Tour of Hitland and Hollandse IJssel

After a cup of coffee at Van der Valk Hotel Rotterdam-Nieuwerkerk, put on your walking shoes and walk into Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel. This picturesque town is located on the Hollandse IJssel, originally a side arm of the Lek. In the thirteenth century, the Hollandse IJssel was dammed to make the exploitation of the Dutch peat area easier. During the flood disaster in 1953, a hole of fourteen meters was created in the IJsseldijk near Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel. This hole was closed with an eighteen-meter-long inland vessel, which prevented a large part of South Holland from flooding. On the dike you will see Windlust, a beautiful corn mill from 1776. You will also pass through Hitland, a varied nature reserve with various forests, bird-rich peat meadows, swamps and natural water.