Southland, South Beijerland and New Beijerland

Beijerland, an area in the province of South Holland that is also called'Hoeksche Waard\\\', consists of about sixty polders. The current Hoeksche Waard was created after the St. Elisabeth Flood of 1421, which flooded the area. This flood drastically changed the watercourses in the area. Most of the dikes in the landscape were built between 1538 and 1653. The Eendrachtspolder was built on a site that has always been agricultural land. Part has been constructed to prevent flooding, but also for recreation and (top) sport. From the parking lot in Zuidland, where you can park your car for free, you cross the water and cycle to Nieuw-Beijerland. Here is a choir that was built in 1703: De Swaen. This mill used to be called"Windlust\\\", referring to the element from which it derives its power. Until 1958 the mill ground grain, but in 2013 almost the entire interior has been removed and the ground sailer is only used as a reception center. Another ground sailer has been in Piershil since 1845. When the Simonia was installed it replaced an octagon from 1714, which stood in the same place. Two of the three original pairs of grinding stones are still in the mill, which is used by volunteer millers. The Simonia can be visited on Saturday days. The last mill you can see along the route is in Zuid-Beijerland. The round stone flour mill Landzigt was placed in 1857, after a few predecessors had already stood on the dike but were defunct. The mill caught fire during a heavy storm in 1990 and Stichting Molen Landzigt was established to restore the mill. Since the restoration in 1992, grain has been ground professionally with the ground sailer again.