Round Damned Maas

From Aalst with the ferry to Veen (do not sail on Sundays outside the summer season!) On the way you will come across 2 mills that are worth a visit (free on Saturday). You cycle over old Dutch dikes and along beautiful polders and floodplains. The Afgedamde Maas is the drinking water extraction area for the South Holland Drinking Water Company. The freshwater with real ebb and flow times (unique in the Netherlands) is taken at the Wilhelmina lock and is transported via pipelines to the South Holland dunes. Before the turning point at Woudrichem, a beautiful fortified town to stop on the way. Then take the ferry to Loevestein Castle, a bicycle stop resting place and back via Poederoyen along the Afgedamde Maas. Close to the terminus is the recreation area De Neswaarden with Het Esmeer in it, an excavated sandy lake. With beautiful natural development. The beach pool Het Esmeer will get a new layer of sand with a free large playground. Has a toilet and restoration facility. So relax afterwards! The journey is 25.9 km, part of the Rondje-Pontje of the Gorinchem ferry service. Can therefore possibly be extended to the other side of the Waal. A day ticket Ferry, including bicycle, costs 8 euros pp in 2013. (2 individual tickets are cheaper in this case.)