This village on the Bergsche Maas has a free ferry connection with Waalwijk. The river was dug out between 1888 and 1894. For the workers, the days were long. Sixteen hours away from home was quite normal. It was hard work and wages were meager. One cent of every guilder they earned went toward a kind of health insurance premium. By the way, they earned that one guilder not per hour, but per day!

That the Bergsche Maas came was necessary to protect 's-Hertogenbosch from flooding. As a result, Drongelen became a village on the new river.

The route starts along this river towards Genderen. You pass café 't Zwaantje, a nice place for lunch or coffee. Through the village of Eethen, where there is a beautiful 12th century church, you walk back to the starting point.

This is a special village. The people who live here are very proud of it and also of cyclo-cross racer and cyclist Marianne Vos (Olympic and multiple world champion) who lives here. So pay attention, she might just cycle by! (See also our Marianne Vos Cycle Route.)

The walk begins at care farm Den Hill. Products from the garden are sold in the shed on the street. You walk toward the village to discover the upper poldr at node 63. You are on your way to the Pompveld, an area of 239 hectares that was left alone during the major land consolidation that began in the 1960s. A beautiful natural area where you may encounter deer, egrets and hawks on your path. There are plenty of benches and picnic areas where you can immerse yourself in the silence and unwind.

Andel has interesting places to visit. Take the Wilhelmina Lock and the grave of Jan Claesen. This walk starts at the lock. There is an impressive memorial commemorating the opening of the lock on August 18, 1904 by Queen Wilhelmina. It is the only impeller lock in the Netherlands with a green gully, meaning that the walls of the lock chamber are lined with grass. The lock itself was built around 1896 and marks the border between North Brabant and Gelderland.

Along the provincial road you walk towards Giessen to walk via Fort Giessen (the southernmost fort of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie) towards Andel. Once on the Hoge Maasdijk you have a beautiful view of the river. The grave of Jan Claesen can be found in the cemetery near the Romboutstoren in Andel. In the 17th century, Jan Claesen was a trumpeter in the army of Frederick Henry of Orange. After he left military service (because he did not like fighting), he and his wife Katrijn went to give puppet shows in Amsterdam.

The route starts at Golfpark Almkreek and runs along the little river De Alm where rest benches have been placed by artists from the region. The village of Almkerk has wonderful historical stories about the river De Alm, once a wide body of water on which ships sailed. The remains are more reminiscent of a ditch and the descendants of the former sailors now sit on the waterfront fishing. By the way, a nice place for a picnic! Special is cinema Hollywoud, along the provincial road (towards the A27). A cozy movie house where you can order drinks and goodies during the screening. Do you like the outdoors more? Then go for a sporty "walk" at Golfpark Almkreek. During this walk you walk along parts of this golf park. You walk along farm De Koppel which played an important role in World War I (see also our bicycle route Cycling & stories along the line). Along the Woudrichemseweg you pass estate Clootwijck; a location that sells regional products. You walk through the village and via the Broekgraaf and across 't Laagt back to Golfpark Almkreek.

The city walk begins at the World Shop, Kerkstraat 7.
You'll see the Gevangenpoort from the intersection. Walk under it toward the river.

The Prison Gate is one of five remaining gates from the 15th century. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the building was used as an arresting room. Some prisoners have their names carved inside the wall as mementos.
The water gate still serves at high tide. Beams are pushed into the concrete recesses and the space between them is filled with sand. This cofferdam holds back the raging water and protects the fortified town.

On d'n Bol (or in dialect 't Hôôd) you can see at a glance three rivers: Maas, Waal and Merwede and three provinces: North Brabant, Gelderland and South Holland.

In the Historic Harbor, ships are refurbished and launched there. The large barges are occupied. If you turn around and look up, from here you can see the house of Doctor Tinus* from the SBS6 series of the same name.
On the city wall stands the former barracks of the Royal Military Police, the middle part of which was used as a police station until the end of the 20th century. The most famous policeman in Woudrichem was called Pietje Potlood. Not surprisingly, he liked to write out tickets.

Ice was stored in the ice cellar (near house number 20) until the early years of the last century. In winter, blocks of ice were cut from the city canal and brought here. Fishmongers used the ice to keep freshly caught fish cool The walls of the ice cellar are as much as a meter thick, which kept the temperature constantly low.

House number 2, the Jacoba of Bavaria House, is the oldest stone house in the fortified town. Jacoba was countess of Holland, Zealand and Hainaut. A peace treaty was signed here in 1419 and Jacoba reconciled with her uncle John of Bavaria. From 1965 to 1985, Franciscan nuns lived here. Since 2019, the house bears the title Jacoba Culture House and hosts music classes, lectures and concerts.

The thirty-four-meter-high Martinus Tower was built in the first half of the 15th century. The upper two girders date from around 1530. The tower bears the nickname The Mustard Pot. Once there was a mustard factory in the fortified town. Windblown seeds took root on top of the tower, giving it its name. This fun fact does not compare to the following terrible story. At the end of World War II, the tower was full of gunpowder. The occupying forces wanted to blow up the tower. Fortunately, this did not happen at the last minute. Unfortunately, the mill on the Rijkswal was not spared this fate. A remarkable fact is also the time indicated on the tower. For a number of years -during WW2- it was national time. Woudrichem time was then the time everyone had to assume.

