The polders of Brielle

A beautiful polder landscape extends next to the Brielse Maas in South Holland, where Brielle, Heenvliet and Zwartewaal originated. The flat landscape is interrupted by beautiful villages, each with its own atmosphere and history. For example, the market square of Heenvliet has been preserved in its original state and Brielle was the most famous pilgrimage site in South Holland in the Middle Ages. This city grew and the territory of Zwartewaal came under Brielle. There is no shortage of history and beautiful buildings during this fun bike tour. From the parking lot in Heenvliet you cycle to the ruins of Ravesteijn Castle, which is actually called Slot Heenvliet. The first wooden fortification was probably built around the year 1100. The stone successor was built in 1254 and consisted of a keep with four corner towers. Enemies were kept out with a portcullis and a moat, which prevented destruction during the Eighty Years' War in 1572. The ruin, several parts of which were given national monument status, can be visited on Saturdays in the summer. Standard mill't Vliegend Hert, which was built in 1985, is also fun to visit. Compared to other mills in the Netherlands, the mill is still very young. It stands as a rampart mill on the fortification wall of Brielle, on the spot where a flour mill has stood since the seventeenth century. The original mill was also a post mill, which was replaced in 1696 by a stone mill. It burned out in 1810 and was rebuilt a year later. This third mill also burned down in 1882. The mill was demolished, but during the restoration of the fortress in 1970, the dies of the old standard mill were found. A replica of the first post mill was built on top of it, which was given the status of a municipal monument.