Tour of Biesbosch

With a little imagination you could call De Biesbosch National Park and the underlying area around Werkendam the crown of Brabant. This route takes you through this open and water-rich area.

The Biesbosch
From the dike in the Biesbosch you have a beautiful view of rivers, polders, reedlands and creeks. In the Noordwaard you can climb the landscaped hill at the Bandijk to discover the artwork De Wassende Maan. You can spot wonderful birds here, such as the pintail and teal. With a bit of luck you may even catch a glimpse of the osprey and white-tailed eagle that occasionally come to hunt here. Feel free to bring your binoculars.

Oostwaard
In the Oostwaard you drive past farm fields and characteristic willows. You also cycle along the Bakkerskil, an old creek that once had a mighty current. In the summer you will see numerous pleasure boats sailing in the Steurgat waterway. You pass through Werkendam where you will see the Vervoorne Mill, a polder mill from 1700.

New Dutch Waterline
There are still several forts of the New Dutch Waterline in the Biesbosch. You will pass Fort Bakkerskil, which looks almost the same as when it was built in 1880. During the mobilization periods 1914-1918 and 1939-1940, Fort Bakkerskil provided shelter to almost a hundred soldiers. You will also pass the southernmost fort of the New Dutch Waterline: Fort Steurgat. This fort was built in 1881 and served to close the Nieuwe Merwede and the Steurgat. A number of residential units were built in the fort in 2001.