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.
Activity: hiking