Along the Hollandsche IJssel to Gouda and Kinderdijk

This route takes you along the banks and through the polders of the last part of the Hollandse IJssel. Between Gouda and Capelle aan de IJssel you will get to know a few towns and villages whose names often end with'aan de IJssel\\\'. The Hollandse IJssel flows between Nieuwegein and Rotterdam. Originally this river was a side arm of the Lek. In the thirteenth century, the Hollandse IJssel was dammed to make the reclamation 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-metre-long inland vessel, which prevented a large part of South Holland from being flooded. From the starting point you descend on the western side of the river to Capelle aan den IJssel. You cycle past Windlust, a restored windmill that was originally built around 1780. You cross the river to Krimpen aan den IJssel via the Algera bridge. Here you have a beautiful view of the Storm Surge Barrier that was completed in 1958 as part of the Delta Works. The Storm Surge Barrier is still closed several times a year. You pass the Krimpenerwaard regional museum and flour mill De Schelvenaer. You drive through the polder east of the river to Gouda. Time to soak up some cultural history in the historic center of this beautiful city. The city has a canal system and 330 special national monuments. For example, you pass the Agnietenkapel, a remnant of the former Agnietenconvent. Also take a look at the town hall from 1459, one of the oldest Gothic town halls in the Netherlands. The Sint Janskerk is on the list of monuments of Unesco. Another Gouda celebrity is De Waag from 1668, which mainly served as a weighing place for the famous Gouda cheeses that are still traded in the summer on the Thursday tourist cheese market. Did you know that Gouda is also famous for its candles, pottery, stroopwafels and pipes? And that the level in the canals of Gouda via the IJssel is still influenced by the tides from the sea? The route starts and ends at Van der Valk Rotterdam-Nieuwerkerk, located on the edge of Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel in a calm and green environment. An ideal place to relax, for example with a luxurious wellness treatment. You can also have a delicious lunch or dinner here in the attractive restaurant, with a varied menu on the menu. You can enjoy a snack and a drink on the beautiful terrace. The luxurious and spacious rooms are equipped with all comforts. After an overnight stay you are completely refreshed and ready to drive route 144212. The hotel rents bicycles with 7 gears and E-bikes, even if you are not using the accommodation! On the left side of the entrance is a gauge that indicates that this hotel is located at the lowest point in the Netherlands: 6.76 meters below NAP. This point was created in 1841 when the Zuidplaspolder was drained.