Polder het Gooi near Naarden

The landscape of Het Gooi is unique and varied. It consists of deciduous and coniferous forests, mixed forests, heathland, grassland and unique remnants of gorges and meadows. The Utrechtse Heuvelrug runs gently sloping like a sand ridge through the area, while meadows flank the east and west sides. It is a sandy, but wooded region with many transitions between higher and lower areas, resulting in a great diversity of vegetation and animal species. Buildings are advancing and natural places such as the Naardermeer and the Goois Nature Reserve are receiving government protection. 't Gooi is a popular region where part of the New Dutch Waterline runs through and many beautiful villas are being built. These are spread over six places, none of which have a real center, but together they form a kind of park city. You leave from Attent SidB Sherpa Naarden, where you can park your car. Buy something in the supermarket to nibble on or drink for the road, because it is wonderful to take a break in nature at one of the forts on the program. Nothing is better than sinking your teeth into a thirst-quenching apple or gaining renewed energy with a cheese sandwich. You soon arrive at Fort Ronduit, which consists of a guardhouse and a bomb-proof barracks connected by a crane bridge and surrounded by a wet moat. This national monument was built between 1873 and 1875 on the remains of a fort that had previously stood here. It is part of the New Dutch Waterline and at this strategic location it defended the land outside the dike that extended north of the Naarden fortress. You arrive at Muiderberg, where the Naardermeer was created naturally. The water is mentioned as early as around the year 900 and attempts have been made several times to drain the lake, but without success. In 1672, all mills and houses in and around the lake had to be demolished, after which the dikes were broken. The water remained there until the beginning of the nineteenth century. The Meermolen/Onrust was a ground sailer that was built in 1809 to drain the resulting polder, but the mill was never able to rid the area of the water. In 1831 a steam engine was installed with which they once again tried to grind away the water. You continue your journey through the swampy landscape and see Fort Uitermeer looming on the horizon from afar. This fort is located on the Vecht River and between forests and meadows. The fortress is part of the New Dutch Waterline. The tower fort is an important eye-catcher in the area and also offers beautiful views over the Naardermeer and the many country estates in the area. The last fort you will encounter during this cycle tour is the Fort at Hinderdam. Sea locks, a turning and discharge lock and a dam were built in a bend of the Vecht river, which was in open connection with the Zuiderzee. Initially there were no defenses here, but in 1629 an earthen fortification was built, which was reinforced in 1672. A year later, a bastioned fort was built, which could control traffic on the river and on the dikes and support nearby forts with artillery. In 1815 the fort was included in the New Dutch Waterline, but in 1913 the fortress was transferred to the Defense Line of Amsterdam. Nowadays the fort has an ecological destination: the island and the buildings are overgrown with trees and shrubs.