The arsenal, built in 1851, houses the Fisheries and Cultural History Museum. Previously, it was used to store military equipment. Just in front of the arsenal is the statue of Jan Claessen the trumpeter from Prince Maurice's army (1585-1625) and a cannon from 1818. The fortified town has had an important military function over the centuries. It was part of the Old and New Dutch Water Line. Its role as a military stronghold and the function it fulfilled in this was abolished by royal decree on May 27, 1955. In 1972, the entire fortified town was designated a protected cityscape.

The white house between the arsenal and city gate The Cow Gate was built in 1856 as a military guardhouse for soldiers and officers. After the city gate closed, pedestrians paid 2 1/2 cents to enter the gate. If you wanted to enter by horse or horse and carriage, the fees went up quickly. The guardhouse also served as a nursing home for cholera sufferers. And... it seems to have been haunted ever since....

Korenmolen Nooit Gedagt was blown up in WW2. Where the tower was spared, the mill suffered. The occupying forces feared the tall mill was being used as a lookout. In 1996, the rebuilt mill was put into operation. It is a unique specimen, as the corn mill is the Netherlands' only octagonal stone scaffold mill. The mill sells products that the miller grinds himself as well as other regional products that you must have tasted. And let's face it... The best pancake flour is of course bought here!

The two gunpowder cellars from around 1850 were used as ammunition storage areas during wartime threats. They were restored in 2007. These powder cellars are also part of the heritage of the Old and New Dutch Waterline.

The Roman Catholic church is a water state church, built in 1838 In the niche of the facade is a statue of the Czech John Nepomuk (1350-1393), patron saint of bridges. Nepomuk had confessed to the wife of King Wenceslaus. When the king asked him what his wife had told him, Nepomuk was silent. Wenceslaus had him thrown from the bridge into the Moldau with a stone around his neck. Nepomuk died a martyr.

The barracks, built in 1854, was the residence building for soldiers and their equipment. It served as such until WW2. Here in Woudrichem, conscription was known long before it was instituted nationwide. Since 1747 a civilian company operated here in which able-bodied men between the ages of eighteen and sixty had to serve.

The century-old foot ferry is best known for its slogan Heen motte betaole and again. A trip to Loevestein Castle is easily made from here. The skipper sails when you are ready and you can take your bicycle on the ferry. If you want to go back, ring the ship's bell on the Gelderland side of the river and the skipper will pick you up again.

From this point the salmon fisherman looks out over the water. The kierbesluit should ensure that salmon from the North Sea have access to the rivers again via the Haringvliet. Perhaps in the future salmon fishing in Woudrichem can flourish again. The salmon fisherman is keeping an eye on things.

To the left of the building with house number 46 you can see the De Wittspoortje, also called the Annopoortje. The year gives away that it was built in 1611. Just imagine. For more than 400 years this little gate has followed the fortunes of Woudrichem. If stones could talk... The little gate owes its name to council pensionary Johan de Witt. He was the grandfather of Mayor Johan de Witt who married and held office here in 1611.

In 't Oude Raedthuys (1592) sat the city council. To its left are three little jails that were still in use until the last century. They are the darkest, coldest and clammiest caverns in the city. Imagine spending a night in them.

Hoogstraat is the oldest street in the fortified town. A settlement arose here around 900 on the high bank along the river. That settlement slowly grew into a military stronghold: fortified town of Woudrichem! Several houses from the late Middle Ages have been preserved. They are decorated with illustrative gable stones as can be seen at In Den Vergulden Helm and De Salamander.

When you walk, you can take your time to discover the world around you. You slow down and encounter the most beautiful things. Be it nature, heritage or the activity on the water or the farmland.

In the Biesbosch Line there is a network of hiking nodes. You can easily map out your own route along the numbered signs and choose the distance that suits you.

In each individual core of the municipality of Altena there is also a mapped out route along the hiking nodes. These are collected in the walking guide that is available free of charge at the VVV Biesboschlinie folder posts or digitally on this page.

Combine this tour with a walk on the Deeneplaat; an area consisting of willows, shrublands and willow floodplain forests. Characteristic of the Deeneplaat are the vletsloten. Driftwood was transported through these wide ditches with osier hooks. You also encounter valve culverts here. That may sound like a native duck species, but it is not. A valve culvert is an iron tube with a valve that allows water to flow out of the shag at low tide, but not in at high tide.

If you are looking for a route full of variety, this is a must. Because the route goes through narrow creeks and over wider waterways, you will have to deal with currents. Really a trip for the sporty canoeist. You can take a day for this route. You can stop for a picnic on the beaches and to stretch your legs a walk on the Deeneplaat is a must. It is surprisingly beautiful at any time of year, even on cold, gray days. As many as 130 species of plants grow there. Some with wonderful names, such as garlic without garlic, bird's milkweed and giant balsam. The latter is native to the Himalayas and can grow up to three meters tall. Its purple flowers bloom profusely in August.

