Cycling in the Water Triangle

The Biesbosch has a wealth of special, colourful plants and beautiful animals. Many birds enjoy the wealth that the lakes, creeks and fens have to offer and nest in the surrounding forests. A pair of sea eagles nest in the area, but herons also fish in the Biesbosch. Ducks, grebes and coots swim on the water, while the harrier and the buzzard hunt for juicy field mice in the polders. Otters take a refreshing dip in the water, while beavers are hard at work building their nests and dams. The river islands, sand and mudflats of the Biesbosch are coloured by the yellow marsh herb, the white valerian and the purple cattail. Himalayan balsam gives off a soft sweet scent and farmers make hay on their land in the polders. The route starts and ends at VVV Alblasserdam, where you can also park your car for free. If you want more information about Alblasserdam, you can go to the shop for beautiful photos, maps and more background information. When you think of Alblasserdam as a cyclist, you can hardly help but think of windmills. The vast peat area is intersected by ditches, canals and two small rivers: the Alblas and the Giessen. The area owes its characteristic, historical identity mainly to the many windmills along the Kinderdijk in Nieuw-Lekkerland. The nineteen windmills on and around the Kinderdijk are on the World Heritage List and are characteristic of the area. All these windmills ensured that the excess water that reached the Alblasserwaard when flooding occurred was pumped up. It was then discharged into the river via locks. This even happened during the Second World War without electrical assistance. The windmills Nederwaard No. 5, Nederwaard No. 6, Nederwaard No. No. 7 and Nederwaard No. 8 were all built in 1738. They are beautiful, round, stone ground-sailers with an iron paddle wheel that drain the low bosom of the Nederwaard. Of the mills, number 8 is the only mill that was never raised and therefore the rods of this ground-sailer are shorter than those of the rest. Then you come across a hollow post mill from 1581. The Broekmolen was built with an open paddle wheel. It drained the Streefkerk polder until 1951. In Molenaarsgraaf you come across the Kerkmolen, which was built in 1844. Earlier that year, a hollow post mill burned down on the spot where the Kerkmolen stands. This round, stone ground-sailer was placed to be able to drain the Giessen-Oudebenedenkerk and Molenaarsgraaf polder. The mill still does this, on a voluntary basis. The last mill you want to see during the bike ride is a ruin: the Veltmolen (body/remains). The hollow post mill was probably built in the first half of the eighteenth century and drained the polders GIjbeland and Noordzijde Hofwegen. The mill remains are on the National Monuments List. You can then hitch a ride with the Waterbus back to the starting point of the route. You can take your bike for free!