Along the Linge between Leerdam and Geldermalsen

In the Gelderse Rivierenland you can cycle along the Linge. The route runs along both sides of the river between Leerdam and Geldermalsen and along Beesd. The area is known for its fairytale orchards and picturesque dike villages. In April and May the fruit trees are in bloom and the blossom has a calming effect on the area.

The Fort bij de Nieuwe Steeg/Geofort is a fortress island of 3.5 hectares. At first glance it is just a rolling grassland, but in the past it was part of the New Dutch Waterline. The fort now houses a theme park in the field of cartography and navigation. You can experiment with various geotechnics inside and outside. You will become disoriented in the dark underground passage. You will be challenged in the maze and will become fascinated by maps in the barracks. Children can search in the bat search garden of Staatsbosbeheer. An adventure for young and old!

Arriving in Leerdam, you see the hollow post mill Ter Leede, which functioned well until the upper shaft broke in 1940. The mill was threatened with demolition, but the adjacent glass factory bought it. In 1982, the municipality of Leerdam took over the mill from the glass factory to restore it. When the restoration of 1985 was completed, the mill was given the name Ter Leede, which is the original name of Leerdam.

After cycling fourteen kilometres, KunstFort Asperen appears, an Eldorado for art and history lovers. This tower fort was surrounded by a moat and could only be reached via a wooden drawbridge. The fort is part of the New Dutch Waterline and is an impressive monument. This fort is the first 'art fort' in the Netherlands; cultural events and exhibitions have been organised there annually since 1981.

We set course for Geldermalsen and in a river basin we pass the Mariënwaerdt estate, privately owned for many generations, covering over 900 hectares. The name means the island (waard) of Mary. In 1129, a Norbertine abbey was founded on this site, which was plundered, destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1734, the estate was purchased by the ancestor of the current owners. He built Huis Mariënwaerdt on the vaults of the former abbey. There are now three country houses and seventeen farms on the estate. Mariënwaerdt has 40 national monuments, including fourteen monumental farmsteads and many haystacks and flood barns.

On the other side of the water, north of Deil lies Landgoed Noordenhoek. In earlier times, the village had seven castles or fortified houses. The old house Noordenhoek was demolished in 1898 and rebuilt in neo-renaissance style. The surface area of Landgoed Noordenhoek covers 60 ha and 40 ha of land is leased on the other side of the Linge and in the Deilse veld. French Blonde d\\\'Aquitaine beef cattle are bred there. The estate can be reached on foot from the Koningsweg. The path leads past centuries-old hawthorn hedges, 50 to 100 year old apple and pear trees and ancient pollard willows.

You cycle further to Molen De Vlinder which was built in 1913. It is a round brick corn mill of the type of tower mill. The shape of the sails is Old Dutch and the span 20 meters. The sails are set to the wind with the help of a sail winch. The mill burned down in 1931 and has since been restored and restored a number of times. It is still used for grinding grain.