Dikes & Locks

Water world Due to its location by the sea and inland lakes, you will experience the many faces of water on Voorne Putten, even more so than on any other island. What could be more fun than sunbathing by the sea on a warm summer day or taking a walk on the beach on a bright winter day? What could be more challenging than kitesurfing in the surf or flying a kite on the beach? The sea has a great attraction. The power of the water That the sea also has a destructive power, is evidenced by the many dike breaches, with the sad'climax\\\' being the storm disaster of 1953, which also claimed victims at Voorne Putten. The enormous locks in the Haringvlietdam have been doing their protective work for years as part of the Delta Plan. Go with a guide in one of the underground piers and the engine room of the dam, while the traffic rushes above your head. Polder dikes Cycling on the high-lying dikes you look out over low-lying polders, after centuries of flooding, now safely behind the dike. The first polders were embanked around 1200. Fort Noorddijk from 1883 was part of the defense line between Brielle and Hellevoetsluis. Cycle around the fort and enjoy the beautiful nature with pollard willows, ducks in the canal and grazing sheep. You can take a look at the bombproof fort on Open Monuments Day, among other things. Het Moordenaartje Due to its favorable location on the Bernisse, Zuidland has always been a prosperous village. Taste the atmosphere of yesteryear in the narrow streets to the historic center and view the leaning church tower and the monument De Korenaar near the tea dome in the pond. From Zuidland, follow the road over the former Trambaanpad where a steam train from Rotterdam used to run across the island. Because of the many accidents on the tram track, it was popularly called Het Moordenaartje. Watershed The Bernisse was once an important shipping route between Holland and Flanders, now it is a freshwater connection between Brielse Meer and the Spui. Because the industry needed fresh cooling water, the Bernisse was widened and is now only a large ditch due to silting. Along the nature-friendly banks you will now find cycle paths and a recreational area where you can swim, canoe and fish. At the mouth of the Bernisse at the Spuisluis and the harbor of Zuidland you look at the next island. Lighthouse The lighthouse on the Haringvliet is located at the harbor entrance of the former naval town and, with a height of more than 18 metres, is a real eye-catcher and still serves for shipping. Climb to the top during special opening hours and experience the island feeling with a magnificent view of the Haringvliet and the harbor of Hellevoetsluis. Boating and cycling The construction of the Haringvliet dam created an inland lake, ideal for water sports enthusiasts. The Haringvliet is also a feast for the eyes for cyclists. The cycle path largely follows the contour of the island and has been built on old sea dikes in many places. Here you experience the real island feeling, close to the water and on the other side large modern windmills that get energy from the wind that is always present on an island.