is open for viewing. The millers are happy to tell you their story! Then you head towards the Upper Merwede, a busy river. From the dike you have a good view of this. Through the underpass of the A27 you walk to the end point. Near the fort there are two windmills that can be visited when they are running. To do this, follow the Liniepad from the fort and you will pass them automatically.
Overview of all our routes in the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie
Short route, 8 km
This village has about 250 inhabitants, a real small core. You walk almost all the streets of this core. Along the Waardhuizenseweg there are fruit trees on the unbuilt side of the street, when the fruit is ripe you can pick it. You walk along the river Alm with benches designed by artists from the region to the end point.
Long route 15.5
On this route you also pass the picking trees on the Waardhuizenseweg. After crossing the village, turn right towards Pompveld. This road is not a nice walk, there is hard driving by cars, but it is the only way to get to the beautiful nature reserve. You stroll along the edges of this nature reserve, the core of the area is for wildlife. A wonderful rest area with wonderful places to picnic and enjoy!