Vreeland-'s-Graveland-Tienhoven-Breukelen-Vreeland

There is no shortage of water and water sports on and around the Loosdrechtse Plassen! The lakes are the heart of a protected zone for flora and fauna, including many bird species. The lakes were created by peat extraction in the area and are separated from each other by dikes and islands. Historic country estates and picturesque landscapes are located around the waters and contribute to the authenticity of the area. You start from the car park in Loenen aan de Vecht, where you can park your car for free. When you leave the built-up area, you cycle into a water-rich area. In the middle of the polder is a hollow post mill from 1832: the Trouwe Waghter. This mill had to replace two other mills, which drained the water board in other places. Until 1948, the Trouwe Waghter drained the polder by means of a scoop wheel, but when it came into private ownership in 1950, the interior was broken out. In 1960, the ownership rights were transferred to Natuurmonumenten, which had the mill restored and made operational again. Then you come to Fort Tienhoven, which was built between 1848 and 1850 as part of the New Dutch Waterline. The fort closed off the Tienhovense Vaart and guarded the inundation quay, a dam lock and the Kraaiennesterssluis. The design is almost the same as that of Fort Kijkuit and Fort Spion. The fort is not accessible, but does offer a beautiful view. Then you come along beautiful country estates, many of which were built by wealthy merchants in the Golden Age. Landhuis and Weerestein are two impressive inhabited country estates. They both date from the seventeenth century and many references to this can still be found in the architecture, but the gigantic houses Vechtzigt and Groene Vecht are equally impressive. The country estates Queekhoven and Vegt en Hoff, located in Breukelen, are also beautiful to see. The current Vegt en Hoff was built in 1873, on the site of a house previously named'Grashuisse\\\'. Not much is known about the origins of Queekhoven, because a major fire completely destroyed the archives and the original house. Three other country estates that you will see during your bike ride are Oud Oever, Bijdorp and Vegtlust. Situated along the east bank of the river Vecht, Oud Oever has a main building, a historic garden and park, a garden dome, gardener's house, horse stable, coach house and several entrance gates. Oud Oever was built around 1700 by Pieter van Beeck. At the time, he called the house Beek en Hoven. This name was changed to Oud Oever by his heir 10 years later. In the nineteenth century, Johannes Willem van Reenen bought four country estates that were next to each other on the Vegt. Bijdorp was one of them, another was Vegtlust, which was built in the eighteenth century. The other two were demolished and a beautiful park was built on the vacant piece of land. In 1981, Vegtlust was renovated and six apartments were built in it. But one of the best preserved smaller country estates in this area is Bijdorp, which was built around 1710. In total, this territory covers 1.2 hectares of land. Various parts of this country estate are protected because they are national monuments, such as the main building from 1700 and the historical garden and park layout.