Forts near Leerdam

Located on the Linge, surrounded by reed banks and water lilies, lies "Glass City" Leerdam. The town was founded in 1143 and was then called"Terledene\\\". Leerdam obtained city rights from the Lord of Arkel in 1382 and again in 1407 from Willem IV of Holland. In the eighteenth century, the wood and glass industries took off and the town became prosperous. The rich history of Leerdam can still be clearly seen in the old buildings, such as the Grote Kerk, the Hofje van Mrs. van Aerden museum and the remaining city walls, which have been restored. It is not only the glassblowers from home and abroad who work in the Glass Center from Easter to the end of September that make Leerdam famous these days; Leerdammer cheese is also a well-known (export) product.

The cycle route takes you to various forts in the region. The first is the Work on the Diefdijk railway. This fortification was built in 1880 on both sides of the Dordrecht-Elst railway. The railway line cut through the Waterline and had to be protected. There were movable crane bridges in front and behind the work. One unique copy can still be viewed.

Two kilometers further you will also see KunstFort Asperen. Art and history lovers will get their money's worth here. This fort is the first 'art fort' in the Netherlands; Cultural events and exhibitions have been organized here annually since 1981. Previously, the tower fortress was surrounded by a moat and could only be reached via a wooden drawbridge. Fort Asperen is part of the New Dutch Waterline and is an imposing monument.

You cycle to the Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg/Geofort, also called Fort at Herwijnen. The fortress was built in 1879 as part of the New Dutch Waterline. This fort closed off a confusing bend in the Linge and the Lingedijk and was an important support pillar for the older works of Fort Asperen and the Wapenplaats. The fort has a unique, bomb-proof barracks, which consists of two buildings. A moat with drawbridge and guardhouse was constructed next to the barracks. In the decades after the Second World War, the fort lost its military function and came into the possession of Staatsbosbeheer. The access bridge was rebuilt in 2006 and a restoration took place in 2011. The fort has since been established as the"GeoExperience\\\", educational attraction in the field of cartography and navigation.