Cycling in the Water Triangle

Alblasserdam, South Holland, The Netherlands

Cycling route: 117200

based on 3 reviews

Provided by: VVV Zuid-Holland Zuid

43.8 km
02:34 h
772 kcal
8 m

Description

The Biesbosch has a wealth of special, colorful plants and beautiful animals. Many birds enjoy the wealth that the ponds, creeks and fens have to offer and settle in the surrounding forests. A pair of white-tailed eagles nest in the area, but herons also fish in the Biesbosch. Ducks, grebes and coots swim on the water, while harriers and buzzards hunt for succulent voles 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 mud flats of the Biesbosch are colored by the yellow swamp herb, the white valerian and the purple loosestrife. Giant balsam gives off a soft sweet scent and in the polders farmers make hay on their land. 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 store for beautiful photos, maps and more background information. When you think of Alblasserdam as a cyclist, it is almost inevitable that you think of windmills. The vast peat area is intersected by ditches, canals and two small rivers: the Alblas and the Giessen. The area derives its characteristic, historical identity in particular from 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 iconic for the area. All these mills ensured that the excess water, which reached the Alblasserwaard when flooding occurred, was pumped upwards. It was then discharged into the river through sluices. In World War II, this even happened without electrical assistance. The windmills Nederwaard No. 5, Nederwaard no. 6, Nederwaard no. 7 and Nederwaard no. 8 were all built in 1738. They are beautiful, round, stone ground sails with an iron paddle wheel that drain the low bosom of the Nederwaard. Of the mills, number 8 is the only mill that has never been raised and therefore the rods of this ground sailor are shorter than those of the rest. You will then pass a seesaw mill from 1581. The Broekmolen was built with an open paddle wheel. He drained the Streefkerk polder until 1951. In Molenaarsgraaf you will come across the Kerkmolen, which was built in 1844. Earlier that year, a seesaw mill burned down on the spot where the Kerkmolen stands. This round, stone ground sail was placed to drain the polder Giessen-Oudebenedenkerk and Molenaarsgraaf. 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 (hull/remainder). The seesaw mill was probably built in the first half of the eighteenth century and it drained the polders Gijbeland and Noordzijde Hofwegen. The mill remains are on the National Monuments List. With the Waterbus you can then hitch a ride back to the starting point of the route. You can take your bike for free!
Cultural routes E-bike routes

Height Profile

Directions

# Description Distance
Haven, 2951GS, Alblasserdam, South Holland, The Netherlands 0.00 km
Nederwaard no. 8 (Nederwaard Molen No.8, 2954LB, Alblasserdam, South Holland, The Netherlands) 2.92 km
Nederwaard no. 7 (2954LA, Molenlanden, South Holland, The Netherlands) 3.04 km
Nederwaard no. 6 (2954LA, Molenlanden, South Holland, The Netherlands) 3.17 km
Nederwaard no. 5 (Nederwaard Molen No.5, 2954LA, Alblasserdam, South Holland, The Netherlands) 3.29 km
2
2 (2954LA, Molenlanden, South Holland, The Netherlands) 3.44 km

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