A lot of Dane (a small species of swan) used to come here. That may explain the name Dane Plate. Nowadays, you encounter mute swans here on their way to the warm south. This is also where the rare root vole is still found. It is the only mammal in the Netherlands that lives in an isolated population. They are mostly active at night.

You can rent a canoe at Jachthaven Van Oversteeg Werkendam or at DOCKS vissershang Hank. Contact the appropriate party for availability and canoe rentals.

Scavenger hunt Woudrichem (running time 1.5 hours - 2 km)

Welcome to Woudrichem, or as the people here call it: Woerkum. Tie your laces, loosen your muscles, take a deep breath, shoulders straight, chin up and ... sleuthing away!

Don't know an answer? Then ask someone you meet on the street for help. You might just hear an exciting story from a real Woerkumer! Good luck and have fun while searching for the answers!

Overview of all our routes in the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie

The Walking & Boating Route is a tour that takes you into two fortified towns and into two provinces. You will visit Woudrichem in North Brabant and Gorinchem located in South Holland. These two fortified towns have been connected throughout the centuries. Despite the wide Merwede that separates the cities. Or perhaps thanks to that river.

Woudrichem and Gorinchem are part of both the Old and New Dutch Waterline. In these towns it is almost impossible to get lost. So feel free to deviate from the route over the city walls and wander through the idyllic streets where time seems to have stood still. Then find the ramparts again to continue your route.

As a counterpart to the urban, on this route we also take you across the Groesplaat, a floodplain between Sleeuwijk and Oudendijk. At high tide, these floodplains fill up and give space to the river. If you encounter high water during this walk, walk between node 57 and 67 on the dike.

As icing on the cake, you cross the Merwede River twice during this trip. The sailing is an experience in itself, because the ferry does not go straight back and forth, but has to go downstream up the river to take you across.

For the current sailing schedule, visit: www.riveer.nl

Starting point Gorinchem: Buiten de Waterpoort, Gorinchem

Starting point Sleeuwijk: Hoekeinde 24, 4254 LN Sleeuwijk

Starting point Woudrichem: Waterpoort, Woudrichem

Start near the embarkation and disembarkation points of the ferries. We recommend the many restaurants and cafes in Woudrichem and Gorinchem. If you come by car, pay attention, because in Gorinchem you have to pay parking fees. In Woudrichem you can park freely and parking Schapendam is recommended. In Sleeuwijk, Restaurant Boven de Rivieren is a nice starting point where you can also park freely.

Actually, this is a pampering route for all the senses! You enjoy the silence of nature and the bustle of the city. You feel the wind through your hair on the water and it all tastes like more!

Overview of all our routes in the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie

A beautiful Sunday morning, beautiful cloudy sky and a nice walk ahead, we are ready for it! From the parking lot at the Janus Baks Bastion we walk along the little harbor and turn left at 62, up the Schapendam, enjoying the Woerkum skyline (the windmill and Martinus church) out of Woudrichem over the Hoge Maasdijk. At the end left again at 67, up the Maasdijk. Tip: descend the dike and walk along the river side, a lot nicer and quieter (you miss 60 but can continue to node 02). We have a view of the river the whole way and see cattle and konik horses paddling on the opposite side (Munnikenland). At 02 we climb the dike again and keep left, on the paved path towards 01. We enjoy beautiful views and the wind in our hair. With some regularity we are passed by Sunday morning platoons, recreational cyclists whom we will probably see again at the next terrace. Arriving at 01, we turn left down the dike and walk toward 28. There we walk straight ahead, keeping the houses to our left. At the top we turn left towards the lock. Please note: here the junction system ends and you have to rely on us further. We follow the bike path until we see the brown referral signs to "De Buurman," which we gladly follow. This restaurant is located near the battery of Poederoijen, a lovely place to give your feet a rest (and yes, the cyclists have landed too!). After this pleasant break we take the same road back. However, now not left towards the provincial road but straight ahead. In the right turn we keep left and take the path of Staatsbosbeheer, called 'Poederoijensehoek' (we are shown the way by 2 deer!). At the end of this path we cross (carefully!) the provincial road and take another path of Staatsbosbeheer, this time called 'Boezem van Brakel'. We keep following this beautiful dike path along streams, nut trees, shelters and the Battery under Brakel until we reach the Waal dike, where we turn left. Now pay attention: we follow this path until the 2nd turn left (bicycle path). We follow that path, at the T - junction we turn right to finally turn right again at the next T - junction. We now walk through the 'Waarden bij Loevestein', between the beautiful cattle and konik horses. Enjoying the scenery, we walk on to the entrance bridge to Loevestein Castle, where we take a break on a terrace and enjoy the atmosphere of yesteryear. Whistling, we walk the last bit to the ferry that takes us back to Woudrichem. For current sailing times, check www.voetveerwoudrichem.nl.
A particularly successful walk through the Line Landscape!

Overview of all our routes in the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie