Betuwe dike landscapes

If you are in good shape and are not afraid of a challenge, this is the route for you. This trip of 80 kilometers leads over the dikes of the Waal. The dikes were reinforced after the high water period in 1995, with the appearance and ecology of nature and landscape being paramount. Along the route you will come across several memorials, which emphasize the rough and turbulent character of the river. The route starts in Tiel, where you can park your car for free. From the parking lot you cycle a short distance through the city, towards the river. You cross this, after which you keep the river on your right. You will pass smaller villages, including Dreumel, Heerewaarden and Rossum, but also more famous cities such as Zaltbommel. At Brakel you cross the river again. You now cycle back east over the dike, keeping the river on your left. In Haaften it is time for a short stop at windmill De Blauwe Reiger. This tower mill, which currently grinds animal feed on a voluntary basis, was built in 1856. There used to be a post mill on this site that was destroyed in April of that year. The mill was out of use between 1949 and 1952, but when it changed hands, the mill was repaired and put back into operation. Just over halfway along the cycle route is the last sight of the city: Kasteel Goudenstein. Although... Goudenstein cannot really be called a castle, because the only remnant of the castle is the corner tower of 19 meters high. The castle was destroyed by the French in 1672. Before the destruction, Goudenstein consisted of a square house with small towers on the four corners and a moat around it.