Cultural Poetry Route Altena Biesbosch

De Biesbosch National Park is a source of inspiration for anyone who takes the time to take a good look at nature. Inhabitants of the region wrote special poems, which can be read in various places in the Biesbosch. The wetland environment is inhabited by many birds, from ducks and coots to a special pair of sea eagles and a whole population of herons. Sometimes you see an otter taking a refreshing dip, but the hardworking beavers also feel very much at home around the banks of the creeks. The river islands, sand and mud flats are brightened up by the sweet scent of giant balsam, and by the yellow flowers of bogweed, the cheerful purple of loosestrife or the white of valerian. In the many polders that lie between the creeks and tidal willow forests, farmers hay their land. The area is used as storage for drinking water preparation, but there is also a lot of recreation. The route starts at the parking lot near VVV Altena Biesbosch. There you can also get more information about the history of the Biesbosch, the diversity of flora and fauna along the rough paths and lovely creeks, but also about the many cultural-historical sights in the area. The VVV is not far from a well-known national monument. It doesn't take long before you see Slot Loevestein and Fort Loevestein looming at the point where the Maas and Waal converge. The castle was already built in 1361. The castle has known three periods in which it was used for different purposes: in the Middle Ages it served as a castle for a knight, later the castle was used as a state prison (Hugo de Groot escaped from the complex) and as a defense it became part of the New Dutch Waterline. The Battery under Poederoijen, which was built on the Maas between 1879 and 1886, was also part of the New Dutch Waterline. The construction was time-consuming, because the ground on which the battery was built subsided a number of times. These subsidence also affected the design; the fortress has become smaller than originally intended. When you continue cycling to windmill De Hoop, you will come across the poem'Stromenland\\\'. The verses were written by a resident who was inspired by the cultural history and beauty of the area and are worth reading. De Hoop is a round stone tower mill. The mill is still in operation and runs on a voluntary basis. The special thing about this mill is that it stands on a dike where traffic drives underneath. The blades are so long that trucks have to take a different route, otherwise they may not be able to drive under the mill. Those who want to visit De Hoop can do so on Saturdays, but the mill is also open for weddings. The last part of the cycle route is adorned by another three poems about the area:'De quay paole\\\','De gates of the court\\\', and'Vastbesloten\ \'.