New Dutch Waterline

History buffs will love this route offered by the South Holland Bureau for Tourism. You wind along the Linge and the Merwede Canal. These are two of the most important historical waterways in Dutch history. The route takes you along part of the New Dutch Waterline; an old defence line that used to be flooded to protect the Netherlands from enemy troops. The tour leads past old mills, historical forts and beautiful nature reserves. You park your car in the car park at the harbour in Gorinchem. In this city you will soon see the Nooit Volmaakt mill on the route. It is a round tower mill that ground grain and that has only been rebuilt twice. The mill only got its name in 1889, after it had burned down. The structure was restored with parts from an oil mill called 'Nooit Volmaakt' and this mill took over the name. The mill still grinds grain on a voluntary basis and was completely restored at the beginning of 2012. Once you have cycled straight through Gorinchem, the route splits at Arkel to take you via the small Kedichem towards Asperen.

Fort Asperen is situated there in a historically strategic position. The fort is part of the new Dutch Waterline and could see enemy ships approaching from afar. The tower fort used to be surrounded by a moat and could therefore only be reached via a wooden drawbridge. The fortress has the status of national monument and was repurposed as an 'art fort'. Cultural events and exhibitions have been organised annually in the complex since 1981.

Through the interior you cycle to Schoonrewoerd, then you cycle past Leerdam. On the edge of that city stands the mill Ter Leede. Until 1940, the hollow post mill drained the Bruinsdel and Hoog-Leerbroek polder together with another mill. Ter Leede was almost demolished when the upper shaft broke in 1940, but a glass factory saved the mill by buying it. The mill was transferred to the municipality of Leerdam 42 years later, who wanted to restore it. Only when the restoration was completed, in 1985, did the mill get its current name.

When you arrive at the village of Arkel, you will see the Jan van Arkel mill. The octagonal tower mill was built in 1852 and has been idle since 2010. Maintenance of the fores is urgently needed, but the stone substructure is also in urgent need of repair. This cycle route is offered to you by the TOP Routenetwerken Foundation (formerly the Zuid-Hollands Bureau voor Toerisme). More information about TOP routes can be found at: www.toproutenetwerk.nl