Walking route Werkendam and Fort Altena

Your walk begins with a cup of coffee or an overnight stay at Camping De La Rue Koffie & Zo. Then, lace up your hiking boots. At junction 26, you'll pass Nature Gate Fort Altena. Built in 1847, it was part of the New Dutch Waterline. This defense line was constructed to protect the wealthy western Netherlands from foreign armies. A kilometer-wide strip of land, approximately 85 kilometers long, could be flooded thanks to an ingenious system of locks and canals. Defenses closed weak spots in the line. For example, Fort Altena was intended to close the Breda-Gorinchem road and the Uppelse Dijk. You'll continue your walk, passing panoramic views of the polder landscape and numerous waterways. You'll also see a polder windmill from around 1700: the Zandwijkse Molen.