Waardenburg Varik and Kerkdriel

At the intersection of the Maas and the Waal, it is buzzing with activity. Beautiful yachts, smaller boats, transport ships and all kinds of water sports are drawn to the mysterious rivers. Follow the banks of the Waal and let your mind wander as you gaze into the mysterious depths of the river. Let yourself be carried away on this route, past castles, forts, estates and mills. Go well prepared and buy a snack; a thirst-quenching apple, a delicious sandwich and some toppings or a nice piece of cheese or sausage and something to drink for the road, at supermarket Fa. Van Hees VOF in Bruchem. Here you can also park your car for free before you cross Zaltbommel and cross the Waal in the direction of Waardenburg. The mill in Waardenburg is also called the hexagonal mill. The ground sailer dates from the eighteenth century, but the exact year of construction of this mill is unknown. Presumably there was a standard mill in front of this mill on the same spot. What is special about this mill is that it was used to generate electricity during the First World War. The mill was restored twice, in 1965 and 1975. After the flood in 1995, the adjacent Waaldijk was raised and the mill as a whole was raised. In Neerijnen you will come across an estate with the same name. The original castle on the estate was built in the fourteenth century; the house that stands there was probably built around 1600. It underwent major renovations in the 18th and 19th centuries. The house was owned by the Het Geldersch landscape foundation, which transferred it to sister institution Stichting Vrienden der Geldesche Kasteelen. Subsequently, it was bought by the municipality and it was used as a town hall. Nowadays the estate is open to the public and can be visited during the opening hours of the town hall. Just before you cross the river again, windmill de Bol in Varik is waiting for you. De Bol is a tower mill and was built in 1867 to replace a wooden seesaw flour mill, which burned down in 1865. De Bol has been restored twice (in 1964 and in 1981) and has long been used as a home. At the beginning of 2009 the mill still looked neglected, but in October 2009 a start was made to restore the mill. The residential function of the mill was lifted. During a route along the New Dutch Waterline, a classic defense structure such as Fort Sint Andries cannot be missed. The fort is a former military fort, which was built during the Siege of Zaltbommel in 1599 by order of Francesco de Mendoza. The location and shape of the pentagonal fortress have been strategically chosen; from this point the defenders had a view over the river area. In 1812 the fort was replaced by a new fort built a few hundred meters to the west. This new fort was called New Fort St. Andries. Finally, the Groenhoven estate is located on the route, in the middle of the Bommelerwaard, between the Waal and the Maas in the rural village of Bruchem. The estate is a national monument, dating from the nineteenth century. A beautiful property surrounded by a large garden with beautiful old trees. The estate once started its history as Huize Groenhoven. In 1842, the then mayor of Kerkwijk married a wealthy widow, whom he asked to move in with him. Perhaps the lady in question thought his house was below her station. That is why the mayor built the Groenhoven mansion on his sister's orchard in the year of his marriage. Since 1984, the Groenhoven estate has been a catering destination. Before you drive home, you can go to supermarket Fa. Van Hees VOF in Bruchem for all the fresh products you need to prepare a delicious meal at home in your own kitchen. Cozy cooking in your own kitchen, and then let the meal taste good at your own dining table; no catering facility can compete with that!