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
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!
You start at the bandstand in this cozy village. The church in this village is worth a visit. You walk along the little river the Wijde Alm in the direction of Rijswijk to arrive at Almbos (picking is allowed) at Fort Giessen, the southernmost fort of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie. If the gate is open, take a look! It has been recently restored and a volunteer will be happy to show you the fort. Taking the country road towards Waardhuizen, you will arrive back at the bandstand in Uitwijk.
You can extend the route by walking straight ahead at node 11 towards nodes 34 and 35. A beautiful route along the Wijde Alm in nature. At node 35 you turn right towards points 37, 36 and 13. Then you are back at the point where this route started.
Overview of all our routes in the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie
You start at the parking lot along the dike overlooking the Afgedamde Maas. The first part of the walk you follow this dike and you can enjoy the beautiful view towards the province of Gelderland that lies on the other side of the water. Between the trees you can see Slot Loevestein and sometimes you can also see large grazers on the river bank. You walk along the Petter trail, named after former mayor Frank Petter who is also known for saving a very elderly woman from drowning in the wide ditch next to the trail. In the vernacular, then, the Petter trail is called Spetterpad with a smile. You continue walking along the Veldweg to get back to Rijswijk. This walk combines perfectly with the walk around Woudrichem!
Your starting point is the Witte molen in Meeuwen, a household name in the village and wide surroundings! On Saturday afternoons (and whenever it is running) the mill is open and you are welcome to visit. In the mill the products of the mill in Woudrichem are sold.
From the starting point you walk through the southern polder of Meeuwen towards the small river Oude Maasje and the Bergsche Maas. You follow the Oude Maasje up to and including the village of Drongelen and continue along the Bergsche Maas to later end up back in Meeuwen via a rural road. Along the way you will encounter numerous benches and picnic areas.
The walk begins at a special monument that was festively opened in 2018 after a thorough renovation: Fort Giessen, the southernmost fort of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie. When open, it is definitely worth a visit. The volunteers are happy to tell you about the period of World War I. An experience park has also been developed with a trench! There is an unpaved walking path around the fort.
The walk leads you through the village, toward the Wilhelmina Lock. Want to take a look? Then walk after node 27 along the provincial road towards the lock. Then walk over the dike towards the connection with the walk around Rijswijk and through the village and Almbos (picking is allowed) to the end point.
Overview of all our routes in the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie
The walk starts at Café 't Zwaantje, a cozy village pub where the pleasant atmosphere of yesteryear still hangs. You walk towards the village and pick up the junction network here. The walk takes you along the Bergsche Maas where an American Windmotor has been placed in the floodplain. A nice place for a nice picnic! Genderen is an enterprising village. Where other villages see their facilities disappear one by one, this is not a reality in this village. For example, a cheese farm is located along the provincial road. Because the junction network does not pass by them, this is not part of this walk, but well worth your visit. You'll find a cheese farm with a store, local products and lots of activities. The farm is across Provincialeweg Zuid at node 53. At node 82 you will find a point of sale of local products.
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.
You cruise in an area full of winding creeks and nice sandy beaches. It is highly recommended for novice canoeists.
The Aakvlaai is a relatively new recreational area on the edge of the Biesbosch. It was constructed at the end of the last century for the purpose of water sports. Because the Aakvlaai is directly adjacent to the Biesbosch, you may encounter a beaver or large water birds such as spoonbills and egrets.
Although the route does not have many miles, you can easily spend a day in the Barge Bay. If you want to take a break, find a quiet spot on a beach. You can also, in combination with your cruise, take a walk in the area. Without getting lost, you can easily deviate from the route here. You will always end up at a point you recognize. Striking points include the cooling towers of the Amer power plant located on the opposite side of the river, the remains of De Steen farm at Kloosteroord and the wreck of a tjalk. In the Aakvlaai, nature is given free rein, so that the flora and fauna in the area provide variety every season and a cruise is surprising every time.
The wreck of the tjalk at the entrance to the Aakvlaai is largely overgrown. The ship is 20 meters long and used to ship reeds, rushes and willow wood. According to tradition, the tjalk ended up at this location when it was used to fill a hole in the dike. The ship was found during the construction of the Aakvlaai.
Note: If you come with your own canoe or sup, please start from the canoe pier in front of the parking lot. No need to climb the stairs.
You can rent a canoe Jachthaven Van Oversteeg in Werkendam or at DOCKS vissershang Hank. Contact the respective party for availability and canoe rental.